SHILLONG, June 29: A viral video by a journalist/vlogger reporting on the extreme pollution from an ethanol blending plant in Byrnihat — an area already grappling with severe industrial emissions — has sparked massive public concern. The ground report captures thick smoke, black dust, foul odours, and visibly contaminated surroundings.
Locals interviewed in the video expressed deep frustration with authorities, with many claiming that despite repeated complaints, the government continues to downplay or ignore the crisis on the ground.
Residents told the vlogger that the pollution has made breathing difficult, coated everything in black soot, and forced them to wash vegetables multiple times before cooking. They also highlighted rising health issues, including respiratory problems and concerns over cancer cases, questioning why officials deny the severity when the evidence is visible daily.
This comes at a time when Union MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari is aggressively pushing for E20 and higher levels of ethanol-blended petrol nationwide. Gadkari has claimed that these blends are safe for vehicles, cause no engine damage, significantly reduce pollution and CO₂ emissions, cut crude oil imports, and boost farmer incomes — positioning ethanol as a green, indigenous fuel solution.
Critics, however, point to the apparent contradiction with ground-level pollution from production units like those in Byrnihat.
Incidentally, Meghalaya’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Wailadmiki Shylla has downplayed the concerns. He confirmed that the state government has not received any official complaint on the matter.Speaking to media persons on Monday, Shylla said the government had only heard about the factory through social media. “The Department can examine the matter if someone files an official complaint,” he added.
The minister noted the ongoing debate that a majority of the pollution in Byrnihat is coming from factories on the Assam side. “But at the same time, we do realize that pollution knows no boundary, so it will affect both sides,” he said, recalling that Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma had assured the matter would be taken up with Assam.
Shylla lauded the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board for its efforts in reducing pollution in Byrnihat and mentioned that the Board has received an award for its work in containing pollution. When asked whether the ethanol factory is located in Assam or Meghalaya, the minister refused to comment, saying the details of the factory’s location remain sketchy.
The state government’s response has been seen by many as a convenient denial of the ground reality shown in the viral video, even as Byrnihat continues to battle its reputation as one of the most polluted areas in the world.
