Indian politicians share wrong photo in posts celebrating new dam

  • This article is more than one year old.
  • Published on November 29, 2021 at 14:39
  • 2 min read
  • By Anuradha PRASAD, AFP India

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Politicians from India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have shared a photo of a dam in posts celebrating the inauguration of a major dam project in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The posts -- which were subsequently shared hundreds of times -- are misleading; the photo shows a different dam built in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The image was shared here on Twitter on November 19 by BJP Member of Legislative Assembly Avadhesh Singh.

It shows the dam alongside a picture of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Hindi-language text translates as: "A gift to Bundelkhand".

The text under the picture of the dam reads "Bhavani Dam project".

It also gives information about the structure, which was inaugurated on November 19. 

Singh's tweet reads: "Bundelkhand -- which was traditionally used by politicians for their personal benefits -- is today witnessing a sea of change" alongside a Hindi hashtag that translates as "#Proud_Bundelkhand".

Screenshot of the misleading post taken on November 25, 2021

The Bhavani dam in Uttar Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region is part of a larger project, Arjuna Sahayak Pariyojana.

It aims to connect four districts through a canal to tackle water shortages in the drought-prone region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the project on November 19 in Mahoba district, Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh.

The same image was shared by various BJP members here, here, here, here and here, and by the chief of Hindu organisation Hindu Yuva Vahini from Gujarat.

However, the posts are misleading.

A reverse image search found the photo published in various news reports about the Srisailam dam.

The New Indian Express featured the photo in a report from 2019.

It was headlined: "Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar projects in Telangana-AP border set to receive huge inflows".

Screenshot of the image published by The New Indian Express

The same image was also published in a report from 2016 by the Deccan Chronicle.

Google Maps shows similar photos of the same dam. 

The Srisailam Dam is constructed across the Krishna River on the border of Mahabubnagar District, Telangana and Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh near Srisailam temple town.

It is the second-largest capacity working hydroelectric station in the country, according to the Krishna River Management Board's website.

AFP previously debunked misleading claims shared by BJP politicians here and here.

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