Shillong: A viral video showing thick smoke and black dust from an ethanol plant in Byrnihat has triggered public fury. Residents say the facility is choking the area. They report difficulty breathing and black soot coating their homes and food. Locals worry about a spike in cancer and lung issues.
The government remains unmoved. Meghalaya Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla claims the state has no official record of the problem. He says the government only knows about the factory because of social media reports. "The Department can examine the matter if someone files an official complaint," Shylla said.
Shylla insists the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board is doing a good job. He even touted an award the board received for its environmental work. When pressed on whether the plant sits in Meghalaya or Assam, the minister refused to comment. He blamed the confusion on a lack of clear location details.
The controversy hits as Union Minister Nitin Gadkari pushes ethanol-blended fuel as a green solution for the country. Critics argue the reality in Byrnihat proves otherwise. The area already holds a reputation as one of the most polluted spots on the planet. Officials acknowledge the fumes cross borders, yet they refuse to act without formal paperwork.
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