SHILLONG, July 14: The Meghalaya government has imposed an immediate ban on new highly polluting industrial units and restricted expansion of existing ones in Byrnihat after a scientific study found the area’s air quality had already exceeded its carrying capacity.
The Forests and Environment Department notified the restrictions on July 6 under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The move follows recommendations of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, National Clean Air Programme committees, and a carrying capacity study by CSIR-NEERI, Kolkata.
The Environmental Carrying Capacity (Air) Study covering Byrnihat circle — including 20 villages and the Export Promotion Industrial Park — revealed that the atmospheric capacity for PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ had been crossed, leaving a negative residual capacity and posing serious risks to public health. Byrnihat also forms part of a shared airshed with Assam’s Byrnihat, already declared a Critically Polluted Area by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Under the new directions, no new industrial or manufacturing units in the highly polluting “red category” (including the 17 categories identified by CPCB) will be allowed in the notified area. Expansion of production capacity of existing red and orange category units has also been prohibited. New orange category industries may be permitted only if they adopt modern clean technologies and cleaner fuels and strictly meet emission norms.
The restrictions cover the Byrnihat circle in Ri-Bhoi district, 20 villages, the EPIP, and adjoining areas within a 5.85-km radius of its boundary. The government said the measures were necessary to protect environmental quality, control pollution, safeguard public health, and ensure sustainable industrial activity.
The notification has come into force with immediate effect and will remain valid until modified or withdrawn.
