Massive Protest Erupts in Chaygaon Against Proposed Kulsi River Dam

Chaygaon, June 26 — Over 3,000 people from Assam and Meghalaya staged a large-scale protest in Chaygaon, South Kamrup district, on Wednesday, expressing fierce opposition to the proposed construction of a big dam on the Kulsi River near Ukiam, close to the Assam-Meghalaya border.

The demonstration commenced at the Chaygaon market, where a sea of protesters assembled before marching approximately 1.5 kilometers along National Highway 17 to the office of the Chaygaon Circle Officer. Throughout the rally, demonstrators raised emphatic slogans such as “Go Back Assam Government, Go Back Meghalaya Government,” reflecting the rising public anger over the controversial project.

Locals fear that the proposed dam poses a serious threat to the region’s ecological balance, traditional livelihoods, and displacement of indigenous communities. Civil society groups, environmental activists, and local leaders have also voiced concerns over the lack of transparent consultation and potential long-term consequences.

The protest marks a significant escalation in public opposition, signaling growing regional resistance against large-scale infrastructural interventions without grassroots consensus.