Anurag Thakur Hails Centre’s Role in Reviving the Long‑Stalled Kishau Dam While Calling Out Congress for Decades of Inaction

New Delhi – When the chief ministers of six northern states gathered on September 15 to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Kishau Multipurpose Project, the atmosphere was tinged with both relief and a hint of political drama. The 422 MW dam, perched on the Satluj River in Himachal Pradesh, has been a phantom on the map for almost six decades, slipping in and out of governments’ agendas without ever getting off the drawing board.

One voice that cut through the ceremonial chatter was that of BJP MP Anurag Thakur. Speaking to reporters the following day, Thakur made it clear that the breakthrough owed its existence to the “determined direction” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the coordinated push from the Union Home Minister and Union Jal Shakti Minister. He said the recent meetings between these ministers and the six chief ministers finally put an end to a problem that had lingered far longer than any single administration could remember.

“It’s a six‑decade‑old issue,” Thakur remarked, his tone half‑admiring, half‑exasperated. “Several Congress governments have come and gone – at the centre and in the states – and none could sort it out.” He went on to stress that the Union is shouldering roughly 90 % of the Rs 15,000‑crore project cost, a figure that, in his view, made any claim of local credit look a bit thin.

Thakur didn’t hold back on the criticism. “If the Himachal chief minister wants to take credit, he should explain why Congress could not resolve this in the past 50‑60 years,” he said, pointing a not‑so‑subtle finger at the current state government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The MoU, however, was more than a political showdown. It represented, according to Thakur, a textbook case of “co‑operative federalism” – a term he used with a smile, as if to say the central‑state dance finally found its rhythm. The agreement promises to secure water for future generations, a vital resource for a region already feeling the pinch of climate variability, while simultaneously adding a respectable chunk of hydro‑electric capacity to the national grid.

Present at the signing were the chief ministers of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi, alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil. Their signatures now move the Kishau project into the next administrative hurdle – a green light from the Union Cabinet – after which the actual construction can kick off.

Should the project clear that final gate, the benefits will be two‑fold: a reliable supply of water for irrigation and drinking, and a boost of 422 MW of clean energy that can help meet the country’s growing power demand. In the grand scheme, it’s a win‑win that, after decades of stalemate, finally feels like a step forward for the people living in the foothills and plains alike.

As the dust settles on the MoU signing, the political narrative will likely keep swirling. But for now, Thakur’s message is plain – the Centre acted, the states cooperated, and the long‑awaited Kishau dam is inching closer to reality.