Responding to the designation of Byrnihat as the most polluted city in the nation, elected representatives and civil servants held a meeting to formulate strategies aimed at mitigating pollution levels in the Ri-Bhoi town.
Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun chaired the meeting in Byrnihat, which included local MDC Victor Rani, Block Development Officer of Umling and Assistant Commissioner Eric Kevin Dkhar, Senior Scientist of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) K Swer and other representatives from the relevant department.
The meeting provided a platform for addressing concerns and discussing viable solutions to combat the pressing pollution issue.
Sohtun, the local representative, emphasised the gravity of the situation during the meeting. He conveyed that he had engaged in serious discussions with officials, particularly those from the MSPCB.
Meanwhile, Swer said that the MSPCB is identifying the primary sources and contributors to air pollution in Byrnihat, which houses numerous industries and which is located close to the Assam border.
Swer stated, “The main contribution of air pollution is yet to be pinpointed due to Byrnihat’s location in an industrialised border area. Extensive research by experts is imperative to trace the sources accurately.”
In addressing this issue, the Board has enlisted the services of the Centre for Science and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) in Kolkata. They will conduct a study utilising scientific devices to identify the sources of air pollution.
Swer further disclosed that the Board is actively working towards implementing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), involving multiple stakeholders and fostering mass awareness among the local populace.