Maharaj meets EAM, seeks speeding up approval process for Pancheshwar dam project
Saturday, 23 July 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The State’s Irrigation, Public Works, Tourism, Rural Works and Watershed minister Satpal Maharaj met the External Affairs minister S Jaishankar and requested him to direct the ministry concerned for expediting the process of approval for the multipurpose Pancheshwar dam project. He said that this project will further strengthen the historical relations between India and Nepal.
Meeting Jaishankar at his New Delhi residence on Friday, Maharaj submitted a letter to the External Affairs minister regarding the project. He stated that the 5,040 MW Pancheshwar dam multipurpose project is proposed between India and Nepal on the Mahakali river. The estimated cost of this project is about Rs 50,000 crore. The construction of a 300 metre high Pancheshwar dam and 95 metre high Rupaligad dam are envisioned downstream of the project dam. The main dam will result in creation of an 80 kilometres long reservoir. Maharaj further stated that this multipurpose project will be very beneficial for both India and Nepal. He also told Jaishankar that work on this project should be started as early as possible. After construction of the Pancheshwar dam, about 1,70,000 hectare land in Nepal and 2,59,000 hectare land in India will be irrigated from the dam reservoir. The completion of this project will facilitate considerable development in the border districts of Nepal and Uttarakhand apart from further strengthening the historical relations between India and Nepal. The minister further informed that efforts are being made to sign the memorandum of understanding for the Pancheshwar dam project before 2024. Stating that this project will considerably benefit Nepal, Maharaj said that the neighbouring nation can benefit in the future by selling electricity to India like Bhutan is doing. Further, various tourism activities can be conducted at the Pancheshwar dam in the future making it an international tourist destination. This project will also generate considerable employment opportunities for the youth, added Maharaj.
