Himanta urges people to move NGT against unscientific hill cutting in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 13, 2024

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday urged the people of Guwahati who have been suffering from water-logging problems to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against “unscientific hill cutting” at Jorabat in Meghalaya.

According to Sarma such unscientific hill-cutting is the root of flash floods in Guwahati.

“I have been repeatedly saying that due to unscientific hill cutting in Jorabat, the waterlogging in Guwahati has increased in Guwahati. Those who criticize me, should note why water logging is more severe in Dispur Circle, why not in Uzan Bazar, and why not in Paltan Bazaar and Pan Bazaar. Why there is water logging in and around Dispur adjoining Jorabat,” Sarma told reporters in the sideline of a programme here.

“I appeal to all people who are suffering from water logging to approach NGT so that we can stop hill cutting to an extent in Meghalaya. This will help us to resolve the issue to a great deal,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister claimed that the state government has engaged an expert team to study how to drain out the accumulated water from Basistha to Deepor Beel via Mora Bharalu and Juripar and Rukmini Gaon to Shilsako Beel, because Bahini River can’t carry excess water.

“But it will take around three years, due to various issues like land acquisition for construction of drains. People’s cooperation is also needed. We have to pay them for the acquisition of land. The next three years will be challenging for us,” he added.

Sarma’s appeal to the people came a day after he said his government would move the NGT against a private university University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), which, he claimed, demolished hills on its campus leading to large-scale water logging in Guwahati.

The varsity is located in 9th Mile area in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya, near Jorabat on the inter-state border, which serves as an entry point to Guwahati.

Sarma had accused USTM of engaging in a “flood jihad” by demolishing hills on its campus to build new structures which, he claimed was “one of the reasons” for large-scale water logging in Guwahati.