SHILLONG, June 21: Despite Byrnihat’s long-standing reputation as one of India’s industrial pollution hotspots, the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has secured national recognition for improving air quality—a claim likely to face scrutiny from local residents and environmental activists.
The MSPCB was conferred a Silver award in the Environment category at the 108th SKOCH Summit on Saturday. The award specifically recognises the board’s efforts to reduce particulate matter levels in Byrnihat. While the recognition points to progress in the industrial belt, the town has frequently appeared on lists of the country’s most polluted areas, making the reported improvements a critical benchmark for the state’s environmental policies.
In the same ceremony, the Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (MNREDA) received a Gold award in the Power and Energy category for its initiatives in promoting sustainable power and renewable energy development.
The SKOCH Awards, conducted by a private organization, are often used to gauge governance and departmental performance across the country.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma congratulated both teams on the achievement, stating that the awards reflect the government’s commitment to environmental protection and public health. However, for residents in the industrial corridors of Ri-Bhoi, the true measure of success remains the tangible quality of the air and the consistency of the state’s regulatory oversight.
