Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has clarified that Byrnihat being named the world’s most polluted in the 2024 World Air Quality Report was based on data from an Assam monitoring station. He emphasised that the AQI figures used for this ranking came from Assam’s equipment, whereas Meghalaya’s own monitoring stations recorded different readings.

Speaking on the issue, Sangma said, "I have mentioned in my reply that all the records that have been shown in different newspaper clippings were records that were taken by the Assam monitoring station which came out with the numbers and showed very poor AQI. Whereas, when we looked at Meghalaya our stations and our equipment, in January 2025, our readings have shown that the 3 locations in those areas where we have stations showed satisfactory and moderate."

He further emphasised that the state government remains committed to improving air quality. "I want to clarify this that yes we would want that the air quality is the best possible for our citizens but I am trying to clarify that the very poor index that we keep referring to is from Assam station," Sangma added.

India is home to 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities, with Byrnihat in Meghalaya ranking as the most polluted globally. This finding comes from the 2024 World Air Quality Report by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir.

Byrnihat has become a pollution hotspot, with PM2.5 and PM10 levels remaining at hazardous levels throughout the year.