SHILLONG, JUN 29: The Health Department will not conduct a survey on the ethanol factory in Byrnihat unless it receives formal complaints or concrete evidence of health impacts, Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla said Monday.
“As of now we have not received any written complaint. We only came to know about this issue from social media,” Shylla told reporters. “Until we have a written complaint or concrete evidence that it is affecting public health, only then will the Health Department commission a survey.”
He reiterated that no affected party had approached the department. “No one has come forward with a formal complaint so far,” he said. Addressing broader pollution concerns in the area, Shylla said Byrnihat’s situation was not new. “This has come up before and was even reported in the national media,” he said. He said the town’s location complicates accountability. “Byrnihat is a border area with Assam, and there is still debate over the origin of most of the pollution.
A majority of the factories are believed to be in Assam,” Shylla noted. “That is why there is debate on how much pollution is coming from which side. But we also recognise that pollution knows no boundary. It will affect both states,” he added.
Shylla said the Chief Minister had already raised the matter with Assam. “The Chief Minister had assured last time that he would take it up with our counterpart in Assam to discuss how to bring down the pollution,” he said. He cited a recent accolade as proof of the state’s commitment.
“Just a few days ago, if I am not mistaken, the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board received an award for its efforts in reducing pollution in Byrnihat,” Shylla said. “That itself shows the government is fully aware of the issue and is treating it seriously.”
On questions specific to the ethanol unit, the minister said he lacked details. “I don’t have proper knowledge about the particular factory because I also came to know of it only a few days ago,” he said. “Since it does not fall under my department, it would not be wise for me to comment on something I am not fully sure of,” Shylla added. He said the factory’s location remained unclear. “But Byrnihat is a border area. So the unit could be in Meghalaya or in Assam,” he said.
