GUWAHATI
In a significant development, Assam and Meghalaya are set to establish a joint committee to investigate allegations that a private university is contributing to flooding in Guwahati by flattening local hills. This decision comes in the wake of severe rainfall that inundated much of Guwahati on August 5.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) of orchestrating a ‘flood jihad’ as the region grappled with the aftermath of heavy rainfalls. The USTM is located on a low hill in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district, adjacent to the southern edge of Guwahati.
During a press conference in Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma confirmed the agreement to form a “small committee” aimed at addressing the concerns raised by Assam’s government.
“I recently spoke with the Assam Chief Minister, and we agreed to create a joint committee that includes officials from both states to thoroughly examine the issues presented by Assam and other stakeholders,” Sangma stated.
He emphasized that the committee would be established within a week to facilitate a resolution to the pressing concerns.
Following the floods on August 5, Sarma criticized USTM, alleging that the university had leveled four to five hills on its campus for new construction, which he claims led to artificial flooding in Guwahati and surrounding areas.
“Previously, rainwater flowed gradually into Guwahati, but the pace has increased significantly since the establishment of USTM,” he noted.
Founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Mahbubul Hoque in southern Assam’s Barak Valley, USTM is now under scrutiny as officials investigate its environmental impact.
Published: September 05, 2024, 09:24 PM IST
