For a state that still has plenty of green cover, few major industries and a small population, it was something of a surprise to see that Meghalaya has some of the most consistently polluted air in the entire country.
A report this year from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), which was the subject of our lead story on Monday, stated that Meghalaya has a year-round problem with very fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). While the whole of India faces this issue, Khasi-Jaintia Hills and certain other parts of the North East face it all year, even as the rest of the country experiences some relief during the monsoon.
PM 2.5 refers to tiny inhalable airborne particles (dust, soot, smoke) less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, making them 30 times smaller than a hair and a major health risk as they penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing respiratory, heart and neurological issues from sources like vehicle emissions, industry and fires.
Meghalaya’s PM 2.5 average in winter, when dense cold air, lack of rain and greater use of charcoal and wood fires for warmth increases pollution levels, is the seventh-worst in the country at 70 µg/m³, behind only Delhi (135), Chandigarh (90), West Bengal (86), Tripura (83), Assam (83) and Bihar (78).
You don’t need an air quality monitor to tell you that the air worsens in winter in Shillong. Especially when the Sun begins to set, small fires are lit around the city – by security guards, labourers, the homeless – to keep warm using wood or trash. People also resort to wood or charcoal fires to keep their homes warm on chilly nights – running electric heaters for prolonged periods can send power bills soaring.
Although there is little the government can do to control the weather, it needs to be more proactive on air pollution.
Clunkers run on Shillong’s roads without hindrance. Older vehicles are less fuel efficient and more polluting than newer models and need to be phased out. Electric vehicle uptake is still slow, not least because there are no public charging points to speak of and, anyway, Meghalaya’s power supply is erratic. A public bicycle sharing scheme was launched to great fanfare but has had no discernible effect in practice. Bigger SUVs are becoming ever more popular around Shillong and the government has never suggested that their use should be curbed, probably because it is the politicians, civil servants and their cronies who are most likely to drive them.
Burning of waste in public has to be stamped out. It is all too common to see leaves and other trash burned on government property, not just for heat but also as a simple way to dispose of rubbish. Construction is another cause of pollution, specifically dust. No one is ever held to account for the billowing clouds of dust that such construction causes – anything goes in this laissez faire state.
The government could also consider subsidising homeowners and offices to better insulate their properties. This would reduce heat loss and reduce the need for charcoal/wood fires or electric heaters. Such government support is common in Europe, North America and New Zealand but does not seem to have crossed the minds of those sitting in front of electric fires all day in the drafty Secretariat.
