Meghalaya Installs First Real-Time air monitor in Byrnihat to tackle rising pollution

Meghalaya has strengthened its environmental surveillance by installing a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) in Byrnihat, one of India’s increasingly scrutinised industrial pollution hotspots. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the system in Ri-Bhoi district, marking the first time Byrnihat will have real-time, continuous air-quality tracking.

Byrnihat, located along the Assam–Meghalaya border, has repeatedly featured among the country’s most polluted towns in recent assessments by IQAir and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Until now, the area relied primarily on manual air-quality monitoring stations, which collect samples periodically but do not provide automated or continuous data. Meghalaya already operated continuous monitors in parts of Shillong, but Byrnihat lacked such infrastructure.

Officials said the newly installed CAAQMS will record real-time levels of pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The system is expected to help the government track pollution spikes more accurately, take timely corrective action, and develop evidence-based policies to address industrial emissions.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Sangma who also oversees the Forests and Environment Department chaired a review meeting of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) in Shillong. He described the discussions as positive and said the state aims to streamline and strengthen the board’s operations. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for January to outline measures for expanding the MSPCB’s mandate and improving statewide environmental management.

As part of ongoing upgrades, Sangma also inaugurated a zero liquid discharge effluent treatment plant and a 47 kW grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic system at the MSPCB office. He later visited the board’s laboratories to review their technical capacity.

Officials say the combined initiatives of real-time air monitoring in Byrnihat, strengthened institutional oversight, pollution-control infrastructure and renewable-energy adoption represent a significant step in Meghalaya’s efforts to tackle rising industrial pollution and improve environmental governance.