"Indigenous groups sign Guwahati Declaration against large-scale energy projects in Northeast India" 30 Jan 2026

Organized by the Joint Struggle Committee for Protection of Land Rights, the declaration aims to safeguard human rights, land, water, forests, and indigenous life from unauthorized appropriation.

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With the goal of protecting the rights of the people and their resources, over 15 peoples’ organizations from different states of Northeastern India came together in Guwahati to sign the Guwahati Declaration at a people’s convention on Energy Policy in Northeast India. Organized by the Joint Struggle Committee for Protection of Land Rights, an umbrella group representing various grassroots movements in Assam, the declaration seeks to safeguard human rights, land, water, forests, and indigenous life, which are being taken over without due consent and participation of the people. The declaration focuses on the impacts of proposed and existing hydropower, mining, and infrastructure projects, which representatives warn could lead to the largest displacement of indigenous communities in recent times. Representatives from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Sikkim attended the convention, raising concerns over both proposed and existing hydropower, mining, and infrastructure projects, which they said could lead to large-scale displacement of indigenous communities...

.. “The Guwahati Declaration is a historic moment for the people of Northeastern India,” said Pranab Doley, a convenor of the Joint Struggle Committee. “We are democratically asserting our rights and creating a framework for communities to protect their resources and grow in their own genius.” .. Ebo Mili emphasized that the expansion of such projects is occurring alongside a breakdown in law and order, which has marginalized human rights. “Arunachal Pradesh is pursuing a 60 GW energy target at the expense of the rights of the people and their commons,” he said...

..Assam’s Integrated Clean Energy Policy (2025-2030) targets the production of 11,700 MW, including 3,500 MW of solar power, over 2,000 MW of pumped storage hydro, and 3,000–5,000 MW of thermal power, totaling roughly 17,000 MW by 2030. Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim aim to produce 58,000 MW and 8,000 MW of hydroelectricity, respectively, with several projects already under construction. Similar energy policies are also in place in other northeastern states, including Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya. Critics question the purpose of such large-scale extraction, noting that the combined peak energy demand of the eight northeastern states is less than 5,000 MW. They also highlight the role of private corporations and international financial institutions, warning that these projects could lead to environmental degradation, resource exploitation, and displacement of local communities...

..The convention provided a platform for communities directly affected by these projects to voice their experiences. Resistance from areas such as Karbi Anglong, BTR, Rabha Hasong, Siang, Teesta, Mapithel, and Nagaon has grown in response to land acquisition and resource exploitation, with support from civil society groups, workers’ unions, and regional political organizations. The Guwahati Declaration calls for the full implementation of constitutional safeguards for indigenous communities, including the 6th Schedule provisions in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, and Articles 371(A/F/G) for Nagaland, Sikkim, and Mizoram.

..It demands the repeal of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, which currently exempts forest land near international borders from protections. The declaration also stresses the need for mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Social Impact Assessments for all proposed and ongoing projects. It calls for regular and transparent safety audits of oil sector infrastructure, along with the enforcement of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in line with United Nations guidelines and ILO conventions. Communities must be consulted, and public hearings conducted to ensure fair compensation under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (LARR) Act, 2013. Moreover, the declaration calls for full implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, granting communities and gram sabhas the authority to manage their land and forests.