Why Is Byrnihat In India World's Most Polluted City? Reasons Behind Its Alarming AQI
Byrnihat serves as a major transit hub between Assam and Meghalaya. But, its rapid industrialisation and unregulated emissions have turned it into a pollution hotspot.
Byrnihat, a small industrial town located on the Assam-Meghalaya border, has been ranked as the most polluted city in the world, according to the World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir.
With an alarming average PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 µg/m³, the town has surpassed even the most notorious urban centres for air pollution. Despite India seeing a 7% decline in PM2.5 levels in 2024, Byrnihat continues to suffer from toxic air quality, making it a significant concern for environmentalists and policymakers.
Byrnihat's Pollution Crisis
Byrnihat serves as a major transit hub between Assam and Meghalaya. But, its rapid industrialisation and unregulated emissions have turned it into a pollution hotspot. According to reports, the town is home to many factories, including iron and steel plants, distilleries, cement units and beverage production facilities.
These industrial units release massive amounts of toxic gas into the air, contributing heavily to the high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). The heavy movement of trucks transporting goods between Assam and Meghalaya further worsens the air quality.
Public Outrage And Government Action
The deteriorating air quality in Byrnihat has also severely impacted the local residents. In January, locals took to the streets to protest against rising pollution levels and its impact on their health.
Earlier this month, seven industrial units were shut down in Byrnihat for violating environmental regulations, according to a Shillong Times report. In addition, the state pollution control board has been directed by the government to carry out surprise inspections and take strict action against defaulting industries.
India’s Air Pollution Crisis
India remains a key focus in global air pollution rankings, with 13 of the world’s top 20 most polluted cities located in the country. While India saw a 7% decline in its average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 — dropping from 54.4 µg/m³ in 2023 to 50.6 µg/m³ — it still ranks as the world’s fifth most polluted nation, compared to the third place in the previous year.
New Delhi, consistently battling hazardous air quality, remains the most polluted capital city globally with an annual PM2.5 average of 91.6 µg/m³.
