Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has stressed on the need of a coordinated approach between Meghalaya and Assam to improve the air quality of Byrnihat, listed as India’s most polluted town.
“To say that pollution is solely happening on one side of the border would not be fair. Both state governments and pollution control boards must work together,” he said in the Assembly today.
Sangma said he had written to the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to ensure closer collaboration on tackling pollution in the area.
Byrnihat, an industrial town on the border with Assam, was listed by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) as most polluted in 2024.
The chief minister informed the House that surprise inspections were conducted by the MSPCB in January and February 2025. Violations found included heavy emissions from chimneys, ineffective pollution control devices, and non-transmission of online emission data. As a result, closure notices were issued to seven industrial units, and environmental compensation was imposed on two units.
He assured that the State government had already sanctioned necessary posts for monitoring and enforcement and directed the pollution board to conduct frequent surprise inspections and take immediate action against industries violating norms. “We have already set an example by shutting down seven industrial units. This process will continue, and whoever violates the rules will face strict action,” he asserted.
While calling for partnership with communities to take proactive steps in reducing pollution, Sangma reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling pollution.
Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma acknowledged the gravity of the issue and reassured the House that the government was taking all necessary steps to address air pollution in Byrnihat. However, he clarified that the reported Air Quality Index (AQI) of 341, categorised as ‘very poor,’ was recorded by the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) located in Byrnihat, Assam, and not in Meghalaya.
“The Byrnihat industrial area in Assam has several red-category industries, and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified it as a critically polluted area. The Assam Pollution Control Board (PCBA) has already taken measures to address this,” the Chief Minister said.
However, he also mentioned that data collected by the MSPCB from four monitoring stations in January 2025 showed that AQI levels in three locations in Meghalaya were ‘satisfactory,’ while only the Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) in Byrnihat had a ‘moderate’ AQI reading.
