India will build a dam that will provide drinking water to 2 million Kabul residents
By Anish Kumar | First Published Feb 10, 2021, 1:08 PM ISTThe dam, which was a part of new development initiatives unveiled by India last November, will provide clean drinking water to two million citizens of Kabul, will also be used for irrigation, aid in flood protection and management efforts in the area, and also provide electricity to the region.
As part of New Delhi's continuing commitment to the war-torn country, India and Afghanistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of the Lalandar (Shatoot) Dam in the Kabul river basin in Afghanistan, through video conferencing.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar signed the MoU in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.
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PM Modi and President Ghani held a virtual summit on Tuesday.
The dam, which was a part of new development initiatives unveiled by India last November, will provide clean drinking water to two million citizens of Kabul, will also be used for irrigation, aid in flood protection and management efforts in the area, and also provide electricity to the region.
"India is also taking up 150 community projects worth $80 million in Afghanistan, part of measures to take development to small communities through schemes that have a direct impact on the lives of the people," an official said.
After the India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam 'Salma Dam', this is the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan. The Salma Dam was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in June 2016.
"Signing of the MoU on Shatoot Dam is a reflection of India's strong and long-term commitment towards the socio-economic development of Afghanistan and the enduring partnership between our two countries," the official said.
As a part of its development cooperation with Afghanistan, India has completed more than 400 projects covering all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.
Modi, in his remarks, highlighted the civilisational relationship between India and Afghanistan and gave an assurance of India's continued support for a peaceful, united, stable, prosperous and inclusive Afghanistan.
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