Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: The Meghalaya government insists it is following every order handed down by the High Court regarding air pollution in Byrnihat. A public interest petition currently sits before the court. The state claims full compliance as the legal battle over local air quality drags on.
Joram Beda, the Commissioner and Secretary for the Health and Family Welfare Department, confirmed the matter is sub judice. Officials remain tight-lipped while the case moves through the system. Meanwhile, worries about the long-term health impact on local residents continue to grow.
Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla noted that the department lacks any official reports regarding respiratory illness in the area. No paper trail exists. "As of now, we have not received any written complaint as such," Shylla said.
The minister urged residents to file formal reports if they fear the poor air quality is making them sick. Authorities need documentation to launch an official response. For now, the government maintains it is doing exactly what the court requested.
Updated at 13th August 2026 at 9:46pm
In a separate legal headache for the administration, the High Court cracked down on the government over unpaid medical and travel bills for judicial officers. A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere ordered the state to pay 9 percent annual interest on reimbursements that have sat in limbo for years. Some claims dating back to 2014 remain unpaid despite being relatively small amounts.
Advocate General A. Kumar promised the court that the state would settle the backlog within two weeks. The court also ordered the Commissioner and Secretary of the Law Department to launch an inquiry into the bureaucratic gridlock and hold the responsible officials accountable. Additionally, the Bench has ordered a task force of government departments to meet and settle a long-standing land dispute involving the GPO near the High Court.
Updated at 13th August 2026 at 10:15pm
Beyond the pollution standoff, the Health Department is shifting focus to emergency services. Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla confirmed the government now holds a study report on the performance of GVK-EMRI under the National Health Mission. The state plans to summon 108 emergency service employees for a sit-down to hash out the findings and decide how to proceed with the service provider.
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