The Meghalaya government has ordered a probe into the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report on alleged forest land encroachment by the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Thursday. Allegations of forest land encroachment at the USTM, raised through a petition by Assam BJP leader Jitul Deka, led the CEC to investigate the matter.
“We have constituted a committee to thoroughly examine all details and inspect the sites as highlighted in the CEC report. The panel includes members from the Pollution Control Board, Mining and Geology Department, and the district administration,” said Tynsong. The committee will be headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Nongpoh and has until October 15 to submit its findings. The government will base its final decision on the report.
Tynsong stressed the need for a balanced approach, remarking, “If you blindly say everything must be closed down, I think that is wrong.” The CEC’s September report accused USTM of illegally occupying more than 25 hectares of forest land in two phases, allegedly violating the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. It also recommended penalties amounting to ₹150.35 crore. The complaint was initially raised through a petition by Assam BJP leader Jitul Deka.