NONGPOH, Feb 15: After receiving complaints from local residents of Byrnihat area in regard to pollution emitted from factories located at Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) Byrnihat, local MLA Sosthenes Sohtun along with MDC Victor Rani, on Tuesday, inspected the factories to get firsthand information on the complaints of the people.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi, R Kharbikhiew, Senior Environmental Engineer of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), WR Kharkrang, as well as leaders of Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong Byrnihat Area (SRSBA) were also present during the inspection.
Speaking to media persons after the inspection at Pawan Casting Megh Private Limited and CMJ Breweries Private Limited, the MLA confirmed that the inspection succeeds complaints from local residents as well as village leaders of the area.
Sohtun stated that since there are many factories located in the area, the blame for air pollution as well as release of waste products into rivers as alleged by the people, could not simply be attributed to only CMJ Breweries Private Limited.
Locals have reportedly charged the particular company for the air pollution and discharge of waste into water body.
Sohtun has urged the factory owners to reduce smoke and noise pollution as much as possible as well to stop releasing waste products into the rivers, while also urging the MSPCB to conduct regular check on the alleged pollutants emitted by the factories in the areas.
Notably, the inspection revealed that CMJ Breweries Private Limited was not causing any kind of pollution even though the factory was running in full swing.
The owner, Rohit Jain, informed the inspecting delegation that the company was using the best equipment and technology as per the guidelines of the MSPCB.
Jain also lamented the fact that only one particular factory was targeted in the last few years, despite the existence of many factories in the area.
He also claimed that the noise and air pollution allegations were not true at all, even as he stated that the smokes and noise occur only for two to three hours only when there is power failure, as the equipment needs to be restarted.
Jain also pointed out that his company contributes in the form of revenue to the state government and employment opportunities for the locals. Moreover, he has assured the inspection team to reduce the air and noise pollution.
It may however be noted that there were no complaints so far from the village where the factory is located at Lower Balian, except those from the adjoining villages across the river.