Assam, Meghalaya villagers join hands to oppose States’ joint hydropower project
Villagers from Assam and Meghalaya have united to oppose a joint 55-megawatt hydropower project on the Kulsi River. Indigenous community leaders and local residents argue that the dam will cause significant ecological damage and displacement, and they have vowed to withhold the necessary land consent.
Why it matters
This highlights the intersection of environmental conservation, indigenous rights, and the challenges of cross-state infrastructure development.
After decades of conflict over a disputed boundary, villagers in Assam and Meghalaya living along the Kulsi River have come together to oppose a hydropower project pursued jointly by the two State governments.
In June 2025, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya announced their plan to build a 55-megawatt hydropower-cum-irrigation project on the Kulsi, a natural habitat of the endangered Gangetic dolphin. The dam was proposed at the confluence of the Dron, Shree and Dilma Rivers, which form the Kulsi, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
The location of the proposed project is on the Assam-Meghalaya border, about 80 km southwest of Guwahati.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in