Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday virtually inaugurated three key pollution-control and renewable-energy facilities — a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System at 15th Mile in Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi, a Zero Liquid Discharge Effluent Treatment Plant at the MSPCB office in Shillong, and a 47 kW grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic system at the Board’s premises.
The interventions come months after Byrnihat was named the most polluted city in the world in the World Air Quality Report 2024 published by Swiss air-quality firm IQAir.
Earlier in the day, Sangma, who also holds the Forests & Environment portfolio, chaired a review meeting of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board at Lumpyngngad.
The meeting focused on strengthening the Board’s operational efficiency and ensuring its preparedness to effectively implement the Air, Water and Environment Acts.
The chief minister said a follow-up review in January will outline measures to widen the Board’s mandate and enhance its performance.
He expressed confidence that the MSPCB would “emerge as a vibrant and effective institution” capable of significantly improving air and water quality across the state.
Sangma also inspected the laboratories of the Pollution Control Board during his visit.
