Neelum River

The Neelum River (Hindi: नीलम नदी, Urdu: نیلم ندی), or Kishanganga (Sanskrit/Hindi: कृष्णगंगा नदी, Urdu: کِشڻ گنگا ندی), is a river in the Kashmir region of India and Pakistan. The Neelam River enters Pakistan from India in the Gurais sector of the Line of Control, and then runs west till it meets the Jhelum River north of Muzzafarabad.^[1][2]

Neelum Valley

The Neelum Valley is a Himalayan gorge in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan, along which the Neelum River flows. This green and fertile valley is 250 km in length and stretches its way from Muzaffarabad all the way to Athmuqam and beyond to Taobutt. It is one of the most attractive tourists places, like Swat and Chetral, but due to poor road system is yet veiled to the outside world. This area was badly affected by the 2005 earthquake and was cut off from the outside world as the roads and paths were filled with rubble. Now construction of an international standard road is in progress. Neelum has had a great importance before and after the partition of India due to its beauty. Sharada Peeth was once most advanced and international standard institution during the Hindu and Buddhist era.^{[citation needed]}

It is named after the river Neelum which is famous for its crystal bluish water and that is the reason for its name Neelum. Some traditionalists^[who?] say that the valley is named after a precious stone neelum (sapphire). It enters in the Neelum from Taobutt and continues its journey through narrows and mountains different streams in the way add its strength and finely tributes into river Jehlum at a spot at Domail in Muzaffarabad.

There are two entrances for Neelum valley, one Neelum Road by Muzaffarabad and the other by Kaghan the Julkhad Road. Generally Neelum valley starts just after Muzaffarabad but in political division the area from Muzaffarabad to Chelhana is named Kotla valley in election division. District Neelum starts from Chelhana and goes to Taobutt. The valley is famous for its lush greenery, fir forests, slop hills and waterfalls. Specially in summer a large number of tourists visit the valley. Azad jummu and Kashmir tourism department and Forest Division Keren constructed Guest Houses in most important points. Good strandard hotels are also available in almost places.

Shardadesh is a name for the drainage basin of the Neelum River. The name is a form of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and the arts in Hinduism.

Dam

In the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, the construction work on the 330 MW Kishen Ganga power project will start soon, after being defunct for eighteen years.^[3] Recently, the project was awarded to Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) with a timeline of seven years. The 330 MW Kishanganga hydro-electric power project involves damming of Kishanganga or Neelam River and the proposed 103 metre reservoir will submerge some parts of the Gurez valley of India.^[4] The water of Kishen Ganga River will be diverted through a 27 kilometre tunnel dug through the mountains to Bandipore where it will join the Wular Lake and then Jhelum River.^[4]

Similarly, Pakistan has decided to construct a 969 MW hydro power project across the Jhelum; the country has placed the project in the hands of a Chinese consortium.^[3] Pakistan claims that the Indian dam project will violate the Indus Waters Treaty and has threatened to begin formal arbitration proceedings against India over the matter.^[5]

References

1. ^ "The Neelam Plan". Rediff. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/20guest1.htm. Retrieved 2009–11–15. 
2. ^ "Basic Facts about the Kishenganga Dam ProjectK". Kashmir Environmental Watch Association. http://www.kewa.org/project.html. Retrieved 2009–11–15. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Kishen Ganga power project to be revived". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 22 April 2008. http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/22/stories/2008042255671100.htm. Retrieved 2009–11–15. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Kishen Ganga project to begin soon". The Indian Express. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Kishen-Ganga-project-to-begin-soon/423054/. Retrieved 2009–11–15. 
5. ^ Pakistan Seeks Resolution of India Water Dispute. By TOM WRIGHT in Lahore, Pakistan, and AMOL SHARMA in New Delhi. Wall Street Journal. 20 May 2010.

External links

• Neelum Valley.zoomshare

Coordinates: 34°21′N 73°28′E / 34.35°N 73.467°E / 34.35; 73.467