Indigenous Communities and Hydropower in Assam: Lessons on Safeguards from an ADB-Supported Project
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | SDG 15: Life on Land
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy | Ministry of Tribal Affairs | Government of Assam
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has positioned the Lower Kopili Hydroelectric Power Project as part of its support for India’s clean energy expansion and inclusive infrastructure development. It is a 120-megawatt (MW) run-of-river facility located on the Kopili River in Assam’s Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts. Funded by a $231 million loan from the ADB, the project aims to increase Assam’s clean energy supply while fostering regional economic growth. A critical focus of the project has been balancing infrastructure needs with the rights and cultural heritage of the 1,161 tribal households (Scheduled Tribes/Adivasis) across 17 affected villages.
Key Project Impacts and Solutions:
Land and Displacement: The project involved acquiring 1,577 hectares of land, physically displacing 18 households and impacting traditional livelihoods based on farming, fishing, and forest resources.
Food Security: The arrival of 1,000 workers increased local food demand by one-third. The project mitigated this by supporting the expansion of village markets and inviting farmers from neighboring areas to supply additional goods, reducing price hikes and creating new income opportunities.
Infrastructure and Mitigation: Separate access roads were built for heavy construction machinery to reduce community traffic congestion and safety risks. Construction was restricted to daytime, and water sprinkling was used to protect air quality from dust.
Cultural Safeguards: To protect nature-based prayer areas at risk of submergence, the local community took ownership of selecting and rebuilding new locations that blended modern and traditional designs. The project also synchronized construction schedules to avoid disrupting the annual Falcon Festival.
Livelihood Restoration: A comprehensive skill-building initiative trained 500 candidates from affected villages in roles such as electrician, tailoring, and modern nursery management to reduce dependency on
Policy Relevance
The project serves as a model for integrating Indigenous Peoples’ safeguards into large-scale infrastructure development, moving beyond simple compensation to a holistic, culturally appropriate benefit-sharing model.
Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC): Early and continuous consultations with village community leaders (Gaon bura) and tribal youth ensured broad community support and ownership of project outcomes.
Non-Tangible Impact Recognition: By addressing cultural landscapes and ritual spaces alongside physical resettlement, the project preserved cultural continuity for the affected Karbi and Dimasa communities.
Market and Credit Linkages: Livelihood restoration went beyond training by facilitating market connections and credit access, ensuring that the economic gains are sustainable and resilient against future shocks.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the Government of Assam ensure that the systems established to monitor cultural impacts during the Lower Kopili Project are institutionalized and made mandatory for all future energy projects in tribal-dominated districts?
Follow the full news here: Bridging Traditions and Transformation: Indigenous Peoples and the Lower Kopili Project in India