SHILLONG: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has called for a joint effort between Meghalaya and Assam to tackle the rising air pollution problem in Byrnihat. The board stated that a concerted effort was necessary because the industries causing air pollution were spread across both states.
In a recent statement, the MSPCB underlined stringent monitoring, effective policy implementation, and sustainable industrial practices to protect public health and the environment. Byrnihat has been reportedly marked as the only town in India categorized under the "severe" category, with an alarming air quality index (AQI) of 412, as per a bulletin from the Central Pollution Control Board.
The MSPCB increased its vigil on industrial units in Byrnihat and found that most of them don't activate their Pollution Control Devices, which are required to minimize the harmful gas emission. While levels of gaseous pollutants SO2 and NO2 remain within limits, the annual concentration of Particulate Matter PM10 crossed the acceptable mark of 60 µg/m³, hence, Byrnihat has been declared as a non-attainment city.
To address the issues, a City Action Plan has been formulated, incorporating several measures for pollution control. Further, the Central Pollution Control Board has categorized the industrial area of Assam as critically polluted. A forthcoming study by CSIR-NEERI will highlight the sources and contributions of the pollution in Byrnihat.
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