Modi, his team visit Three Gorges Dam in China

Ahmedabad, Nov 3 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister and his business delgation today visited the world's largest Three Gorges Dam (181 metre) on the River Yangtze and examined the hydro-electric project, which is said to be the world's largest hydro-electric project.

According to an official release here today, Mr Modi toured the dam which like the Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat, is beseiged with controversies.

Three Gorges Dam president Gwang Giang, who took Mr Modi on the tour, explained the various aspects of the dam, which is a multi-purpose dam and helps in controlling floods, provides inland water transport and produces 20,000 mega watts of electricity through its 32 units of 700 mw capacity each. It is also the main tourist attraction centre in the world, informed the Chinese official to Mr Modi, the release said.

The release quoted Mr Giang as saying that the construction of the dam went on for 10 years and displaced 13 lakh people, who were resettled.

In addition, the dam provides inland water ways for ships of 10,000 ton capacity apart from being a tourist site. Around four lakh tourists from all over the world throng to see the dam, Mr Giang said.

Mr Modi apprised him about the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river, which would soon reach a height of 143 metres. Like the Chinese dam, it would also produce electricty, control flood and has a tourist potential as it has the world's longest 440 km long main canal and other branch network canals.

He said the resettlement package for the displaced people was one of most liberal package seen anywhere in the world.

Mr Modi and his team will reach Beijing tomorrow, the release added.

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