Journalism of Courage
Making his second visit to Afghanistan in less than six months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, a showpiece infrastructure project by India, in the strategically important Herat province neighbouring Iran. The Dam, earlier known as Salma dam, is built at a cost of over Rs 1,700 crore under India’s development partnership with Afghanistan. PM Modi also plans to hold talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the ongoing political scenario in the country and the peace process besides other regional and bilateral issues between India and Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani jointly inaugurating the Afghan-India Friendship Dam (Salma Dam), in Heart, Afghanistan. (Source: PIB)
READ India’s hand of friendship: PM Modi, President Ghani inaugurate Salma Dam in Herat
PM Narendra Modi said, “It (The Dam) is symbol of our friendship and would usher in hope, light up homes, nourish the fertile fields of Herat and bring prosperity to the people of the region.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani at the inauguration of the Afghan-India Friendship Dam (Salma Dam), in Heart, Afghanistan. (Source: PIB)
READ In Sufi saint’s cradle, dam built with blood awaits PM Narendra Modi in Afghanistan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also conferred with the Highest Civilian Honour of Afghanistan (Amir Amanullah Khan Award) by the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in Afghanistan after they jointly inaugurated the dam. (Source: PIB)
The province of Herat lies on the ancient trade routes linking Middle East, Central and South Asia. These routes which begin from Herat and lead towards Iran, Turkmenistan, and other parts of Afghanistan are considered strategically important.
Prime Minister Modi being warmly welcomed by President Ghani upon his arrival at Herat. (Source: PIB)
READ In Sufi saint’s cradle, dam built with blood awaits PM Narendra Modi in Afghanistan
The Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, on river Chist-e-Sharif in western Herat neighbouring Iran, will irrigate 75,000 hectares of land and generate 42 MW of power.(Source: PIB)
READ In Sufi saint’s cradle, dam built with blood awaits PM Narendra Modi in Afghanistan
PM Modi while inaugurating the Salma Dam also said that he wants Afghanistan democracy to strike deep roots, adding that he wants to see a prosperous Afghanistan.
(Source: PIB)
READ In Sufi saint’s cradle, dam built with blood awaits PM Narendra Modi in Afghanistan
PM Modi further added that the Salma dam is not only a generator of electricity, but also of optimism and belief in the future of Afghanistan.
He also thanked Afghanistan President for naming the dam as Afghan-India Friendship Dam and added that India is truly humbled by this generosity of the Afghan spirit. (Source: PIB)
READ In Sufi saint’s cradle, dam built with blood awaits PM Narendra Modi in Afghanistan
The project has been executed and implemented by WAPCOS Ltd, a government of India undertaking under ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. In his address at the inauguration ceremony, Ghani welcomed Modi to his “second home”, Afghanistan, and said a “long standing dream” of the country has been realised after 30 years with help from India. (Source: PIB)
READ In Sufi saint’s cradle, dam built with blood awaits PM Narendra Modi in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is the first destination of Modi's five-nation tour. He also plans to visit to Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico. (Source: PIB)
