AMN / WEB DESK
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid foundation stone of 23 projects worth 17,500 crore rupees at Haldwani in Uttarakhand today. These projects cover a wide array of sectors and areas across the state including irrigation, road, housing, health infrastructure, industry, sanitation and drinking water supply.
The projects included laying the foundation stone of AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Haldwani, Lakhwar Multipurpose, a hydropower facility in Pithoragarh, multiple road projects across the state under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna and strategically important Tanakpur-Pithoragarh Road project to improve the connectivity of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, among others. Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Aroma Park at Kashipur and Plastic Industrial Park at Sitarganj.
In line with PM’s endeavor to expand the medical infrastructure of the state and provide world-class medical facilities in different parts of the country, the foundation stone of AIIMS, Rishikesh Satellite Centre at Udham Singh Nagar and Jagjivan Ram Government Medical College at Pithoragarh was also laid. The improved medical infrastructure will not only help Kumaon and Terai regions, but also the bordering areas of Uttar Pradesh.
In line with the vision to improve connectivity at far-flung places of the country, inauguration and foundation stone laying of multiple road sector projects worth about 8,700 crore rupees was done on this occasion. These road projects will improve connectivity between Garhwal, Kumaon and Terai region. It will also improve connectivity between Uttarakhand and Nepal. Improved connectivity will also benefit industrial areas in Rudrapur and Lalkuan besides improving the accessibility of Jim Corbett National Park.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was privileged to visit Kumaon and his earlier memories of visiting the region have been refreshed. He said, the current double-engine government was focusing on the development of the state. Prime Minister said, to make this decade, decade of Uttarakhand, the government is focusing on the all-round development of facilities for tourism. The Prime Minister said that the strength of the people of Uttarakhand along with growing modern infrastructure, the Char Dham project, the new rail routes being built, attraction for Yoga, development of railway and tourism infrastructure, demand for herbal products will boost the development of state and make 2030, the decade of Uttarakhand.
Targetting the opposition, he said that earlier governments ignored the developmental needs of the state and of the people of the state. Earlier, people running the government were more interested in looting Uttarakhand and in saving their own government. He said, it was the trademark of earlier governments to put big schemes and developmental projects on the backburner. Prime Minister said that the work of the Lakhwar Project, which has started here in Uttarakhand today, has the same history. He said, the project was first thought of in 1976. Shri Modi said that today after 46 years, our government has laid the foundation stone for its work. He said that the Central Government has also set up India’s largest optical telescope at Devasthal in Nainital. This has not only given a new facility to the scientists of the country and abroad, but the state has also got a new identity because of it. He said, we are engaged in a mission from Gangotri to Gangasagar. The Prime Minister said that with the construction of toilets, better sewerage system and modern water treatment facilities, the number of dirty drains falling into the Ganga is decreasing rapidly.
The Prime Minister addressed the gathering and said that your dreams are our resolutions; your desire is our inspiration and it is our responsibility to meet your every requirement. He said that today in Delhi and Dehradun, the government is run by service, not with power. He said that despite it being a border state, the development of the state was ignored. He said that along with connectivity, every aspect of national security was ignored. He said they have not forgotten the brave mothers of Kumaon who dedicated their children to the defense of the nation. He announced that just like Rishikesh-Karaprayag Railway line, Tanakpur-Bageshwar Railway line will also be constructed soon.
Prime Minister said, Devbhoomi Uttarakhand will move towards touching new heights of progress with these projects.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami thanked the Prime Minister for the developmental projects. He said that Prime Minister was working to make the country, the ‘Vishwa Guru’. Mr. Dhami said that today under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the flag of Indian culture is being waved all over the world. It was his good fortune that the people of the state are part of this journey. The destination of this journey is to make India a glorious nation.
The Chief Minister said that it was possible only under the leadership of the Prime Minister that the decision to remove Article 370 from Kashmir and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya could be completed. Mr. Dhami said that the dream of a grand Kashi seen by Malviya ji is also being realized under the leadership of the Prime Minister. He said that Uttarakhand would emerge as the best state in the coming times under the leadership of the Prime Minister. He said, these projects would act as a milestone in the development of the state. He said, these projects will lead to the generation of employment for the youth of the state. He said, BJP is following a ten-year vision plan to make Uttarakhand, the best state by 2025. He said that the government is making efforts to build the Manas Khand corridor in the Kumaon region, due to which along with tourism, new employment opportunities will also be created in the region of Kumaon. The Chief Minister said that today under the leadership of the Prime Minister, a dream-like idea of railways coming to the mountains, has been fulfilled. He said that Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has always done the work of giving birth to heroes, when the time comes, they will also give martyrdom for the service of the nation. He said that the way roads and bridges are being constructed in the border areas of Uttarakhand today, which indicates that Uttarakhand has progressed in its developmental journey.
Governor Lt. Gen (Retd.) Gurmeet Singh, Union Minister and State BJP in-charge Prahlad Joshi, Minister for State for Defence and Tourism Ajay Bhatt , State Minister and State BJP Chief Madan Kaushik, Ministers Dhan Singh Rawat and Banshidhar Bhagat, were also present on the occasion.