Nongpoh, Jul 6: Community and Rural Development Minister and Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun today convened a special meeting with officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation Limited (MIDC), representatives of the Byrnihat Industries Association (BIA) and village leaders to discuss measures to tackle the worsening pollution in Byrnihat’s Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP).
The meeting was attended by MSPCB Chairman R Nainamalai, Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Saini, Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police Giri Prasad, MSPCB Member Secretary DH Chyrmang, senior officials and scientists from the MSPCB, representatives of MIDC and Public Works Department (PWD), as well as village heads under the banner of the Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong Byrnihat Area.
During the discussion, the village representatives expressed their frustration, alleging that officials had failed to understand the hardships faced by local residents. They claimed that inspection teams often arrive in air-conditioned vehicles and therefore do not experience the pollution endured by the public on a daily basis.
The village leaders further alleged that industries temporarily reduce emissions whenever they receive prior information about MSPCB inspections. They also voiced concerns over the increasing number of health problems in the area, including tuberculosis (TB), respiratory illnesses and the frequent foul odour allegedly emanating from several factories. According to them, these issues have severely affected the quality of life of residents.
Responding to the concerns, MSPCB officials stated that the board has been continuously working to address the pollution problem and has not remained idle. To ensure quicker reporting of environmental violations, the board has constituted a committee through which residents and village leaders can directly submit complaints supported by photographs and videos. Officials said this would enable the department to take prompt action against violators.
The officials also stressed the need to establish a regional office of the MSPCB in Byrnihat so that monitoring can be carried out more effectively without officials having to travel from Shillong. Sohtun assured the gathering that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, representatives of the BIA maintained that many reports and images circulating on social media and other platforms were misleading and did not accurately reflect the present situation. They asserted that industries in Meghalaya have taken significant steps to reduce pollution and claimed that a large portion of the pollution affecting Byrnihat originates from industries located across the interstate border in Assam.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Sohtun said that the issue of pollution in Byrnihat is not new and acknowledged that officials, industry representatives and village leaders had all presented their respective views during the meeting.
The minister further said that discussions also focused on preventing industries from discharging untreated waste into the Umtrew River. Regarding complaints of foul odours, he directed the MSPCB to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the source and take necessary action.
He informed that the committee constituted by the MSPCB, in collaboration with village leaders, will enable the public to report any violations by industries through photographs and video evidence. This mechanism, he said, would help authorities initiate immediate action against factories found violating pollution control norms.
On the demand for a permanent MSPCB regional office in Byrnihat, Sohtun reiterated his commitment to place the proposal before the CM. He also said that joint inspections and discussions would be held with the authorities in Assam, considering that many industries are located along the Meghalaya-Assam border.
