GUWAHATI — In a sharp rejoinder to past criticism, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared on Wednesday that the Supreme Court’s recent notice concerning the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has validated his earlier statements linking the institution to Guwahati’s recurring flood crisis.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said, “When I talked about USTM, many people laughed at me and said I was bluffing because flood water cannot be stopped. But today, the Supreme Court has issued a notice in this matter. That itself proves there is substance in what I said.”
CM Sarma had previously claimed that the expansion of USTM may have obstructed natural water channels near the Assam-Meghalaya border, thereby exacerbating urban flooding in parts of Guwahati. He recalled raising the concern with his Meghalaya counterpart, asserting that while there was no formal rebuttal, his remarks were publicly dismissed and ridiculed.
“That day, when I pointed this to the CM of Meghalaya, he could not say ‘no’ to me. Yet, people here laughed and dismissed it,” Sarma said, underscoring the political and media pushback his claims initially received.
The Chief Minister welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to issue notices to both the Assam and Meghalaya governments, along with its own expert committee. Though the petition triggering the judicial notice has not been disclosed in detail, Sarma suggested that the matter marks the beginning of a deeper probe into land use and institutional responsibility in ecologically sensitive zones.
He also hinted at broader scrutiny of other organisations, stating, “With the release of medical results this time, you will see even better news… All the stories that have been circulating about Ajmal Foundation and others for so many days—you will understand where they actually stand.”
The Supreme Court’s involvement comes as urban flooding remains a persistent issue in Guwahati, often blamed on unplanned construction, clogged drainage systems, and encroachments on natural waterways. By explicitly naming USTM in this context, Sarma appears to be intensifying pressure on both state governments and private institutions to account for their environmental impact.
As the apex court prepares to hear the matter in the coming days, the case is expected to catalyse inter-state dialogue and legal scrutiny around cross-border developmental activities and their consequences on the fragile hill-valley ecosystem shared by Assam and Meghalaya.
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