Hundreds of residents from villages along the Assam-Meghalaya border, particularly in Ukiam under the Boko-Chaygaon constituency, staged a massive demonstration on Saturday, reaffirming their steadfast opposition to the proposed Kulsi river dam project. Organised by the Assam-Meghalaya Joint Protection Committee, the protest saw community members vociferously demanding the immediate abandonment of the multi-purpose dam.
The Kulsi river, formed by the confluence of three streams near Ukiam, has been identified by both the Assam and Meghalaya state governments for a significant hydroelectric and irrigation scheme. The Brahmaputra Board was tasked with preparing its Detailed Project Report (DPR).
However, the project has faced consistent resistance from local communities, including Khasi tribes from Meghalaya and Garo, Bodo, and Rabha groups from Assam, who express deep apprehension over potential displacement and severe ecological impact. Their long-standing concerns were reignited following reports on July 30 that the DPR had been submitted to the Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL). This development comes despite an earlier assurance from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had indicated that the dam would not proceed if local populations opposed it.
Speaking at the riverbank gathering, Biswajit Rabha, president of the protection committee, highlighted the communities' resolve, asserting that the governments were attempting to “kill the people with a water bomb” through the project. The renewed push for the dam has intensified fears among the border residents, who vow to continue their agitation until the project is definitively scrapped.
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