SHILLONG, June 30: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday assured that the Meghalaya government will take strict action against any industry violating environmental norms, while cautioning against targeting a single unit without scientific evidence.
Referring to the ethanol plant at Byrnihat, Sangma said it is “like any other plant” and that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) conducts regular inspections and audits. He revealed that six industrial units have already been shut down in the past three to four months for pollution violations, and any other erring unit would face similar action.
The Chief Minister stressed that pollution in the border industrial belt must be viewed in the context of activities on both the Meghalaya and Assam sides.
He highlighted the government’s strengthened monitoring through a live, sensor-based system for real-time emission tracking and made it mandatory for major polluting industries to install continuous online monitoring systems.
Sangma noted that ethanol plants are generally cleaner as they use rice as raw material, and it would be unfair to blame one unit without proper assessment. However, he said the government remains open to further verification and will depute additional teams if credible concerns are raised.
“If anybody is found flouting the rules, breaking environmental laws or operating without the required pollution-control equipment, strict action will be taken,” he asserted.
