Last week, Byrnihat, a small industrial town situated along the Assam-Meghalaya border, earned the unfortunate title of being the "most polluted city in the world" due to its alarming PM 2.5 concentration. The report, published by IQAir, a Swiss company that tracks global air quality, revealed that Byrnihat now has the highest annual average of harmful particulate matter in the world, surpassing many other industrial cities globally.
Byrnihat: A Growing Industrial Hub with Severe Pollution Issues
Byrnihat, located in Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district, has evolved into a regional industrial hub over the years, hosting several polluting industries. These include coke production, cement, ferro alloy, steel, distillation, and brick manufacturing units. Due to its proximity to the Assam-Meghalaya border, industrial units in Byrnihat are split between the two states, with some factories located in the Byrnihat Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) in Meghalaya, while others are situated in Assam’s Tamulikuchi area, which lies across the National Highway.
This unique jurisdictional overlap has led to a blame game between the two states, with Meghalaya officials accusing Assam of housing a higher concentration of ‘red category’ (highly polluting) industries, while Assam attributes pollution to hill-cutting activities occurring in Meghalaya. However, in light of Byrnihat’s dire air quality, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma reached out to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging both states to take joint action, enlisting experts and officials to address the pollution crisis.
Collaborative Efforts to Combat Pollution in Byrnihat
In response to the critical situation, authorities from both Assam and Meghalaya have initiated coordinated efforts to control the pollution in Byrnihat. On Wednesday, officials from the Pollution Control Board of Assam (PCBA), the district administration, industry representatives, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), and the District Disaster Management Authority in Assam’s Kamrup Metropolitan district met to draft a comprehensive pollution mitigation plan.
As part of the plan, a joint team has started compliance checks for industries in the region, with plans to shut down non-compliant units. The enforcement department has also begun inspecting vehicles along the highway for adherence to pollution norms. Additionally, prohibitory orders have been issued to prevent hill cutting, tree cutting, and the burning of waste in the area.
Focus on Cement Factories and Short-Term Pollution Control Measures
Arup Kumar Misra, the chairman of the Pollution Control Board of Assam, emphasized that cement factories in the area are the primary focus, given that the cement industry is one of the most polluting sectors in the region. Real-time monitoring will be conducted at eight cement factories in Byrnihat over the next week to measure pollution levels. According to officials, they aim to see significant improvements within the next month.
Long-Term Solutions for a Cleaner Byrnihat
In addition to the immediate actions, a five-year pollution control plan has been outlined. The plan is divided into short-term, mid-term, and long-term steps. The first six months will focus on ensuring industry compliance with pollution norms, preventing illegal tree and hill cutting, and launching a large-scale plantation drive. For the mid-term, industries will be encouraged to convert 30% of their campuses into green zones. The long-term goal is to transition industries in Byrnihat to non-polluting energy sources.
State Action Plans and Government Oversight
The Meghalaya state action plan for the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution, released in December 2024, highlighted 39 industrial units in Assam and 41 in Meghalaya located in Byrnihat. Of these, 20 in Assam and five in Meghalaya are classified as ‘red category’ industries. To further tackle the pollution issue, the Meghalaya Forest & Environment Department has mandated the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to conduct a comprehensive audit and inspection of all industries in the area. MSPCB chairman R. Nainamalai confirmed that a task force had been formed to oversee this audit and report findings within a week.
Conclusion: A Unified Approach to Pollution Control
The pollution crisis in Byrnihat highlights the urgent need for coordinated action between Assam and Meghalaya to address environmental concerns that affect both states. As the situation stands, joint efforts are essential to mitigate the pollution and prevent further damage to the health and well-being of the people living in the region. With industries taking responsibility and state governments actively pursuing solutions, Byrnihat can potentially recover from its status as the world’s most polluted city.
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