Protests erupt in Assam and Meghalaya over proposed Kulsi river dam
Villagers and community leaders are opposing a Rs 1,454.95 crore hydropower project that could submerge multiple villages.
A proposed dam on the Kulsi river has triggered protests across the Assam-Meghalaya border, according to Scroll. The project, which involves a 62-metre high structure at Ukiam, is estimated to cost Rs 1,454.95 crore and aims to generate 55 MW of hydropower.
The Jal Shakti ministry stated the project would provide irrigation to 26,000 hectares and reduce flood risks. However, the Kulsi River Basin Nature and Livelihood Protection Committee claims the dam will cause lasting ecological damage to the river basin.
Sengjan Sangma, president of the protection committee, said the dam would submerge 10 villages. While official government estimates suggest 15 villages will be affected, independent community assessments indicate that 36 villages on both sides of the border could be impacted.
The project area is a habitat for the Gangetic river dolphin. Sanjib Boro, a resident of Ukiam, said the dam could threaten the dolphin population and its habitat by changing the river's flow, volume, and speed.
The Assam government recently received a detailed project report from a body under the central Ministry of Jal Shakti to move forward with implementation. This follows earlier statements by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that no dam would be built without public consent.
Albert Nonglang, president of the Assam-Meghalaya Joint Protection Committee, said three Khasi village headmen declared in October that they would not give consent for the dam. The Hima Rambrai, a traditional Khasi political institution, had also passed a resolution in 2013 opposing the damming of rivers in the area.