Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla faces a storm of criticism after claiming his department lacks official complaints regarding pollution in the industrial hub of Byrnihat. The minister insisted the government only learned of local factory concerns through social media reports.
"The Department can examine the matter if someone files an official complaint," Shylla told reporters Monday. He noted that while much of the toxic fallout reportedly drifts from factories across the border in Assam, pollution does not respect state lines.
Critics on social media slammed the government for passivity. One user compared the delay to a fire department waiting for a call while a house burns down. Another commenter pointed to numerous ethanol, beer, and ferro-silicon plants as the root of the crisis, accusing the state of ignoring the health of residents. Footage from a recent journalistic visit showed heavy dust coating local vegetation, fueling further public anger.
Shylla defended the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board despite the blowback. He credited the agency for its work in the region. Byrnihat sits in the Ri Bhoi district and remains one of the most polluted spots on the planet. Citizens now demand proactive monitoring rather than waiting for formal paperwork to address the thick, choking air.
Comments