Shillong: A state-level committee is inspecting land under the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) in Ri-Bhoi district following allegations of forest land encroachment flagged by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court.
The issue surfaced after a petition filed by Assam BJP leader Jitul Deka led the CEC to examine land ownership in the area.
In its report, submitted to the Supreme Court Registrar on September 15, the panel claimed USTM had illegally occupied over 25 hectares of deemed forest land across two phases—13.62 hectares in one and 12.13 hectares in another—in violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
It recommended penalties amounting to Rs 150.35 crore for the alleged violations.
Thousands of villagers in Killing, Ri-Bhoi, staged a protest at Jorbil ground, opposing the petition.
Organised by the All Killing Durbar Committee, which represents 12 villages, the rally accused the petitioner of interfering in land belonging to local communities and traditional institutions.
Speakers warned that such disputes could disrupt peace in the sensitive border region.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Wednesday that the inspection committee, headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi, has been tasked with verifying the CEC’s findings.
ALSO READ: Two Bodoland University professors named in Stanford–Elsevier World’s Top 2% Scientists List
During site visits, the committee reportedly detected illegal mining activities and suggested suspending all mining, quarrying and stone-crushing operations in the district until further review.
The state government, in its submission to the court, maintained that land allocation to USTM was carried out under legal provisions.
It added that fines had already been imposed and realised wherever violations were detected.
The CEC, which advises the Supreme Court on environmental compliance, noted that USTM’s land diversion was carried out without mandatory approval, triggering the present scrutiny.
