Shillong, Aug 10: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board’s (MSPCB) trial installation of an air purification machine in Byrnihat has reportedly shown a 40-45 percent reduction in pollution, according to Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun.
Sohtun said engineers and scientists associated with the board had provided preliminary feedback indicating that the machine was helping reduce pollution levels, although a detailed assessment is still awaited.
“According to the report, the engineers and scientists of the Pollution Control Board have given feedback that those machines are helpful by 40-45 percent,” Sohtun said.
He clarified that the installation was currently on a trial basis and that the government would decide on scaling up the initiative after receiving the complete report.
The MLA said the objective was to explore measures to curb pollution, particularly in industrial areas, where authorities want to prevent emissions from reaching harmful levels.
On the challenge of controlling pollution in Byrnihat, which lies along the Meghalaya-Assam border, Sohtun said pollution cannot be attributed solely to industrial units on the Meghalaya side.
He said both the Meghalaya and Assam pollution control boards were working to address the issue, but called for greater coordination between the two states and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The MSPCB has come in for criticism from different quarters for not doing enough to crack down on polluting industrial units but Sohtun took a different view.
“I have seen that the MSPCB is taking the issue of pollution very seriously. They frequently conduct checks and have also closed down some units where they have violated the rules and conditions of the MSPCB,” the MLA said, while adding that he had suggested that the Meghalaya government and MSPCB take further steps to coordinate with Assam and the CPCB to identify and regulate polluting units on both sides of the border.
Responding to recent claims that Byrnihat was no longer among the world’s most polluted places, Sohtun said the assessment should be based on current data and cautioned against attributing pollution entirely to Meghalaya’s industrial units.
“I don’t say that there’s no pollution at all. But as we are on the border with Assam, pollution cannot be said to come only from the industrial units of the state,” he said.
The MLA said the ultimate objective should be to ensure that Byrnihat no longer features on lists of the most polluted areas in the country.
High Court reviews pollution norms
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) submitted a status report on industrial pollution in Byrnihat and informed the Meghalaya High Court that draft guidelines on furnishing environmental bank guarantees are being finalised.
A division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh during its last hearing on July 23, noted lack of data on action taken against polluting industries in Byrnihat and those polluting the Umtrew River.
The court had asked MSPCB to detail action on pollution of 7 rivers/streams in East Jaintia Hills — Waikhyrwi, Thwai Kungor, Rawaka, Kmai-um, Metyngka, Ummynkseh and Umkyrpong — whose water quality has been analysed by institutes including MBDA’s Meghalaya Institute of Natural Resources.
In today’s hearing, the Central Pollution Control Board also filed an affidavit through its Regional Director on steps taken with the Assam Pollution Control Board, since part of Byrnihat falls in Assam and hosts industries.
Advocate General A. Kumar told the court that the Health Department and PWD will file their reply by August 12, 2026.
The matter will next be heard on August 13, 2026.
