Meghalaya’s Byrnihat Second-Most Polluted Place After Delhi: CREA
First Published: 8th March, 2025 19:19 IST
It found that Delhi remained the most polluted city in India, while Byrnihat closely followed as the second-most polluted.
Byrnihat in Meghalaya has emerged as the second-most polluted place in India this winter, ranking just behind Delhi, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The report highlights the persistent air pollution crisis in the region, with Byrnihat registering an average PM2.5 concentration of 157 micrograms per cubic metre, only slightly lower than Delhi’s 159 micrograms per cubic metre.
The CREA analysis, based on data from the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), covered 238 cities. It found that Delhi remained the most polluted city in India, while Byrnihat closely followed as the second-most polluted.
Byrnihat’s pollution problem is not new. In 2023, the CPCB declared it the most polluted urban centre in India, surpassing Delhi, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 302, categorising it as “very poor”. Despite this, no significant improvement was observed in 2024, as air quality continued to remain in the “very poor” category.
On the other hand, Aizawl in Mizoram recorded the lowest PM2.5 levels, making it the cleanest city in the country, with an average concentration of just 7 micrograms per cubic metre. Six cities from Karnataka and three from Tamil Nadu were also among the least polluted.
According to the study, four cities from the National Capital Region (NCR) Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Noida, and Charkhi Dadri—were also among the top 10 most polluted cities this winter.
The analysis noted that 100 cities appeared in the top 10 most polluted cities at least once during the 151-day winter period. Byrnihat had the highest recurrence (111 days), even more than Delhi (105 days), followed by Hajipur (80 days), Ghaziabad (52 days), and Bahadurgarh (47 days).
With Byrnihat once again ranking among the most polluted cities, environmental experts and policymakers stress the need for immediate interventions. Authorities must implement stricter pollution control measures and monitor industrial emissions to prevent further deterioration of air quality.
Also Read: Meghalaya CM Announces Committee to Examine Winter Capital Demand for Tura
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