SHILLONG : Sosthenes Sohtun, the NPP MLA from Jirang ( Ri Bhoi district) and a Cabinet Minister in the Meghalaya government, on Wednesday he said that current data does not back up claims labelling Byrnihat as the most polluted place on earth, even as he admitted pollution remains a genuine issue in the border industrial belt.
“As per the present data, it is not like that. Byrnihat is an industrial area, so there will be pollution,” Sohtun said, pushing back on the widely circulated ranking while stopping short of dismissing the problem altogether.
He said the state government, alongside the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) and other officials, is working to ensure industrial units comply with pollution norms, warning that strict action will follow against violators found in breach.
Sohtun pointed out that the pollution problem doesn’t stop at Meghalaya’s border, noting that a considerable number of industrial units operating on the Assam side also add to the region’s overall pollutant load. He said the state government and MSPCB have been in continuous coordination with both the Assam Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution Control Board to work out ways to bring down emissions. “The Chief Minister has also been coordinating with the Assam government because, in border areas, cooperation between both state governments is essential,” he added.
On the technology front, the minister revealed that new machines capable of reportedly absorbing 40 to 50 percent of pollutants are currently undergoing trials. “It is still at the trial stage, and further studies will be conducted. If the results are satisfactory, I will request the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Urban Affairs to undertake a pilot project,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the health impact of pollution in the area, Sohtun said the Health Department has been directed to carry out a dedicated study. “Technically, I cannot say that people are getting TB, cancer or any other disease because of pollution. Once the study is completed, I will be able to explain the actual situation,” he added.