Shillong, Sep 22: The air purifier installed at Byrnihat is currently being tested on a trial basis and a larger pilot project will be considered only if the trial proves successful, cabinet minister Sosthenes Sohtun said on Tuesday.
Speaking about the state government’s efforts to address pollution in Byrnihat, Sohtun said the air purifier was not yet part of a full-scale project.
“The air purifier that we have installed is just a trial. If the trial is successful, then only we can go for a pilot project,” he said.
On the joint action committee (JAC) formed to address pollution-related concerns, Sohtun said the committee includes village headmen, village elders and officials from various departments.
He said the committee allows local residents to directly raise complaints against industries allegedly violating norms laid down by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB).
“People from the local villages, including the village headman or village elders, can launch a direct complaint if any industry violates the rules laid down by the [MSPCB],” Sohtun said.
According to the minister, action has been taken against industrial units after complaints were received and violations were established by the board.
He, however, said he could not provide the number of complaints received by the JAC as he was not heading the committee.
“For that, I will have to get an update from the Pollution Control Board on how many complaints have been lodged, whether every day, weekly or monthly,” he said.
Asked whether the measures taken by the government could lead to an improvement in the Air Quality Index in Byrnihat, Sohtun said the government would assess the results of the air purifier trial before expanding the project.
“If two or three air purifiers that we have installed succeed, then if we go for bigger numbers, I hope it will definitely reduce the air pollution there in Byrnihat,” Sohtun said.
