By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 30: The Meghalaya government has imposed stringent restrictions on the establishment and expansion of coke oven plants in East Jaintia Hills district in response to alarming levels of industrial pollution.
In a formal notification issued by the Forest and Environment Department, the government has prohibited new coke oven plants and restricted the expansion of existing units within the Soo Kilo and Umtyra industrial clusters, including a 10-kilometre buffer zone around them.
The move follows a detailed environmental study by Enviro Infra Solutions Pvt. Ltd., which highlighted significant emissions of air pollutants in the area. The findings were subsequently reviewed by an Expert Technical Committee and the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB). The assessment indicated that the clusters are approaching the threshold for classification as a Critically Polluted Area under the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI).
Based on these recommendations, the state government has directed all existing coke oven units to strictly comply with prescribed emission and effluent standards. Industries must install and continuously maintain approved Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs).
The MSPCB has been tasked with intensifying monitoring, regular inspections, and strict enforcement actions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, and the Environment (Protection) Act.
The notification further mandates the development of green belts around industrial units and effective measures to control fugitive emissions.
The government emphasised that these steps are essential to protect environmental quality, safeguard public health, and promote sustainable industrial development in the region.
