Thakur hails Centre, slams Congress over Kishau Dam stalemate

New Delhi – On Wednesday, Union Minister Anurag Thakur stepped up to the podium and gave the central government a much‑needed pat on the back for finally breaking the deadlock on the Kishau Dam project. He also didn’t shy away from poking a bit of fun at the opposition, wondering aloud why Congress‑led administrations had let the issue fester for six decades.

Just a day earlier, the chief ministers of six northern states – Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and the National Capital Territory of Delhi – gathered in New Delhi and signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU clears the way for the 422 MW Kishau Multipurpose Project, a scheme that has been stuck in the mud‑slinging of politics for far too long.

“This was a six‑decade‑old problem,” Thakur told reporters, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “Several Congress governments came and went, both at the Centre and in the states, but none could untangle it.” He went on to credit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decisive leadership, noting that under the PM’s direction the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil held talks with the six chief ministers and finally nudged the project forward.

According to Thakur, the agreement is more than just a piece of paperwork. It is set to address India’s looming water needs while also feeding the nation’s power appetite. “When we talk about cooperative federalism and inter‑governmental coordination, this MoU is a living example,” he said, adding a slight smile as he emphasized the spirit of collaboration.

The financial angle, he pointed out, tilts heavily toward the Centre. “About 90 percent of the cost is being shouldered by the Union,” Thakur noted, “yet there are people trying to take credit.” He singled out Himachal Pradesh’s chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, for “taking credit” and challenged him to explain why previous Congress‑run governments could not resolve the issue over the past 50‑60 years.

The MoU, signed by the six chief ministers – Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (HP), Pushkar Singh Dhami (UT), Yogi Adityanath (UP), Nayab Singh Saini (HR), Bhajanlal Sharma (RJ) and Rekha Gupta (DL) – was witnessed by Amit Shah and C.R. Patil. The pact, worth roughly ₹15,000 crore, clears the way for the Kishau Multipurpose Project to move to the Union Cabinet for final approval.

Once the cabinet signs off, the project is expected to progress to the implementation stage, delivering hydro‑electric power and a much‑needed water supply to the participating states. For now, Thakur’s comments have set the tone: a blend of celebration for the breakthrough and a sharp reminder to the opposition that the wheels of development keep turning, even if the road has been rocky for decades.