Is Byrnihat's Ethanol Plant Polluting? Meghalaya's Pollution Board Finds No Violations

Inspection Results from Byrnihat's Distillery Unit

Shillong: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) announced on Tuesday that its examination of an ethanol distillery in Byrnihat revealed no breaches of the established emission standards.

This investigation was prompted by public worries fueled by social media claims about pollution from the facility, which was highlighted in a 2024 report as one of the most polluted metropolitan areas globally.

The MSPCB dispatched a task force to evaluate M/s Umiam Distillation Pvt Ltd located in the Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) on June 29, taking initiative without waiting for a formal complaint.

During the assessment, the team conducted source-emission monitoring, analyzing particulate matter (PM), stack velocity, differential pressure, and temperature.

According to the board, the concentration of PM was significantly below the limits set forth in the unit's Consent to Operate (CTO).

The pollution control measures in place, including an Electrostatic Precipitator for the captive power plant and a Multi-Effect Evaporator paired with a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system for the distillery, were confirmed to be operational.

Additionally, raw and treated effluent samples were collected for laboratory testing, and it was noted that the liquid discharge facility was operational, with treated water being reused in the cooling tower.

Byrnihat, situated on the Meghalaya-Assam border, was identified as the world's most polluted metropolitan area in the 2024 World Air Quality Report published by the Swiss air quality monitoring organization IQAir earlier this year.

In response to this report, the Meghalaya government intensified inspections and enforcement actions against polluting industries, leading to the closure of several non-compliant red-category units, enhancing compliance checks, and bolstering ambient air quality monitoring.

The MSPCB emphasized that Byrnihat, classified as a non-attainment town under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), is under constant observation, with multiple industries ordered to cease operations over the last two years.

The board reassured that it is attentive to the health concerns of local residents and that monitoring and enforcement efforts in Byrnihat will persist in a transparent and consistent manner.