UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 March 2025

• Industrial Pollution :

  Byrnihat, located 20 km from Guwahati and 65 km from Shillong, has developed into a major industrial hub over the years. It hosts several industries, many of which contribute significantly to air pollution.

  • The industries in Byrnihat are located in both Meghalaya and Assam.
  • In Meghalaya, they are concentrated in the Byrnihat Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP).
  • In Assam, they are located in Tamulikuchi, Kamrup Metropolitan district, along the national highway.

The Meghalaya State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Air Pollution (2024) reported 39 industrial units in Assam and 41 in Meghalaya in Byrnihat.

• • 20 units in Assam and 5 in Meghalaya belong to the red category.
  • 15 units in Assam and 22 in Meghalaya belong to the orange category.

The proximity of these industries to coal reserves and water sources like the Umtru River has facilitated their growth, but has also significantly contributed to air pollution.

• Non-Compliance with Pollution Control Norms: Authorities have found widespread violations of pollution control norms in Byrnihat.

  • In January-February 2024, the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board conducted surprise inspections and:
    • Served closure notices to seven industries.
    • Imposed environmental penalties on two units.
  • Violations included:
    • Excessive emissions due to non-functional pollution control devices.
    • Ineffective emission reduction mechanisms.
    • Failure to transmit online pollution data to regulators.

The Assam Pollution Control Board has also identified violations by industries failing to operate pollution control equipment to reduce operational costs.

• Vehicular Emissions and Traffic Congestion: Byrnihat serves as an important transit hub for vehicles transporting goods to and from industrial areas.

  • Heavy-duty diesel vehicles frequently idle in traffic congestion, releasing large amounts of PM2.5, PM10, and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).
  • Loading and unloading activities contribute to additional dust pollution.
  • Many of these vehicles fail to comply with emission norms, exacerbating air quality issues.

• Topographical Factors and Meteorological Conditions: Byrnihat’s geographical location and topography contribute significantly to its air pollution crisis.

  • The region is situated in a low-altitude basin (60 metres above sea level), surrounded by hills on both sides.
  • This creates a “valley-and-basin effect”, where:
    • Wind speed is significantly reduced.
    • Pollutants remain trapped instead of dispersing into the atmosphere.
  • The presence of unpaved roads further aggravates road dust pollution, as observed in a CSIR-NEERI survey (2022-23).

These natural conditions worsen pollution levels and prevent the effective dilution of airborne pollutants.