Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for seven projects related to urban infrastructure.
Out of these, four projects are related to water supply, two to sewerage treatment and one to riverfront development. The total cost of these projects is Rs. 541 crore.
The implementation of these projects has been undertaken by BUIDCO under Urban Development and Housing Department of Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was also be present on the occasion.
Sewerage treatment plants built under Namami Gange at Beur and Karmalichak in Patna Municipal Corporation was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
He also inaugurated water supply projects built under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation in Siwan Municipal Council and Chapra Municipal Corporation. Both these projects will help local residents get pure drinking water 24 hours a day.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Munger water supply scheme under AMRUT Mission which will help residents of Munger Municipal Corporation get pure water through pipelines.
Foundation stone of Jamalpur water supply scheme under AMRUT Mission in Jamalpur Municipal Council was laid by the Prime Minister on this occasion.
The foundation stone of Muzaffarpur Riverfront Development Scheme, being built under Namami Gange, was also laid by the Prime Minister.
Under the project, three ghats of Muzaffarpur, Poorvi Akhada Ghat, Seedhi Ghat and Chandwara Ghat will be developed.
Basic facilities like toilets, information kiosk, changing room, pathway, watch tower etc will be made available at the riverfront. Proper security arrangements, signage and adequate lighting will be arranged for at these Ghats.
Speaking on the occasion the Prime Minister said, the programme is taking place on the occasion of Engineer’s Day which marks the birth anniversary of great engineer of the country M Vishvesvaraya.
He said, engineers of the country have made an unprecedented contribution in building the nation as well as the world.
Mr. Modi said more than 50 projects worth Rs. 6000 crore have been approved in Bihar to keep river Ganga clean. He said, Namami Gange project will change the life pattern of the people.
Sewerage treatment plant has been setup to stop flow of polluted water into river Ganga. Mr Modi said villages on the banks of Ganga are being developed as Ganga Gram.
He said Namami Gange will also be very helpful for Project Dolphin and bio diversity in Ganga.
The Prime Minister said, due to joint efforts of the Center and the Bihar government , basic amenities like drinking water and sewer are constantly improving in the cities across the State.
In the last 4 to 5 years, lakhs of families have been connected to water facilities in the urban areas of Bihar under the schemes of Mission Amruit nad and State Government’s schemes.
He said, in the last one year, more than 2 crore water connections have been given all over the country under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Mr Modi said, today, more than one lakh households in the country are being connected to piped water. He said, clean water not only makes life better but also prevents many serious diseases.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said digital infrastructure has been strengthened in Bihar and 8,743 panchayats have been connected through Bharatnet in the State.
He said 3.93 crore people are now using internet in the State against eighty lakh people in 2014-15.
Mr Prasad said 35,000 common service centres played a vital role for people during lockdown period.
On this occasion Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed gratitude to PM for extending support to Bihar.
Mr Kumar promised the state will try its best effort to complete central projects within stipulated time.
He said the water from treatment plant will be used for irrigation purpose in the state.