Addressing prevailing air pollution crisis in Byrnihat
SHILLONG, Jan 30: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) on Thursday called for a collaborative effort by Meghalaya and Assam for addressing the prevailing air pollution crisis in Byrnihat.
“Taking into consideration the presence of air-polluting industries in Byrnihat Area, both in Meghalaya and Assam, a coordinated and holistic approach from both states is essential in addressing the air pollution crisis. Collaborative efforts towards stringent monitoring, effective policy implementation and sustainable industrial practices are needed for the betterment of public health and the environment as a whole,” the MSPCB said in a statement.
Byrnihat is the only town among 231 across India placed under the “severe” category with an air quality index (AQI) of 412, a bulletin of the Central Pollution Control Board said on Wednesday.
Stating that the MSPCB has intensified its crackdown on industrial units in Byrnihat for failing to comply with environmental regulations, the statement said the board’s frequent inspections revealed that most industries do not switch on their Pollution Control Devices which are crucial in mitigating harmful emissions.
The MPSCB said based on monitored data, concentrations of gaseous pollutants such as SO2 and NO2 in Byrnihat remain within the permissible limits as prescribed by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
“However, the annual concentration level of Particulate Matter PM10 exceeds the permissible limit of 60 µg/m³. Due to this, Byrnihat has been designated as a non-attainment city, and a City Action Plan has been formulated, implementing various activities and control measures for air pollution mitigation,” the statement said.
“The area where industries are located under State of Assam has been designated as critically polluted area by the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi,” it added.
The statement also said that CSIR-NEERI has conducted a study “Emission Inventory and Source Apportionment Study for Byrnihat” to identify and quantify the percentage contribution of various pollution sources. The report will be made available soon.
On recent media reports of Byrnihat being the most polluted town in India, the statement said the AQI of 341, categorized as “very poor”, was generated from data available from Byrnihat, Assam, via the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station located at the Central Academy for State Forest Service, Byrnihat, Assam.
However, as per data from the four monitoring stations of MSPCB, the AQI of Byrnihat for January 2025 has remained “satisfactory”, it added.