SHILLONG: The ongoing controversy surrounding air pollution in the industrial border town of Byrnihat has taken a serious turn, raising concerns not only for public health but also for the wider economic future of Meghalaya. Following the viral spread of video evidence showing thick emissions from industrial units, environmental anxieties have gripped the state.
Expressing the gravity of the situation, KHNAM spokesperson Thomas Passah emphasized that the visible degradation of the environment is no longer a hidden issue but a well-known public fact that has created a sense of fear and insecurity across the entire state of Meghalaya.
According to leadership assessments, the unchecked rise in industrial pollution carries severe long-term consequences that extend beyond immediate health hazards. There is growing concern that the negative publicity surrounding Byrnihat’s air quality could severely damage Meghalaya’s reputation as a pristine eco-tourism destination, thereby crippling the state’s vital tourism sector.
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KHNAM noted that the government can no longer afford to remain silent or passive in the face of such clear environmental threats, especially since national data has already flagged the region as a major pollution hotspot.
To support their argument against local regulatory claims, KHNAM highlighted an official report previously released by the Government of India concerning air quality. While the central report did not single out any individual factory, it explicitly categorized Byrnihat as the most polluted area in terms of air quality across the entire Northeast region.
KHNAM argues that this official recognition from the central government validates the public’s fears and directly contradicts the lenient stance of the state authorities.
The party accused the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board of potentially colluding with private companies to allow emissions to exceed legally permissible limits. The party maintained that the state’s oversight cannot be trusted, making an independent evaluation by the Central Pollution Control Board an absolute necessity to uncover the truth.
(4FrontMedia news)
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