India protests construction of dam in Gilgit

New Delhi
8 March 2006

India on Wednesday lodged a protest with Pakistan over
construction of a dam on Indus river in Northern Areas saying it would inundate large
parts of land in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Government of India conveyed through diplomatic channels to Government of
Pakistan its protest against proposed construction of Bhasha dam in the territory that is
part of Jammu and Kashmir state," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. It
also said Jammu and Kashmir was "integral part of India by virtue of its accession to it
in 1947".

The dam, to be built in Bhasha village in Gilgit, is to be constructed over a period of
seven years from now. The dam will affect over 23 thousand people in 32 villages of
Gilgit. The local people, according to media reports, have been protesting against the
construction of the dam. When completed at a cost of 6.5 billion dollars, the dam will
house 7.3 million acre feet water.

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