Ri Bhoi:
Don Bosco School in Harlibagan, Byrnihat, Ri Bhoi District, has been facing challenges reportedly due to nearby factories that release foul odours and air pollution.
On February 9, 2023, while students were practicing for an upcoming sports event, they suddenly began vomiting, “due to smoke emitted from Meghalaya Cast and Alloy Private Limited, the factory located in close proximity to the school.”
School authorities informed that this is not a one-off incident. This is a recurring problem.
In response to the incident at Don Bosco School in Harlibagan, Byrnihat, a team from The Meghalayan visited the site to investigate.
The school’s principal, Fr. Kmenlang Nongrum stated that the factory in question has been causing them a lot of problems, health-wise.
He has received multiple complaints about the smoke and foul odour emitted by the factory, which has adversely affected the health of students and residents. Additionally, the factory has been alleged of releasing sewage into the nearby river, causing pollution concerns.
According to traditional heads, including headman Sisten Nongrum and village secretary Bosco Klein, the factory has had severe impacts on the health of students and residents of the village.
The local leaders questioned how the factory was granted permission to operate so close to the school, which was established in the area before February 5, 1997.
The factory’s lack of a valid No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the village since November 2022 has caused further concern.
In December 2022, the new executive committee of the village issued an official letter to the factory owner, requesting the necessary documents and outlining village rules and conditions to minimise emissions.
However, the company has not complied with the request, which has angered village leaders who feel disrespected by the factory’s lack of action.
Following a complaint lodged against them, the caretaker of the industry has denied any wrongdoing.
According to the caretaker, the smoke emissions that were observed did not originate solely from their factory but also from other factories in the surrounding area.
Additionally, they stated that they do not discharge any waste or sewage into the river and instead, purchase and collect it for proper disposal, adding that the factory’s daily release of 80 tons of metal is closely monitored and they are committed to maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
After a video of a student vomiting went viral on social media, the district administration, led by Magistrate L Kharmon, and the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, headed by Y.F. Laloo, Environmental Engineer, sprang into action.
They conducted inspections of almost all the factories located in the area and collected necessary tests.
Mentionably, the State Pollution Control Board had previously imposed environmental compensation on various industries in the Byrnihat area in December 2022, January 2023, and February 2023, in line with the Polluter Pay principle. Many units have already deposited the EC with the board.
The Board plans to continue monitoring the industries in the area, and any industry found violating environmental laws will be subject to penalties in accordance with applicable acts and regulations.