Shillong, July 1, 2026: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has said that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has shut down six factories in the industrial hub of Byrnihat over the past few months for failing to comply with environmental regulations.
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Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said the government is taking pollution in Byrnihat seriously and has adopted real-time monitoring systems to track air quality and industrial emissions. He assured that strict action would continue against industries violating environmental norms.
Sangma said Byrnihat, located along the Meghalaya-Assam border, is a shared industrial zone with factories operating on both sides of the interstate boundary. As a result, pollution in the area is a common concern requiring coordinated efforts by both state governments.
"Byrnihat is an industrial area with industries on both the Meghalaya and Assam sides. There are many activities taking place in and around the area, so pollution is a shared issue. However, we are continuously monitoring the situation," he said.
The Chief Minister revealed that the Pollution Control Board has closed six industrial units during the last three to four months after audits found them violating environmental standards.
"The Pollution Board is continuously monitoring every industrial unit. If anything is found to be out of line, those units will also be closed. It's as simple as that," Sangma said.
He explained that Meghalaya no longer relies solely on manual inspections to monitor pollution. Instead, the government has installed live monitoring sensors that provide real-time information on pollution levels.
According to Sangma, authorities receive instant alerts whenever pollution exceeds the permissible limit, enabling them to respond immediately.
"We have live monitoring systems. We don't depend only on manual reports from our offices anymore. Sensors continuously monitor pollution levels, and whenever they cross the prescribed limit, the information reaches us instantly and immediate action is taken," he said.
The Chief Minister also announced that installing continuous pollution monitoring systems is being made mandatory for all major industries classified as high-polluting units.
Addressing concerns over ethanol manufacturing plants operating in the region, Sangma said it would be unfair to blame ethanol units alone for environmental pollution.
He noted that ethanol plants generally use relatively cleaner raw materials such as broken rice and, in some cases, bamboo, unlike industries such as ferro-alloy or cement plants that involve more polluting processes.
"An ethanol plant is like any other industrial plant. As far as I know, audits have already been conducted. Compared to many other industries, ethanol plants use cleaner raw materials. Therefore, it would be incorrect to single out one particular ethanol plant and blame it for pollution," he said.
However, Sangma assured that the government would not hesitate to investigate complaints against any industrial unit.
"If there is any major concern, I am more than happy to send officials to inspect the plant again. Environmental protection is more important to me. If anything is found to be violating the rules, action will definitely be taken," he said.
The Chief Minister said Meghalaya and Assam authorities remain in regular coordination on pollution control measures in Byrnihat. While some level of industrial activity is expected in a major industrial zone, he stressed that pollution must remain within permissible limits.
He reiterated that industries failing to install required pollution-control equipment or violating environmental regulations would face strict enforcement.
"I want to assure the public that if any industry is found flouting environmental rules or operating without the required safeguards, strict action will be taken in accordance with the law," Sangma said.
Byrnihat, one of the largest industrial clusters in the Northeast, has frequently come under scrutiny over concerns related to air quality and industrial pollution. The Meghalaya government's latest actions underscore its efforts to strengthen environmental compliance through technology-driven monitoring and stricter enforcement.
