Shillong, Jan 30: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has intensified its crackdown on industrial units in Byrnihat for failing to comply with environmental regulations.

The board’s frequent inspections have revealed that most industries do not switch on their Pollution Control Devices (PCDs), which are crucial in mitigating harmful emissions.

Air Quality Monitoring in Byrnihat

The MSPCB has conducted regular monitoring of ambient air quality in Byrnihat via its manual Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (AAQM) stations located at four locations: EPIP, 15th Mile, 17th Mile and Khasi Killing.

Monitoring is conducted twice a week, and the data is uploaded in the Environmental Air Quality Data Entry System (EAQDES) of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi. It is disseminated via social media, the Board’s website, and the concerned District Administration’s website.

“Based on monitored data, concentrations of gaseous pollutants such as SO2 and NO2 in Byrnihat remain within the permissible limits prescribed by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). However, the annual concentration level of Particulate Matter PM10 exceeds the permissible limit of 60 µg/m³. Due to this, Byrnihat has been designated as a Non-attainment city, and a City Action Plan (CAP) has been formulated, implementing various activities and control measures for air pollution mitigation. The area where industries are located under State of Assam has been designated as CRITICALLY POLLUTED AREA by the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi,” the MSPCB said.

A study known as the Emission Inventory and Source Apportionment Study (EI&SA) for Byrnihat is being conducted by CSIR-NEERI (Council for Scientific & Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute). This study aims to identify and quantify the percentage contribution of various pollution sources. CSIR-NEERI has completed the study, and the report will be made available soon, it said.

Referring to recent media reports, the Board said it should be noted that the AQI of 341, categorized as ‘Very Poor,’ was generated from data available from Burnihat, Assam, via the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) located at the Central Academy for State Forest Service, Burnihat, Assam. This data corresponds to January 26, 2025, at 4:00 PM.

“However, as per data from the four monitoring stations of MSPCB, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Byrnihat for January 2025 (up to the 4th week) has remained ‘Satisfactory.’ Among the four stations, only the monitoring station at EPIP recorded a ‘Moderate’ AQI throughout January,” it said.

Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya is home to 27 air-polluting industries, categorized based on their pollution index: Red Category: 5 industries and Orange Category: 22 industries.

Whereas, it maybe also informed that there are 35 air polluting industries in Burnihat Area which falls under the State of Assam and they are categorized based on their pollution index: Red Category: 20 industries and Orange Category: 15 industries
Taking into consideration the presence of air-polluting industries in Byrnihat Area, both in Meghalaya and Assam, a coordinated and holistic approach from both states is essential in addressing the air pollution crisis. Collaborative efforts towards stringent monitoring, effective policy implementation, and sustainable industrial practices are needed for the betterment of public health and the environment as a whole, the Board said.

“The MSPCB will continue to take stringent action to enforce environmental norms and ensure that industries operate within prescribed pollution control standards and similar actions are expected from our counterparts in Assam to reducing the air pollution in Byrnihot area bordering Assam and Meghalaya. Authorities have reiterated that industries must adhere to environmental laws to prevent further punitive measures,” it added further.

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