Shillong, Aug 11: The University of Science Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has come out strongly against the allegations that ongoing project work at its campus was the reason for the recent flash flood in Guwahati.

Issuing a statement on Sunday, USTM officials said that it has been “erroneously concluded” that flash flood in Guwahati is being caused by the construction work at its campus. USTM is located in Baridua, Jorabat in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. The statement read that after “thorough investigation by the departmental experts and authorities”, nothing was found to substantiate that USTM campus is responsible for the flash flood in Guwahati.

It further said that USTM campus contributes “maybe a miniscule portion of the total water that flows down the Killing Road through the various drains to the G. S. Road on both sides of the road”.

The University issued the statement after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently claimed that the University had waged “flood jihad” and is causing water logging problems in Guwahati city. “I think that the USTM owner (Mahbubul Hoque) has started a jihad. We talk about land jihad, he has started a flood jihad against Assam. Otherwise, no one can cut hills in such a ruthless way,” Sarma had said.

The Assam CM went on to add that anyone who loves nature would not indulge in such rampant destruction of nature, especially an education institution. “They (USTM) can call an architect and make a building even while keeping the hills and trees. They can make drainage… They have not used any architect. Just using bulldozers, they have relentlessly cut the land,” the Assam CM said.

To this allegation, the private University said its project, a medical college being built in association with Meghalaya government, is being overseen by the Mumbai based M/s HOSMAC India Pvt. Ltd., and M/s Satsangi Associates, New Delhi who are the design and planning consultants.

Moreover, the plan and design of the project has also been reviewed by experts from the Indian Institute of Technology and the National Institute of Technology, the University said adding, the campus infrastructure expansions have all requisite permissions from the Meghalaya government.

USTM officials further said the campus has five big natural water reservoirs in the campus to harvest rainwater. The University invests in afforestation drives and enhancing green cover by planting trees within and around the campus. “We have intelligently preserved the flora and fauna of the area and scientifically managed the green initiatives on the campus,” USTM added.

USTM is a NAAC ‘A’ accredited University and has 6000 students studying and 1500 faculty and employees working on the campus.

Further, the University said it “welcomes all to visit the USTM Campus and assures to act on any suggestion coming from them.”

USTM has been working in the field of education since 2011 to achieve educational excellence focusing the Rural India. More than 20% of the students from under-privileged background are availing free education. More than 57% of the students are female thus furthering the cause of Education of Girl Child.

Read: Assam Power Minister pledges action to prevent elephant electrocutions

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