Afghan - India friendship Dam :Another milestone in Afghanistan
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| Afghan - India Friendship Dam |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani jointly inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam on Saturday, a Rs 1700 crore showpiece infrastructure project by India in strategically important Herat province. This project reflects India's strong commitment to reconstruction of war-ravaged country.
The Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, on river Chist-e-Sharif in western Herat neighbouring Iran, will irrigate 75000 hectare of land and generate 42 MW of power. Touted as a 'landmark' infrastructure project, the dam is located 165 km east of Herat town, is expected to significantly boost the agricultural economy of the province. Over 1500 Indian and Afghan engineers were involved in construction of the dam in difficult situation for several years under the supervision of WAPCOS Ltd., a government of India undertaking under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
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| PM MODI and President Ashraf Ghani at inauguration |
In the address at the inauguration ceremony, Afghan President welcomed PM Modi to his "second home", and said a "Long Standing Dream" of the country has been realised after 30 years with the help from India.
"Today, we come together to make eternal India Afghan ties and friendship. This Dam will chart a new course of cooperation and prosperity. Our people identify India with roads, dams and over 200 small development projects." said Afghan President Mr. Ghani.
"Contrary to those who spread chaos and destruction, we two countries have taken the joint decision to build and grow." He added.
India has a strategic partnership with Afghanistan and is implementing projects worths billion US Dollars to help rebuild the country's Infrastructure.
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| "Thank You" Board at Afghan- India Dam |
India has been supporting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad- based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation, and advocating the need for a sustained and long termed commitment to Afghanistan by the international community.
