Guwahati: In a bid to curb the issue of “unscientific hill cutting” in Meghalaya, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called on the residents of Guwahati to seek intervention from the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The appeal follows a surge in waterlogging incidents that have plagued Guwahati in Assam in recent weeks, causing significant disruption to daily life.
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Sarma’s statement comes just a day after he announced that his government would file a petition with the NGT against USTM, a private university in Meghalaya.
According to Sarma, the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), located in the 9th Mile area of Ri-Bhoi district, has engaged in hill cutting on its campus, leading to severe waterlogging in Guwahati, particularly in the Dispur and adjoining areas near Jorabat.
“Due to unscientific hill cutting in the Jorabat area, waterlogging has intensified in Guwahati. Those who criticize me should take note that the waterlogging is more severe in areas close to Jorabat than in other parts of the city,” Sarma stated while speaking to reporters.
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The Assam chief minister placed the blame squarely on USTM, accusing the university of being solely responsible for the city’s recent waterlogging woes.
He alleged that the university’s activities, which involve demolishing hills to construct new structures, have exacerbated the flooding issue in Assam’s largest city.
Founded by Mahbubul Hoque, who also serves as its chancellor, USTM has come under fire from the Assam government.
Last week, Sarma escalated his rhetoric, accusing the university of conducting a “flood jihad” through its construction practices, which he claims are a major factor behind the large-scale waterlogging affecting Guwahati.
The inter-state border area around Jorabat, where USTM is situated, serves as a key entry point to Guwahati and has become a focal point in the ongoing dispute between the Assam government and the university.