Assam: Ukiam hydropower project faces fierce opposition from Garo, Rabha groups

The proposed 55 MW Ukiam hydropower project on the Assam–Meghalaya border has reignited widespread protests, with the Garo National Council (GNC), Rabha National Council (RNC), and several other organisations vowing to resist the dam “under any circumstances.”

At a protest meeting held Thursday at Ukiam’s picnic spot, attended by multiple groups under the Assam–Meghalaya Joint Protection Committee, speakers warned that the project would devastate both ecology and livelihoods. The dam is planned at the confluence of the Drone, Shree, and Dilma rivers, which form the Kulshi river.

The gathering began with floral tributes to singer Zubeen Garg, whose portrait was placed at the venue.

GNC president Enindra Marak alleged that the government’s claim that only 10–15 villages would be affected was misleading. “The impact will extend from Meghalaya to the Brahmaputra basin in Assam,” he said, adding that construction might be deliberately delayed until after the 2026 Assembly elections.

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RNC chief convenor Gobinda Rabha claimed nearly 1.9 lakh bighas of land would be lost if the dam is built. He insisted that projects in tribal belt and block areas must have local consent, while accusing the government of ignoring indigenous voices. “Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma does not understand our pain because he is essentially an outsider to our struggles,” Rabha remarked.

He also linked the dam to other “anti-people projects” such as the Dorabeel Logistics Park at Kukurmara–Palashbari and the proposed satellite township at Borduar near Rani, warning of irreversible ecological damage.

Earlier memorandums submitted to the Assam and Meghalaya governments have gone unanswered. The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) recently told protestors that only the traditional chiefs (Rajas) of Nongmynsaw, Nongkhlaw and Rambrai could give a no-objection certificate. GNC leaders reiterated that without such approval, no dam will be allowed at Ukiam.