Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun has said that both Meghalaya and Assam would work together to formulate strategies to curb pollution in Byrnihat.
He said that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has not only committed action during the just concluded Budget Session of the State Assembly but had also officially communicated with the Chief Minister of Assam, requesting collaboration to tackle air pollution in Byrnihat.
Byrnihat straddles the inter-state border, with part of it located in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district and part of it in Assam. The town has a heavy concentration of industries, many of them heavily polluting.
Sohtun said pollution in the region is not solely caused by industries located within Meghalaya’s jurisdiction but also by numerous factories in the neighbouring Assam. Therefore, if effective measures are being implemented by both, the two states will not only safeguard public health but also contribute to the protection of the environment, he added.
He praised the chief minister for proactive response and said he is hopeful that experts and all relevant departments will be engaged to free Byrnihat from the “undesirable ranking”.
