Shillong, July 27: High Court of Meghalaya has asked the Central
Pollution Control Board to file an affidavit with respect to the steps taken vis-à-vis addressing the issue of
pollution with the Assam Pollution Control Board, since part of Byrnihat comes in Assam and which also has industries in the area.
The direction was from the division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh
An officer from the Central Pollution Control Board will have to be present through VC during the next hearing on August 10.
The court appointed Advocate Philemon Nongbri as an Amicus Curia to be assisted by advocates R.Pahsyntiew and D.S. Pajat.
The court asked Nongbri as well as the Secretary, DLSA, Nongpoh, to visit Byrnihat area, including the PHC and submit a report on the next date.
Referring to the affidavit filed by Meghalaya state pollution control board, the court found that there are several
shortcomings in the affidavit, in as much as, there is no data of the action taken against the polluting industries in Byrnihat, including industries polluting the Umtrew river. When the same
was pointed out to the counsel more time was sought to file a comprehensive affidavit, giving a detailed response of the
data, including the action taken by the MSPCB vis-à-vis each of the specific and general recommendations given by NEERI.
The affidavit to also contain the steps/action taken by the
authority vis-à-vis pollution of Waikhyrwi River in Sutnga, River Thwai Kungor in Bapung, River Rawaka, River Kmai-um, StreamMetyngka in Rymbai, River Ummynkseh in Lad Rymbai, River
Umkyrpong in Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills.
Infact, the water quality of the rivers in East Jaintia Hills has been analysed by several institutes, including the Meghalaya Institute of Natural Resources.
The Additional Advocate General has been asked to inform the court with respect to the steps that will be taken by the concerned departments i.e.,
the PWD and MIDC for construction of roads within the Byrnihat
area, where industries are functioning, in view of the report received from NEERI and the recommendations made therein.
Health issues
The additional advocate general has also tendered an affidavit of the
Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya,
Health Department, dated 22nd July, 2026. The same was also taken on record.
The court said from the affidavit, it appears that the Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) cum Jt. MD NHM, Meghalaya, has
issued a letter dated 22nd July, 2026 to the Director of Health
Services (MI), Meghalaya, to conduct a research study titled
“Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Respiratory
Symptoms in Meghalaya”.
It further appears from the letter
that the study has been sanctioned under the FMR Code and the total budget of Rs 12 lakh has been approved for conducting research across the state.
The study will be conducted in a phased
manner, the first phase being Ri-Bhoi District (the Byrnihat area).
The government will make efforts to
submit a preliminary report with respect to the district at the
earliest.
Although there is a Primary Health Centre (PHC) and there are many
patients suffering from acute respiratory illness seen at the Centre.
There is no radiologist attached to the PHC and that all the X-rays are
forwarded to Nongpoh Civil Hospital, where there is a radiologist
to enable him to submit a report.
“Considering, the huge number of respiratory illnesses in
the area of Byrnihat, the court requested the Health Department to
consider, whether a radiologist can be sent thrice a week to the
PHC at Byrnihat. The Health Department to submit its report on the next date.
The court also wants steps to be taken
to address emissions from
vehicular traffic, in particular, emission of trucks in the area, as observed in the NEERI report.
