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The Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh has commissioned the Baglihar hydro-electricity project on the river Chenab of Jammu and Kashmir on October 10, 2008. Manmohan Singh was on a two-day visit to Kashmir. The installation of this hydro-electricity project has been opposed by neighboring country Pakistan. Pakistan claimed that the Baglihar project will draw out all the water from its territory. It said that by building the hydro-electricity, New Delhi has violated the provisions of Indus Water Treaty.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of India stated that the Baglihar power project has been constructed keeping in mind the provisions of Indus Water Treaty. Singh said that Pakistan should learn to help its neighboring countries and appealed to Islamabad to work jointly so that the problems of the people of both the countries could be solved easily. The water will be used as per the requirement of the two countries, he added.
The Baglihar project is a 900 MW hydro-electricity project. The initial phase of 450 MW has been inaugurated on this Friday. An amount of Rs. 5,200 crore has been invested for the initial phase which is expected to generate 450 MW worth Rs. 800 crore a year. This project is the third hydro-electricity power project in Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister has also assured to invest more funds on roads, power connectivity, health, education and horticulture development of the state.
