Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, 25 July 2025, publicly urged the Meghalaya government to rein in construction and development activities in the Jorabat belt along the Assam-Meghalaya border, warning that unchecked hill-cutting and urban expansion could worsen flooding and landslide risks in Guwahati. Sarma specifically named the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) in Jorabat as a key source of concern, arguing that large-scale tree-felling and construction on the surrounding hills is already contributing to urban flooding in the Assam capital.

Supreme Court Panel's Findings

Sarma told reporters that the environmental concerns had been examined by a Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), whose findings he described as alarming. 'This matter has been examined by the Supreme Court-constituted committee, and they have given a very devastating report, stating that the huge construction work in Jorabat, particularly in USTM and the surrounding area, will pose a huge threat to Guwahati,' the Chief Minister said. According to reports, the CEC found violations of forest-related regulations in parts of the project area and recommended the imposition of environmental compensation. The matter is currently under judicial consideration before the Supreme Court.

The USTM Dispute and Its Context

The USTM campus is situated in Meghalaya, and the institution is also setting up a private medical college named after P. A. Sangma — father of current Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. Over the past several months, Sarma has repeatedly alleged that hill-cutting and construction in and around the university have caused artificial flooding and severe waterlogging in Guwahati during the monsoon season. Beyond environmental concerns, the Assam government has also levelled allegations against USTM relating to academic irregularities and financial impropriety — all of which the university has consistently denied. USTM maintains it operates in compliance with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and other statutory regulations, and has said it is prepared to cooperate with any lawful inquiry.

Sarma's Warning on Guwahati's Drainage

The Chief Minister warned that Guwahati's drainage infrastructure alone cannot handle the increasing volume of runoff from the adjoining hills if large-scale construction continues without adequate environmental safeguards. 'Otherwise, Guwahati will become an unmanageable city. It will be very difficult. We will not be able to keep Guwahati intact because the kind of water that comes down cannot be managed by any kind of drainage system,' Sarma said. He emphasised that development in the border region must be planned so as not to adversely affect downstream areas in Assam.

Inter-State Dialogue and What Comes Next

Sarma confirmed he has been in direct contact with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on the issue and appealed for a sympathetic review. 'I'll only appeal to the Meghalaya Government to see how development in and around Jorabat can be controlled,' he said. With the Supreme Court seized of the matter, a fresh hearing is expected, at which the Assam government intends to argue its case. The outcome could set a significant precedent for how cross-border environmental impacts are governed between Indian states sharing ecologically sensitive hill terrain.