Environmental Federalism and Cross-Border Air Pollution Governance in India: A Comparative Analysis of Government Responses in Meghalaya and Assam in the Byrnihat Industrial Corridor

Treemmi Lamare

Environmental Federalism and Cross-Border Air Pollution Governance in India: A Comparative Analysis of Government Responses in Meghalaya and Assam in the Byrnihat Industrial Corridor

Author(s)	Dr. Treemmi Lamare
Country	India
Abstract	Air pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental governance challenges in India, particularly in industrial regions that transcend administrative boundaries. The Byrnihat Industrial Corridor, located along the Assam–Meghalaya border, has recently attracted national attention due to its deteriorating air quality and the complex governance issues associated with regulating industrial emissions across two state jurisdictions. This paper examines the governmental responses of Meghalaya and Assam to the Byrnihat air pollution crisis through the theoretical perspectives of environmental federalism and multi-level governance. Employing a qualitative comparative case study design, the study analyses policy documents, legislation, reports of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB), National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, government notifications, and secondary academic literature. The findings indicate that although both states recognize the severity of the pollution crisis, their approaches differ significantly in terms of regulatory enforcement, industrial policy, institutional coordination, and political commitment. Meghalaya has increasingly adopted precautionary regulatory measures, including restrictions on new industrial establishments in the Byrnihat area, while Assam has concentrated more on industrial regulation within its jurisdiction. Despite these efforts, inadequate inter-state coordination, fragmented institutional responsibilities, overlapping regulatory jurisdictions, and inconsistent enforcement continue to impede effective environmental governance. The paper argues that existing federal arrangements require stronger mechanisms for cooperative environmental governance and recommends the establishment of a permanent inter-state environmental authority, integrated air-quality monitoring systems, harmonized regulatory standards, and enhanced public participation to address cross-border pollution effectively.
Keywords	Environmental governance, environmental federalism, Byrnihat, Meghalaya, Assam, air pollution, cooperative federalism, public policy.
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-07-31

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Environmental Federalism and Cross-Border Air Pollution Governance in India: A Comparative Analysis of Government Responses in Meghalaya and Assam in the Byrnihat Industrial Corridor

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