Meghalaya proposes joint committee with Assam to tackle pollution in Byrnihat

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Chairman of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), R. Nainamalai, announced on Tuesday that the Meghalaya Government has officially proposed the formation of a coordination-cum-joint action committee with the Assam Government to address environmental pollution in the Byrnihat border region. The initiative aims to bring together officials from both states to jointly tackle pollution issues affecting the area.

“The proposal has been sent from the Meghalaya side to the Assam Chief Minister, requesting the nomination of concerned officials from various line departments to be part of the committee,” Nainamalai said. “We are currently awaiting a response from the Government of Assam. Once that is received, the committee can begin planning and implementing pollution control measures along the interstate border at Byrnihat. The joint action committee will address all identified sources of pollution.”

Highlighting Byrnihat as a critical corridor linking Assam and Meghalaya, Nainamalai emphasized the importance of joint responsibility. “Meghalaya, being a prominent tourist destination, sees a large influx of vehicles from across the Northeastern region passing through Assam. Therefore, both states need to work collaboratively to manage and reduce pollution in the area,” he added.

The MSPCB, under Nainamalai’s leadership, has been conducting regular surprise inspections of industrial units in Byrnihat to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. “Any industry found violating the terms and conditions imposed by the Board is issued a directive with a stipulated time to comply. If they fail to do so, we issue a closure notice. If operations continue despite the notice, we impose environmental compensation and file cases under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,” he explained.

Nainamalai reiterated that pollution control efforts must be mirrored by Assam’s departments as well. “Byrnihat is a shared border area, so the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board’s actions must be complemented by the Assam State Pollution Control Board and other relevant departments in Assam.”

“Once Assam nominates its representatives, both states will finalize the composition of the committee. We will then notify the formation of the committee, which will conduct regular reviews and monitoring to control pollution in the Assam-Meghalaya border region,” he stated.

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