The Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has confirmed that the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), was constructed on large tracts of forest land without mandatory approvals. The finding comes weeks after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that the private university had violated environmental laws.
According to the CEC’s report, around 25 hectares of land in Ri-Bhoi district were used for the university and its adjoining projects. Of this, nearly 13.62 hectares were identified as forest land, while another 7.64 hectares linked to a proposed medical college had already been disturbed through construction and hill-cutting.
The committee recommended a penalty of ₹150 crore on the university’s promoters. The fine covers multiple components, including the net present value of the forest land diverted, environmental compensation, tree cutting, afforestation costs, restoration of land, and even demolition of unauthorized structures. The CEC further suggested that the entire area should be restored back to forest within one year, under strict monitoring.
The issue gained wider attention after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that USTM’s expansion had damaged hills and forests, contributing to flooding in Guwahati. He warned that if corrective measures were not taken, “the university may not exist in two years.”
While USTM has not issued a detailed response yet, the findings raise serious questions over land-use clearances, inter-state environmental impacts, and accountability of state authorities who allowed the construction to proceed.
The case now puts the spotlight on how universities and private institutions in ecologically fragile areas balance development with environmental responsibility. A final decision will depend on how the Supreme Court acts on the CEC’s recommendations in the coming months.
