Fri Sep 26 05:35:37 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

Tribal groups in Assam and Meghalaya are protesting the proposed 55 MW Ukiam hydropower project on the Kulsi River, citing environmental and livelihood concerns. The Assam-Meghalaya Joint Protection Committee, comprised of various tribal councils, organized a protest, highlighting the project’s potential to displace villagers, damage the ecosystem, and negatively impact a large area extending beyond the initially claimed 15 villages. They allege a lack of consultation and disregard for indigenous voices by the state governments, specifically the Assam government, accusing them of prioritizing development over local concerns and ecological preservation. The project, announced by the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya, aims to generate electricity and provide irrigation benefits, but faces strong opposition due to its potential impact on the Kulsi River and surrounding areas, including habitat for the endangered Gangetic river dolphin.

**News Article:**

**Tribal Groups Unite Against Hydropower Project Threatening River Dolphin Habitat**

**GUWAHATI, September 26, 2025** – A coalition of tribal groups is mounting fierce opposition to the proposed 55 megawatt Ukiam hydropower project planned on the Kulsi River, raising concerns about ecological damage, displacement, and the potential threat to the endangered Gangetic river dolphin.

Hundreds of villagers gathered at the Ukiam picnic spot on Thursday, organized by the Assam-Meghalaya Joint Protection Committee, to protest the joint Assam-Meghalaya government initiative. The committee, composed of groups like the Garo National Council (GNC) and the Rabha National Council (RNC), vowed to resist the project “under any circumstances.”

“The two State governments claim that only about 15 villages would be affected. This is misleading; the impact will extend from the hills of Meghalaya to the Brahmaputra,” said GNC president Enindra Marak.

The protesters allege that the project, which includes a dam at the confluence of the Dron, Shree, and Dilma Rivers (forming the Kulsi River), will lead to the loss of approximately 25,418 hectares of land and cause irreversible ecological damage. They accuse the Assam government of pushing the project forward without adequate consultation with local communities and ignoring the potential environmental consequences.

“The Kulsi hydropower project will cause irreversible ecological damage like two other projects being pursued by the Assam government in this region,” stated RNC chief convenor, Gobinda Rabha.

The protesters are further frustrated by what they perceive as indifference from both state governments to their concerns, despite numerous memorandums submitted against the Kulsi project. While the Meghalaya portion has protections due to traditional land ownership, the overall project faces growing resistance as tribal groups vow to protect their lands and livelihoods from the perceived detrimental effects of the Ukiam hydropower project.

Read More