MoU between Indian and Afghanistan for the construction of the Shatoot Dam in Afghanistan

A signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) for the construction of the Lalandar (Shatoot) Dam in Afghanistan took place on 9 February 2021. The MoU was signed between Government of India and Afghanistan. The project is a part of the New Development Partnership between India and Afghanistan. This is the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan, after the India- Afghanistan Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) in June 2016. 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 our two countries.

About Lalandar (Shatoot) Dam
The Lalandar (Shatoot) Dam would meet the safe drinking water needs of Kabul City(Afghanistan), 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.​

India- Afghanistan Friendship Dam (Salma Dam)
Afghan-India Friendship Dam, formerly Salma Dam, is a hydroelectric and irrigation dam project located on the Hari River in Chishti Sharif District of Herat Province in western Afghanistan.Since this project is funded and constructed by the Government of India as a part of the Indian aid project, the Afghan cabinet renamed the Salma Dam to the Afghan-India Friendship Dam in a gesture of gratitude to strengthen relations between the two countries. The dam was opened on 4 June 2016 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

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