Guwahati. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday accused a private university in neighbouring Meghalaya of indulging in “flood jihad” by demolishing hills on its campus to build new infrastructure and claimed this led to widespread waterlogging in Guwahati.
Sharma pointed to the Meghalaya University of Science and Technology (USTM), which was founded by Mahbubul Haque and is its chancellor. There was no immediate comment from USTM officials.
Sharma claimed at a press conference here that the university was demolishing all the hills in its campus to construct new buildings to start a medical college and this was one of the reasons for waterlogging in Guwahati.
He said, “I think the owner of USTM has started ‘flood jihad’. No nature loving person would cut down forests and hills so ruthlessly like this. Nowadays, buildings can be constructed on hills with proper architectural design.” USTM is located on the outskirts of Guwahati in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
During the heavy rains in Guwahati since Monday, water accumulated on the roads at several places near USTM. “USTM is located in Meghalaya, but 90 per cent of its students and teachers are from Assam. If our students and teachers stop going there, the destruction of hills will stop automatically,” Sharma said.
He said a letter has been sent to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on the issue and the two chief ministers are scheduled to meet to discuss the problem. Defending their government against the severe criticism over flood management in Guwahati, Sharma and his cabinet colleagues are claiming that waterlogging in the city is due to water coming from Meghalaya.
Assam, himanta biswa sarma, meghalaya news
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 9, 2024, 23:21 IST
