SHILLONG: Byrnihat, a small town in Meghalaya, has taken the undesirable title of the most polluted urban centre in India, surpassing even the national capital, Delhi, and other major cities.
According to a daily bulletin from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Byrnihat’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has reached a worrying 302, placing it firmly in the “very poor” category. This ranking is based on the concentrations of various air pollutants that affect air quality.
Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, explained that while Meghalaya efficiently monitors its own industrial estate, the high concentration of factories on the Assam side necessitates a joint effort to mitigate pollution.
“As far as Byrnihat is concerned, the left side while going to Guwahati is Meghalaya and the right side is Assam. I think you must have seen quite a number of factories all along the right side whereas from our left side, we have only a designated industrial estate and we do also have factories but it is well monitored by the MSPCB,” he told the press.
The increasing levels of particulate matter in Byrnihat’s air are attributed to emissions from industries located in the area and vehicle emissions. Dust from vehicle movement, natural dust, and construction activities also contribute to the pollution levels, as reported by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB).
Currently, Byrnihat is among the 131 non-attainment cities under the National Clean Air Programme, with seven towns and cities in the Northeast, including Dimapur (Nagaland), Guwahati, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sibsagar, and Silchar (Assam), making the list.
In response to the report, the Meghalaya government has urged its Chief Secretary, DP Wahlang, to collaborate with his Assam counterpart to monitor and address the air pollution concerns in Byrnihat.
Byrnihat’s AQI was followed closely by Hanumangarh in Rajasthan with an AQI of 297 and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh with an AQI of 278.
Other cities and regions like Manesar, Bahadurgarh, Noida, and Ghaziabad also found themselves in the “poor” air quality category. Interestingly, Gurugram, part of the National Capital Region, was classified as “moderate” with an AQI of 190, distinguishing it from its more polluted counterparts.
Fortunately, no Indian city was classified under the “severe” category in the latest report.
