Meghalaya traditional chiefs join Assam communities in opposing Kulsi Dam project, vow not to issue NOCs

Three traditional Khasi chiefs from Meghalaya have vowed not to issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the proposed Kulsi Multipurpose Project, joining more than 2,000 people from indigenous Rabha, Bodo, Garo and Khasi communities in a protest against the dam near the Assam-Meghalaya border.

The rally was held at Kyrshai playground near Ukiam in Meghalaya and was organised by the Assam-Meghalaya Joint Protection Committee, formed in 2025 to coordinate opposition to the proposed project. Participants raised concerns over possible displacement, environmental consequences and the impact on traditional land rights and livelihoods across the two states.

The three traditional chiefs present at the rally were Kestor Manik Syiem Iich, Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw; Phlowing Syiem Nongbak, Syiem of Hima Nongmynsaw; and Order Syiem Sad, Syiem of Hima Rambrai. They assured the gathering that they would not support the proposed dam and would stand with communities opposing the project.

Speaking to the media, Nongkhlaw Syiem Kestor Manik Iich said projects involving land in Meghalaya require the consent of the relevant traditional authorities, including the concerned Syiem and village headmen. He said no NOC had been issued for the proposed Kulsi dam and confirmed that the required consent would not be granted.

The Syiems of Nongmynsaw and Rambrai also maintained that they had withheld their NOCs for the project. They appealed to communities in Assam and Meghalaya to remain united in opposing the dam, describing the two states as “two brothers”. They also urged residents not to compromise their interests in exchange for agreements or inducements related to the project.

Albert Nonglang, president of the Assam-Meghalaya Joint Protection Committee, said the proposed dam could affect around 46 villages across the two states. He argued that monetary compensation would not adequately address the long-term consequences of displacement for indigenous communities.

Nonglang said the proposed 62-metre-high dam could have significant ecological and social implications for Kamrup district in Assam and West Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya.

Biswajit Rabha, president of the Assam-Meghalaya Youth Joint Protection Committee, said the constitutional protections applicable to tribal areas in Meghalaya under the Sixth Schedule were an important consideration in the debate over the project. He stressed the need for the consent of local communities and traditional institutions before the project could proceed.

The rally brought together residents from villages along the Kulsi river basin, where concerns over the proposed infrastructure project have prompted joint mobilisation across the inter-state boundary. The protection committee has argued that the project's implications extend beyond infrastructure development to land ownership, livelihoods, traditional institutions and the social fabric of affected communities.

The proposed Kulsi Multipurpose Project is planned on the Kulsi river along the Assam-Meghalaya border. According to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, the project envisages 55 MW of hydropower generation, irrigation benefits for around 26,000 hectares and incidental flood-management benefits.

The project's estimated cost in the detailed project report (DPR) is approximately Rs 1,454.95 crore at June 2017 price levels. The Brahmaputra Board handed over the DPR and related records to the Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) on July 30, 2026, marking a step towards advancing the project.

The latest protest highlights continued opposition among communities along the inter-state border, with the three traditional chiefs' stated refusal to issue NOCs emerging as a significant development in the campaign against the proposed dam.