By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 13: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has called for a joint initiative with Assam to tackle the alarming air pollution levels in Byrnihat.
This comes amid reports over a global air quality report that labelled it as the world’s most polluted town, a claim the state government disputes based on its own monitoring data.
Sangma revealed that he had formally reached out to his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, advocating a coordinated response to mitigate pollution in the industrial belt straddling both states. He stressed that a unified effort is essential, as industrial establishments on both sides contribute to the deteriorating air quality. However, he said, he has not received any response so far.
“Byrnihat’s pollution issue cannot be addressed in isolation. Since both Assam and Meghalaya have industries operating in this border region, collaboration is key to finding a sustainable solution,” said Sangma, assuring that his government is committed to minimising environmental hazards and ensuring better air quality for residents.
The controversy erupted following the release of IQAir’s World Air Quality Report 2024 which claimed Byrnihat recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 µg/m³, categorising it as one of the most polluted areas globally. However, the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) contested these figures, stating that its monitoring stations recorded a significantly lower annual average of 50.1 µg/m³ in 2024.
Additionally, MSPCB’s data for the first quarter of 2025 indicated that Byrnihat’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘Satisfactory’ range, with monthly readings of 94 in January, 92 in February, and 97 in early March.
In a bid to curb pollution, the board conducted surprise inspections in the EPIP and 13th Mile industrial areas earlier this year, uncovering multiple violations of environmental norms. This led to the shutdown of seven industrial units between late January and mid-March, while two others faced financial penalties for non-compliance.
Despite these enforcement actions, air quality data from Assam’s Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station in Byrnihat continues to register ‘Poor’ and ‘Very Poor’ ratings, suggesting that industries on the Assam side may be significant contributors to the pollution crisis.
Sangma pointed out that the Central Pollution Control Board has classified the Byrnihat Industrial Area in Assam as a ‘Critically Polluted Area’, with 20 ‘Red Category’ industries operating there, compared to just five on Meghalaya’s side. While Meghalaya hosts 14 ‘Green Category’ industries, Assam has only four, underscoring a disparity in industrial regulation and environmental impact.
To gain deeper insights into pollution sources, the MSPCB has partnered with the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Kolkata, for an extensive emission inventory and source apportionment study in Byrnihat. The findings, currently being compiled, will help identify the primary pollutants and their origins.
Mentioning the need for interstate cooperation, Sangma reiterated that environmental challenges like air pollution require joint efforts and adherence to regulatory frameworks.
“While the focus has been on Meghalaya, this is a shared issue. Laws are in place to facilitate collaboration, and both states must come together to address this pressing environmental concern,” he said.
Meanwhile, concerned over Byrnihat pollution, Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun asked the MSPCB to advise the industry owners to plant more trees in the area.
Expressing happiness that the Meghalaya CM approached his Assam counterpart for joint action, Sohtun said he would also ask the MSPCB to create more awareness among the people by establishing an office and deploying its personnel in the area to monitor the factories.