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| India PM to open Kashmir projects | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is due in Indian-administered Kashmir to inaugurate a dam opposed by Pakistan and a key rail project. | |
| Mr Singh will inaugurate the first phase of the Baglihar hydro-electric project on the Chenab river on Friday. | Mr Singh will inaugurate the first phase of the Baglihar hydro-electric project on the Chenab river on Friday. |
| On Saturday, he will flag off the first-ever train from Nowgam station, near the city of Srinagar. | On Saturday, he will flag off the first-ever train from Nowgam station, near the city of Srinagar. |
| Pakistan says the dam will deprive its agricultural land of irrigation. India says it is crucial for its power needs. | Pakistan says the dam will deprive its agricultural land of irrigation. India says it is crucial for its power needs. |
| Controversy | Controversy |
| Mr Singh is due to arrive in the Jammu region in a few hours to inaugurate the first phase of the Baglihar project. | Mr Singh is due to arrive in the Jammu region in a few hours to inaugurate the first phase of the Baglihar project. |
| The project, which will generate a total of 900 megawatts of power in two phases of 450 megawatts each, has been mired in controversy since it began in 1999. | The project, which will generate a total of 900 megawatts of power in two phases of 450 megawatts each, has been mired in controversy since it began in 1999. |
| Kashmir train link | Kashmir train link |
| Work started on the project in 2000 and it was due to be completed by June 2006. | Work started on the project in 2000 and it was due to be completed by June 2006. |
| But after Pakistan raised objections, the work was delayed. | But after Pakistan raised objections, the work was delayed. |
| Islamabad argued that the dam violated the World Bank-brokered 1960 Indus Water treaty which divided the rights of water from six rivers between India and Pakistan. | Islamabad argued that the dam violated the World Bank-brokered 1960 Indus Water treaty which divided the rights of water from six rivers between India and Pakistan. |
| In February 2007, the World Bank overruled most of Pakistan's objections. | In February 2007, the World Bank overruled most of Pakistan's objections. |
| At the same time, it told India to lower the height of the dam by 1.5m (five feet). | At the same time, it told India to lower the height of the dam by 1.5m (five feet). |
| Some geologists too have expressed concern over the safety of the Baglihar project. | Some geologists too have expressed concern over the safety of the Baglihar project. |
| They say it is built in an area prone to earthquakes and is constructed over an active fault. | They say it is built in an area prone to earthquakes and is constructed over an active fault. |
| 'Simple ceremony' | 'Simple ceremony' |
| On Saturday, Mr Singh will inaugurate the first rail link in Indian-administered Kashmir to connect Rajwansher town in the north with Anantnag in the south, a distance of 72km (44 miles). | On Saturday, Mr Singh will inaugurate the first rail link in Indian-administered Kashmir to connect Rajwansher town in the north with Anantnag in the south, a distance of 72km (44 miles). |
| It will be extended next year to 117km (73 miles) to connect Baramulla in the north with Qazigund in the south. | It will be extended next year to 117km (73 miles) to connect Baramulla in the north with Qazigund in the south. |
| Finishing touches are being given to Nowgam station | Finishing touches are being given to Nowgam station |
| The prime minister, accompanied by Railway Minister Laloo Yadav, will flag off the train. | The prime minister, accompanied by Railway Minister Laloo Yadav, will flag off the train. |
| "It will be a simple ceremony and it will not be open to public because of security reasons," an official told the BBC. | "It will be a simple ceremony and it will not be open to public because of security reasons," an official told the BBC. |
| The rail link will not connect Kashmir with the rest of India so its impact on the region's development is expected to be limited. | The rail link will not connect Kashmir with the rest of India so its impact on the region's development is expected to be limited. |
| The Rajwansher-Anantnag link was ready to be flagged off in the summer, but several weeks of intense anti-India protests in the Kashmir valley forced the authorities to postpone it. | The Rajwansher-Anantnag link was ready to be flagged off in the summer, but several weeks of intense anti-India protests in the Kashmir valley forced the authorities to postpone it. |
| After some years of relative calm in the valley, tensions were sparked by a plan to grant land to a board that oversees the running of an important Hindu shrine. | After some years of relative calm in the valley, tensions were sparked by a plan to grant land to a board that oversees the running of an important Hindu shrine. |
| Separatist leaders have announced a strike in the valley on Saturday to coincide with the prime minister's visit. | Separatist leaders have announced a strike in the valley on Saturday to coincide with the prime minister's visit. |