SHILLONG, July 20: The Meghalaya High Court on Monday described the State Health Department’s status report on the Byrnihat pollution crisis as “sketchy”, observing that it failed to address the core issues involved in the case.
During the hearing of the suo motu PIL on pollution in the Byrnihat industrial area, the Additional Senior Government Advocate submitted a status report dated July 20 on behalf of the Health Department. Taking the report on record, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh noted that the data furnished was sketchy and did not address the issues at hand.
Advocate General Amit Kumar sought time to obtain further instructions and submit a more comprehensive report.
Granting the request, the court directed that a responsible officer from the state government, well-versed with the facts, remain present at the next hearing.
The counsel for the respondent was permitted time to file an affidavit-in-reply. The Bench further directed a responsible officer of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to be present during the next hearing.
The suo motu PIL was registered following several reports, including a study by the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) commissioned by the MSPCB. The NEERI report found a serious deterioration in ambient air quality in the Byrnihat industrial area, identified major industrial and vehicular emission hotspots, and concluded that coordinated action by the governments of Meghalaya and Assam is urgently required.
It attributed the pollution to multiple human-induced sources and recommended continuous environmental monitoring, periodic scientific assessment, strict enforcement of environmental laws, and coordinated regulatory measures to reduce the cumulative impact on the environment and public health.
The High Court also took note of media reports highlighting the alarming deterioration in air and water quality in Byrnihat, including a 77 per cent rise in respiratory illnesses in the area.
The matter has been posted for July 23.
