On 8 October 2026, more than 2,000 people from the Bodo, Garo, Khasi and Rabha communities gathered at Ukiam to oppose the proposed 55-megawatt Kulsi hydropower-cum-irrigation project, jointly pursued by the Assam and Meghalaya governments. The protest was organised by the Assam-Meghalaya Joint Protection Committee, formed in 2025.

Key Facts About the Project

• Location: The proposed dam is near the Assam–Meghalaya border, approximately 80 km southwest of Guwahati, at the confluence of the Dron, Shree and Dilma rivers, which form the Kulsi River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
• Project objectives: According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the project aims to generate 55 megawatts of electricity, irrigate around 26,000 hectares and help mitigate floods.
• Estimated cost: The Brahmaputra Board’s detailed project report estimated a cost of ₹1,454.95 crore at June 2017 price levels.
• Community concerns: Protesters argue that the proposed 62-metre-high dam could affect 46 villages, with consequences for livelihoods, displacement and indigenous communities’ relationship with their land.
• Traditional institutions: Three Khasi traditional chiefs have opposed granting consent for the project, highlighting the importance of customary institutions in decisions affecting their territories.

About Kulsi River 

• The Kulsi River is a south bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River.
• It originates in the West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, where it is composed of three rivers namely Khri,Krishniya and Umsiri.
• After flowing around 12 kilometres in Meghalaya, it enters Assam’s Kamrup district and is called Kulsi.
• It is about 60 km long and has an average width of 70 to 80 meters.
• It is one of natural habitat and nesting sites for the  endangered Gangetic dolphin, a freshwater mammal found in the Ganga–Brahmaputra river system.
• The river meets the Brahmaputra at Nagarbera.
• Kulsi is ecologically sensitive and supports: Fisheries, Agriculture & River-dependent livelihoods
  • Large dams can alter river flow, sediment movement, aquatic connectivity and fish availability. 
  • These changes may affect dolphin habitats and the livelihoods of river-dependent communities. 
  • A thorough environmental assessment must therefore examine cumulative ecological impacts alongside the project’s proposed benefits.

Governance Challenges and the Way Forward

The dispute highlights the need to balance infrastructure development with ecological protection and indigenous rights.

• Meaningful consultation: Affected villages and traditional institutions should participate in decision-making before major project commitments are made.
• Environmental assessment: Independent studies should examine impacts on Gangetic dolphins, river ecology, fisheries, downstream communities and flood patterns.
• Social safeguards: Displacement risks, livelihood losses and rehabilitation arrangements should be assessed transparently.
• Inter-State cooperation: Assam and Meghalaya should pursue a negotiated approach that respects local concerns while examining alternatives, including less disruptive energy and irrigation options.

Exam Hook: Key Takeaway

The Kulsi project illustrates the challenge of reconciling hydropower generation, irrigation and flood management with biodiversity conservation, indigenous rights and community consent in Northeast India.

Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements:

1. The Kulsi River is a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
2. The proposed Kulsi project aims to generate hydropower and support irrigation.
3. The Gangetic dolphin is an endangered freshwater mammal associated with the Ganga–Brahmaputra river system.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

One-line wrap: The Kulsi hydropower dispute demonstrates that sustainable infrastructure requires not only economic benefits but also ecological safeguards, meaningful consultation and protection of indigenous livelihoods.