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APSC Answer Writing (Daily) based on Assam Tribune – 11/4/2025

For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, practicing Daily Answer Writing is vital. This blog covers the most important Main question and its model Answer from the Assam Tribune today (11-04-2025).

Mains Question & Model Answer

📝 Mains Question (GS Paper 3 – Environment | Governance | Public Health)

“The Byrnihat pollution crisis exemplifies the growing tension between industrial expansion and citizens’ right to a clean environment.”
Discuss the causes, consequences, and policy responses needed to balance economic development with environmental sustainability.

✅ Model Answer:

🔹 Introduction

Byrnihat, an industrial town on the Assam-Meghalaya border, has recently gained global infamy as one of the most polluted places in the world. The unchecked growth of coke and cement factories, along with regulatory gaps and lack of environmental safeguards, has turned this region into a public health and environmental emergency.

🔹 Causes of Pollution in Byrnihat

Cause	Explanation
Industrial Clustering	Dense concentration of high-emission units like coke ovens and cement kilns without proper zoning.
Weak Enforcement	Limited monitoring by the Pollution Control Boards due to manpower and tech limitations.
Regulatory Loopholes	Industries operate under outdated environmental clearances or in grey regulatory zones.
Cross-Border Complexity	Located at the Assam-Meghalaya border, enforcement is often diluted due to inter-state jurisdictional issues.
Public Disengagement	Lack of local awareness and community-level participation in pollution reporting or redressal.

🔹 Consequences of the Crisis

Health Burden: Increased respiratory illnesses, low life expectancy, and vulnerability to cardiac and lung diseases.
Environmental Degradation: Rising PM2.5 levels, loss of green cover, and contamination of soil and water bodies.
Economic Costs: Medical expenses, reduced productivity, and negative perception for potential investors.
Violation of Rights: Breach of Article 21 – Right to Life, which the Supreme Court interprets to include the right to clean air.

🔹 Government Responses So Far

Pollution Control Board Assam (PCBA): Issuing show-cause notices, conducting air quality surveys.
Air Quality Monitoring Stations: Installed in Byrnihat and surrounding areas.
State Climate Action Plan: Identified Byrnihat as a pollution hotspot.
Workshops and Public Dialogues: Held in universities to raise awareness, with support from NGOs like Green Chapter Foundation.

🔹 Way Forward: A Holistic Strategy

1. Regulatory Strengthening

Update emission norms for coke and cement industries.
Enforce real-time emissions monitoring and penalties for non-compliance.

2. Technological Interventions

Promote wet scrubbers, surfactant-based filters, and clean energy usage.
Incentivize shift to electric vehicles and dust-free logistics in industrial zones.

3. Institutional Coordination

Create inter-state environmental task forces between Assam and Meghalaya.
Integrate local panchayats and urban bodies into monitoring efforts.

4. Legal Recognition

Consider enacting a Clean Air Act that codifies the right to breathe clean air.
Mandate citizen representation in environmental hearings and EIA consultations.

5. Public Engagement and Transparency

Develop AQI mobile apps with local alerts.
Conduct school-based education on environmental health.

🔹 Conclusion

The Byrnihat crisis serves as a warning that industrial development without environmental foresight can erode fundamental rights. India’s pursuit of economic growth must be anchored in sustainability, equity, and legal accountability. Byrnihat can become a model of green industrial reform — if the will to act aligns with the need to protect life.

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