Meghalaya Forms Task Force to Audit Industrial Units in Byrnihat Amid Pollution Concerns

SHILLONG: A special task force has been formed to carry out a thorough audit and inspection of industrial units in Byrnihat Town, as per instructions from the Meghalaya Forest and Environment Department. The move is intended to ensure environmental compliance and collect vital data for policy-making.

The directive orders the task force to conduct an intensive study of Byrnihat's industrial activities and make a detailed report on how they affect the environment. This follows increasing complaints regarding pollution and sustainability in the region.

S. Swer, Senior Scientist, will head the task force with a group of environmental specialists: S. Syiem, Environmental Engineer; Y.F.H. Laloo, Environmental Engineer; M.S. Tiewsoh, Environmental Engineer; and M.N. Warbah, Scientist 'B.' Together, they will make the assessment of environmental practices among industrial units within the area more effective.

The group has been instructed to present its findings, together with recommendations, on or before March 26, 2025, without exception. The report is anticipated to shed light on the condition of industrial operations and inform future regulatory actions.

These inspections are timely, as Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma recently raised an eyebrow over Byrnihat's high level of pollution. Based on the World Air Quality Report 2024 of Swiss technology firm IQAir, Byrnihat has been declared the world's most polluted city.

CM Sangma called this discovery "disturbing" and assured the public that the government is taking immediate action to combat pollution in the industrial complex along the Assam border.