SC Panel Flags Meghalaya’s USTM for Encroaching Over 25 Hectares of Forest Land

Meghalaya’s USTM faces scrutiny after a Supreme Court-appointed panel accused it of encroaching over 25 hectares of forest land without clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The Central Empowered Committee reported that nearly 93% of the university’s constructed area falls under forest land, highlighting severe ecological damage. Political debates and claims of “land jihad” have amplified tensions. USTM denies wrongdoing, citing legal land acquisitions and approvals from authorities. Conflicting records and surveys have complicated the issue. The Supreme Court will now examine the report, determining accountability, potential financial penalties, and restrictions on future expansion, raising questions on balancing development and conservation.