Villagers from Assam and Meghalaya unite against joint 55MW dam on Kulsi River

More than 2,000 villagers from Assam and Meghalaya rallied at Ukiam on Oct 8, 2026 to reject a joint 55‑megawatt hydropower‑irrigation dam on the Kulsi River. The dam, announced in June 2025 by the two state governments, would be built at the confluence of the Dron, Shree and Dilma rivers, about 80 km southwest of Guwahati, and would stand 62 metres high. It would flood the natural habitat of the endangered Gangetic dolphin and affect 46 villages in Kamrup district of Assam and West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The Assam‑Meghalaya Joint Protection Committee (AMJPC), formed in 2025, organised the protest and highlighted that traditional chiefs must give a no‑objection certificate for any project on Meghalaya land. Three chiefs – Kestor Manik Syiem Iich of Nongkhlaw, Phlowing Syiem Nongbak of Nongmynsaw and Order Syiem Sad of Rambrai – said they would not grant consent. AMJPC president Albert Nonglang warned that monetary compensation could not cover long‑term social and ecological damage. The Ministry of Jal Shakti says the dam would irrigate about 26,000 hectares, help control floods and generate 55 MW of power, while the Brahmaputra Board estimates a cost of ₹1,454.95 crore (June 2017 price). ## Context The dispute reflects a broader clash between development plans and the rights of indigenous communities, especially where projects threaten fragile ecosystems and require traditional consent under Indian law.