Byrnihat: India’s Most Polluted City and the Alarming Rise of Air Pollution in Northeast India

Byrnihat, located on the Assam-Meghalaya border, was ranked as the most polluted city in India in September 2024, with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 73 µg/m³. This level exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limit of 60 µg/m³ on 57% of the days during the month. According to a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the town recorded alarming levels of air pollution, with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 183 µg/m3. This figure was 60 µg/m3 higher than the second-most polluted city, Araria in Bihar. The staggering pollution levels in Byrnihat, located in a region otherwise renowned for its green landscape, have put a spotlight on the emerging environmental challenges faced by the northeastern states of India.

Understanding PM2.5 and Its Health Impact

PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller, which is small enough to be inhaled deeply into the lungs. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of PM2.5 is linked to various health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and can even shorten life expectancy. The World Health Organization (WHO) prescribes a safe annual average concentration of PM2.5 as 5 µg/m3. However, Byrnihat’s PM2.5 levels for February 2024 were nearly 36 times the WHO guideline, indicating an extreme health hazard for its residents.

Notably, Byrnihat’s PM2.5 concentration was almost 1.8 times higher than that recorded in Delhi, a city known globally for its severe air pollution, making Byrnihat’s pollution crisis all the more striking. The town’s significant industrial activity has made it a focal point of concern, particularly as the northeastern region of India is traditionally perceived as an ecologically pristine area with lush landscapes and relatively lower pollution levels compared to other parts of the country.

Why Is Byrnihat So Polluted?

Byrnihat’s rise to infamy as India’s most polluted city stems from a combination of factors. The region has witnessed rapid industrialization over the years, with numerous factories and industries operating in and around the town. These industrial operations often lack stringent pollution control measures, leading to uncontrolled emissions of pollutants, including PM2.5. According to the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, high concentrations of Particulate Matter levels may be attributed to the build-up of pollutants owing to emissions from industries located in the industrial area. The pollution is also associated with emissions from vehicles, dust generated due to the movement of vehicles, natural dust, and constructional activities, it further states.

Additionally, the lack of adequate public transportation infrastructure has led to a higher dependence on private vehicles, contributing to vehicular emissions. Poorly regulated construction activities in and around the town further exacerbate the problem, as construction dust is one of the primary sources of particulate matter pollution.

Moreover, Byrnihat lies on the border with Assam, which is also experiencing worsening air quality due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. This cross-border influence contributes to Byrnihat’s pollution woes. The industrial belt along the Assam-Meghalaya border has seen unregulated growth, making it difficult to implement air quality management practices effectively.

Father Francis from Byrnihat Catholic Church told CFC India, “We, the residents, have been grappling with polluted air for several years now. Byrnihat, being an industrial town, is heavily affected by the negligence of industries operating here. Many of these industries fail to follow proper environmental guidelines, releasing unfiltered smoke directly from their stacks. To make matters worse, officials from the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board often notify the industries in advance of inspections, giving them time to prepare and appear compliant. Apart from this, land mining is another issue in the region. Traditionally cultivated paddy fields are ruined because the dust from land mining is being discharged in the fields. This is a serious problem of both land and air pollution which Byrnihat is facing.”

Pollution in Northeast India: A Growing Concern

Byrnihat is not alone in the fight against rising pollution levels in Northeast India. The CREA report highlighted that five other urban centers from the region made it to the list of the 30 most polluted cities in India for February 2024. Nalbari, in Assam, ranked as the 5th most polluted city, while Agartala, Guwahati, and Nagaon took the 12th, 19th, and 28th spots, respectively. 

These findings are alarming, especially since the northeastern region is often viewed as one of India’s greenest areas. The region’s biodiversity and rich ecosystems have traditionally acted as a buffer against air pollution, but the rapid pace of industrialization, urbanization, and infrastructure development is threatening this balance. A large portion of the region still lacks comprehensive air quality monitoring systems, making it difficult to track and mitigate pollution levels effectively. 

Comparison with Other Polluted Cities in India

Byrnihat’s monthly average PM2.5 levels were not only the highest in India for February but also significantly higher than some of the most notorious polluted cities. For example, Bihar’s Araria, the second-most polluted city, recorded a PM2.5 concentration of around 123 µg/m3, while Hapur in Uttar Pradesh and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan followed closely behind. Delhi, which often tops pollution lists during the winter months, ranked 14th in February with a relatively lower PM2.5 concentration, thanks to improved wind speed and rising temperatures.

The report further revealed that 59 cities across India made it to the daily most polluted cities list for February, and 23 of these cities appeared at least five times during the 29 days. Byrnihat’s dominance at the top of the list underscores the severity of its pollution problem, which may not receive as much attention as more well-known polluted cities like Delhi or Mumbai but poses equally grave risks to public health.

The Path Forward for Byrnihat and Northeast India

Dr. Jayanta Sarma, an Environmentalist working in the areas of Natural Resource Management, Beltola, Guwahati told CFC India, “‘Byrnihat’ is the name placed in my memories as a place with fascinating nature engrained by the flow of the river of Umtru (which is called Digaru downstream in Assam).  It was around 1989-90 we used to travel by city bus from Guwahati to Byrnihat in winter, and from the main road, we trekked towards Umtru dam for training on river crossing from Cotton College Mountaineering Club. Each time we would return energized with nature’s bounty.”

“However, the landscape changed gradually, around 2005, industries were coming up, the flow of heavy vehicles increased, more and more population was concentrated around the industrial cluster, and the green, lush natural tranquility was replaced by high density, noise, dust, smoke and resulting alarming air pollution and environmental degradation. It is doubtful how this process of industrialization benefited the Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLC) of the greater area. On the contrary, it is a threat to the biodiversity of the area and to the broader ecological continuum. The entire situation portrays an example of how so-called industrialization is taking place not only in Meghalaya but also in the North Eastern Region of India,” he added.

Dr Sarma also said that these are displacement models of delinking people and their economic, ecological, and social security from their embedded relation with the ecosystem and ecological services, as ‘predators.’ “The region requires an ecosystem-based approach to the development model, and there is a need to look beyond the administrative boundary and consider ecological boundaries, like, watersheds, river basins, etc to design a developmental model for ecological, economic, and social security of the people of the region through interstate collaborative efforts,” he added.

Byrnihat’s pollution crisis is a stark reminder that no region is immune to the harmful effects of industrialization and urbanization. It serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, environmentalists, and residents alike. It highlights the urgent need for robust pollution control measures, especially in regions like Northeast India that are undergoing rapid industrialization but lack the infrastructure to effectively monitor and manage air quality. 

References:

https://cpcb.nic.in/Actionplan/Byrnihat.pdf

India monthly ambient air quality snapshot: September 2024

https://highlandpost.com/byrnihat-tops-10-polluted-towns-in-india

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