Shillong, Jul 14: After reports emerged on social media over air pollution in Byrnihat and reports claiming respiratory illnesses have increased by nearly 77 per cent over the past two years, Health and Family Welfare Minister Wailadmiki Shylla today reiterated that the government requires formal written complaints and cannot start an investigation because a report is circulating on social media.
Shylla was ridiculed in recent weeks after saying that the government needed a formal complaint before initiating action against Byrnihat polluters. Many wondered what the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) was for it if the public needed to make complaints before action was taken.
Addressing reporters, Shylla today said that while various allegations are circulating on social media, the government cannot act solely on such posts and must adhere to established procedures.
“With today’s technology, anyone can put out any information on social media. But the government cannot respond to every claim without following due process,” he said, adding that any decision taken would also have implications for the livelihoods of people in the area as a shuttered factory could lead to loss of income.
“We are receiving inputs from different sources and will examine them. However, we cannot act merely on the basis of what appears on social media,” he said.
The remarks come after Green-Tech Foundation, an organisation that has been highlighting environmental and public health issues along the Meghalaya-Assam industrial belt, referred to findings from an IQAir study conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). According to the study, Byrnihat recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 micrograms per cubic metre, a level considered hazardous to public health.
Shylla acknowledged that Byrnihat had previously been identified as one of the country’s most polluted locations. He said the state government had subsequently cracked down on industrial units that failed to comply with pollution control norms, leading to the closure of several such establishments.
According to the minister, these enforcement measures also contributed to the MSPCB receiving recognition for its work.
Drawing a comparison with Delhi, where authorities take action based on air quality index (AQI) readings, Shylla said the Meghalaya government would likewise verify all available data and complete the necessary procedures before acting, given that any action could affect employment and industrial activity.
When asked whether the government would conduct a health audit of residents in Byrnihat, the minister said the MSPCB continuously monitors industrial units using technological systems. He added that the board follows a detailed assessment process before issuing Consent to Operate (CTO) certificates and takes action whenever violations are detected.
“If any irregularity is found, appropriate directions will be issued,” Shylla said.
