SHILLONG : The Meghalaya High Court on Monday expressed dissatisfaction with the State Health Department’s report on the pollution situation in Byrnihat, observing that it lacked the details needed to address the issues before the court.
Hearing the suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on pollution in the Byrnihat industrial belt, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said the report submitted by the department did not adequately deal with the concerns raised in the case. Advocate General Amit Kumar requested additional time to gather further information and place a comprehensive report before the court. Accepting the request, the Bench directed the state government to ensure that a senior officer familiar with the matter remains present during the next hearing.
The court also allowed the respondents to submit their affidavit and instructed the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to depute a responsible official to appear before the Bench. The PIL was initiated by the High Court on its own after reports highlighted deteriorating environmental conditions in Byrnihat. Among the documents taken into consideration was a study conducted by the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), which pointed to severe air pollution in the industrial area. The study identified emissions from industries and vehicles as major contributors to the worsening air quality and recommended continuous monitoring, stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and coordinated action by the governments of Meghalaya and Assam to tackle the crisis.
The court had also taken note of reports highlighting declining air and water quality in Byrnihat, along with a significant increase in respiratory illnesses among residents.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 23.