States » EastPosted at: Jun 7 2025 4:10PM


Assam villagers oppose hydropower plants to save dolphin population

Guwahati, June 7 (UNI) Different organizations along the Assam-Meghalaya border have decided to oppose the Assam and Meghalaya governments' decision to set up a 55 MW hydropower project in the Kulsi river.
The locals believe that the setting up of the hydropower project will affect the dolphins in the river.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that both the state governments have agreed to set up a 55 MW hydropower project.
The Kulsi, a small river that flows from Meghalaya's West Khasi hills district to Assam's Kamrup district, has approximately 20 to 25 dolphins.
Experts say that any development activity on the river will certainly affect the dolphins' as they need a certain depth and space for movement.
In March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first ever census of Gangetic dolphins, which recorded 634 of the species in Assam, including the 20 to 25 in the Kulsi river.
"It is a resident population of the river dolphins here in the Kulsi river. The whole river is about 70 km long. However, the dolphins are found in a 60 km stretch of the river around the year," said a senior conservation expert who has been working with the dolphins for a long time.
"Any development activity is going to affect the dolphins' population. The species, a schedule 1 species, needs certain depth and area movement in the river." I believe the government must look into the issue of conservation of the dolphins rather than generating hydro power.
"This project was initially started in 2023. However, the government had to stall the project after the local people opposed it. Apart from the dolphins, the project will affect 26 villages on the Assam side," said Pakhiraj Rabha, a local.
He said that several organizations like the Rabha Students Union, Gari Students' Union, and Khasi Students' Union have all opposed the move as the project might spell doom for the people in 26 villages.
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Tags: #Assam villagers oppose hydropower plants to save dolphin population
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