SHILLONG, SEPT 22: Cabinet Minister and Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun on Tuesday said installation of air purifiers in Byrnihat is only on a trial basis and a pilot project will be taken up if it succeeds.
“The air purifiers where we have installed are just on trial only and if that succeeds, then only we can go for a pilot project,” Sohtun said.
He said the state government has also formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) involving the Pollution Board, village headmen and other departments to act against polluting industries.
“With regard to Joint Action Committee with the Pollution Board, the village headmen, with many other departments, that main JAC allows people from local, mean village headmen or others to lodge direct complaints if any of the industries violate the rules laid by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board,” he said.
Sohtun said action on the ground has been taken based on complaints.
“That is why we have seen many industrial units, once they get complaints and MSPCB found that they have violated, they have been closed. That is why action taken is there on ground, it is not that it is only on papers,” he said.
Asked about the number of complaints received so far, he said, “I am not heading the JAC, it is entirely with MSPCB, so for that I have to get from the Board, how many complaints.”He clarified the JAC is within Meghalaya jurisdiction.
“From the Meghalaya side because the JAC is formed within the jurisdiction of our state, so I cannot say about Assam, whatever committee they have formed,” he added.
On air pollution in Byrnihat, Sohtun said, “We have tried with the trial of the air purifier and if that succeeds we will go ahead with the pilot project and we ask the Chief Minister to go ahead with the pilot project. If 2-3 air purifiers are installed and if that succeeds and if we go for bigger numbers, that definitely will reduce air pollution in Byrnihat.”
