Shimla, June 17 (IANS) Welcoming the historic agreement reached on the Kishau multipurpose dam project in Himachal Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan on Wednesday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

He said the agreement among the states concerned regarding the long-pending project is an excellent example of the “solution-through-dialogue” approach adopted by the Central government led by Prime Minister Modi.

Former state Cabinet minister Mahajan said achieving consensus among Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan during the meeting chaired by Home Minister Shah “is a significant milestone. This will not only boost the rejuvenation of the Yamuna river but also open new avenues for water conservation, energy generation and regional development.”

He noted that the Central government has demonstrated its commitment by deciding to bear 90 per cent of the cost associated with the water component of the project.

“This reflects the Central government’s serious dedication, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, to the development and public welfare of all states, including Himachal Pradesh,” Mahajan said in a statement.

Mahajan, who switched loyalties to the BJP, said the Congress and the state government should thank the Central government and Home Minister Amit Shah for this initiative.

“It’s unfortunate that Congress leaders are attempting to claim credit for this historic decision, whereas the reality is that advancing this project, stalled for years, has been made possible solely through the initiative and leadership of the Central government,” he said.

He urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu and Congress leaders to welcome the decision taken in the interest of the state and the nation, rather than seeking political gain, and to appreciate the efforts of Prime Minister Modi.

Former Fisheries Minister Mahajan expressed confidence that the implementation of the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project would yield long-term benefits for Himachal Pradesh and play a pivotal role in achieving the goal of a clean, pristine Yamuna.

–IANS

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