Salma Dam at Chiste Sharif in Afghanistan
New Delhi: India and Afghanistan today signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of the Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam in Afghanistan that would meet the safe drinking water needs of Kabul City, provide irrigation water to nearby areas, rehabilitate the existing irrigation and drainage network, aid in flood protection and management efforts in the area, and also provide electricity to the region.
The project is a part of the New Development Partnership between India and Afghanistan and is the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan, after the India- Afghanistan Friendship Dam [Salma Dam] at Chiste Sharif, which was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Afghan President Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, in June 4, 2016.
Today’s even took place over Video Tele-Conferencing and the MoU was signed by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Afghan Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar, in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and President of Afghanistan Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.
The Signing of the MoU on Lalandar [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 the two countries. 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.
