New Delhi, Nov 28: Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar has recently announced at the Geneva Donors conference that India is to construct the Shahtoot Dam in Afghanistan across the Maidan river, which is a tributary of river Kabul.

 

The negotiations to build the dam across the river had begun in 2016. In 2016, India had funded for the Salma dam across Hari river, in Herat province of Afghanistan. The Salma dam is thus also called the Afghan-India Friendship Dam.

 

The Shahtoot dam is to be constructed in Kabul river basin, which is one of the five river basins of Afghanistan. The project will provide irrigation and drinking water for the Kabul province of the country. The cost of the project has been estimated as 305 million USD. Along with the Shahtoot dam, India has pledged to rebuild Afghanistan committing to 80 million USD worth projects. Around 150 projects have been announced by India in the conflict-ridden country.

 

The Shahdoot project is expected to provide irrigation facilities to about 10,000 hectares of agricultural land. It will supply drinking water to around 2 million people in the city of Kabul. It will also recharge the ground water levels for drinking purposes in and around Kabul. The project will contribute to national food security by helping in the production of Fishery, crops and industries and will eventually also promote tourism and increase opportunities of income.

 

The USA has been trying to influence India to deploy its Army along with its own army to bring in peace in the country of Afghanistan. However, India refuted US proposals and on the other hand has focused on developing the country by mainly helping in its infrastructure.