Byrnihat air quality ‘moderate’; Assam and Meghalaya to form joint task force

Correspondent

Shillong: Assam and Meghalaya are working closely to form a joint action-cum-coordination committee to address rising pollution concerns in the Byrnihat industrial belt, confirmed Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) Chairman R. Nainamalai. He added that air quality in the region remains 'moderate' and industries are complying with pollution control norms.

“The Air Quality Index of Byrnihat is moderate, and whatever condition we imposed on the later stage they are complying it. The norms impose by us and as of now the Air Quality Index is moderate and we are regularly monitoring through OCMS installed by the industries that we are checking,” stated Nainamalai.

Highlighting the inter-state coordination, he said, “Assam Government has also written letter to cooperate with Meghalaya Government to mitigate the pollution and I think it is under the process of constituting the team and wherein the representative of Assam side and Meghalaya side will be part of this joint action cum coordination committee to address this matter of pollution in Byrnihat area.”

Dismissing reports of recent closures, the MSPCB Chairman said that while no industries have been shut down recently, the board continues to conduct regular and surprise inspections, issuing directives for compliance.

“Recently we have not closed any industries but here frequently conducting inspections, surprise inspections, directions are given. Small direction which are complied by the industries within the stipulated time they have to comply it. Otherwise closure not done in the recent past. Time and again we are issuing warning all the pollution norms are to be complied by the industries,” he said.

The board continues to monitor pollution levels through Online Continuous Monitoring Systems (OCMS) installed in industrial units, ensuring strict adherence to environmental standards in this sensitive Assam-Meghalaya border region.

Also Read: Infiltration continues unabated from B’desh along M’laya border

Also Watch: