Kalistani Major History

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Empress inaugurates new Dam Projects in Neveras, Suldanor, and Vrassa
Also announces pending visits from Luthorian PM
Lhasa Narrows, Duchy of Neveras
September 9, 5505


Her Imperial Majesty describes new Neveras High Dam in press conference north of Lhasa River

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Nicolette II was on hand today to inaugurate the new Neveras High Dam Project at Lhasa Narrows along the Neveras River. When completed, the Dam will stand more 625 feet tall, and will be the tallest dam in Kalistan. It is one of 8 dam projects beginning across Kalistan Proper designed to serve as hydroelectric power generation and flood control in the Duchies of Neveras, Suldanor and Vrassa. Neveras will host three high dams, Vrassa will be the home to four dams, and Suldanor will receive one dam.

"We are very pleased to be here to formally inaugurate these large public works projects," said the Empress. "Not only will these projects supply ample power to our Mainland Duchies, but they will also serve as engines for jobs and then for both recreation and wildlife preservation. We have expressed our desire that these projects add more to the natural environment than they disrupt, and the plans for multi-purpose use of the new reservoirs that will be created along these rivers shall indeed serve both humans and wildlife for decades to come."

The Empress said that the eight sites had been chosen along a very strict list of criteria, including ecological and cultural impact, availability of existing infrastructure, to insure that not much new infrastructure needs to be created, and relative remoteness from population centers. "Additionally, we wanted the engineers to select sites where our work would have an impact on hydrology downstream," said the Empress. "For example, this site here, at the place called Lhasa Narrows, will allow us to build a fish run to allow fish migrations, but will also allow us to control frequent flooding downstream in the Central Valley. The water released on a regular schedule by the dam operators will allow farmers more predictability for their irrigation projects, and will allow civil engineers to control erosion and siltation which has long plagued farmers in the Valley. Each of these projects will add regularity, beauty and inducement for our Citizens to go out and explore nature."

In addition to the dam projects, the Empress announced a new initiative to create the lands adjacent to the new reservoirs as National Recreation Sites, and protect the natural beauty of the land as a pubic resource. "Reservoirs tend to attract those who wish to develop their shores," said the Empress. "It is our wish that these areas remain free of development, so that our citizens may enjoy them in as natural a state as possible." Several towns that sit in the areas that will eventually be under the surface of the 8 new man-made lakes that the dams create will be evacuated and demolished, and the residents will be resettled in nearby areas. In all fewer than 10,000 citizens will be affected over the 8 dam projects.

In addition to the dam projects, the Empress took the occasion to welcome various Luthorian visits to Kalistan. "We want to take a moment to announce the impending visit of the Prime Minister of the Empire of Luthori to Kalistan," said Her Imperial Majesty. "It was long the ambition of my mother, the Empress, to forge a new relationship with Luthori, but for one reason or another, those plans were shelved for decades. But we have picked that concern up once more, and it is our desire that this visit happen as soon as possible, because we are interested in finally dispatching an Ambassador to Luthori to occupy the now mostly empty Embassy that was built in their capital. A visit from their Prime Minister will be the first step in building a new relatonship with Kalistan. And we certainly look forward to their visit. We have asked our Chancellor, the Lady Kelly Newburg-LaRoc to host her Counterpart from Luthori, and we have also expressed our intention to attend these meetings, so that we may get the measure of the Luthorians, as well as their intention vis a vis Kalistan from the first hand. We look forward to their Prime Minister's visit as soon as possible."

The Empress also added an informal note. "We would also be remiss if we didn't inform our Press that we welcome the so-named 'Rock and Roll Diplomacy,' between our country and Luthori. It has been a couple years now since the Luthori hard rock band The Chiefs toured Kalistan. We ourselves were in attendance at their shows in Kaliburg, shall we say, incognito... They received our support when they played FOMAT, and we felt their concert was something that we would enjoy seeing live." The Empress explained that the cultural exchange between the two Empires has laid a ground work for positive relations between the two peoples. "We have long been estranged from Luthori," said the Empress, "and yet, it is our opinion that this should not be. Our two peoples have quite a lot in common, and it is our desire that we should take every opportunity to get to know one another, to travel back and forth with ease and enthusiasm, and to be friends. It seems that it has started with music: We certainly welcome musicians from Luthori, as we have welcomed so many musicians from other nations, and appreciate the ties that this form of exchange forges for our two people."

The dam projects will take between 8 and 10 years to complete, but the Lhasa Narrows Dam project is already well into its 5th month, and the site clearing is nearly completed.