Quite disappointing
Developing border roads govt priority: PM in Uttarakhand
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple development projects in Uttarakhand worth around Rs 4,200 crore while attacking the state’s previous government for “lack of development in border areas”.
Addressing a gathering after the event, Modi said the government’s priority is to develop border roads.
The projects he inauguarated include those related to roads, power, irrigation, drinking water, horticulture, education, health and disaster management.
“They (the previous government) did not develop the border areas, fearing that our enemies might use them to enter the state. India today has left such thoughts behind and moved forward… Over the last nine years, we have made over 4,200 km of road, 250 bridges, and 22 tunnels in the border areas. We are also planning to bring trains to our borders,” he said.
India is touching new heights, he said, emphasising on the connection between Uttarakhand and the Chandrayaan-3 success as the landing point is called Shiv-Shakti Point. “…In a world surrounded by challenges, India’s voice is getting stronger,” he said.
Modi said that the decade-old demand for ‘One Rank One Pension’ was fulfilled by his government which has given over Rs 70,000 crore to ex-servicemen, benefiting more than 75,000 families in Uttarakhand.
On connectivity between Kedarnath and Manaskhand, the PM said the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission that started Thursday will make many temples more accessible to devotees in the Kumaon region and boost tourism.
“People do not know much about this area. But when they see Modi has visited, they will think there must be something. Be prepared, the number of tourists is going to increase,” he said.
The PM said that Rs 4,000 crore will be provided to Uttarakhand over the next four-five years to deal with natural disasters.
Earlier, Modi visited Parvati Kund in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district. He landed at Jolingkong helipad in Pithoragarh district at 8.45 am and travelled half a kilometre by car to reach Parvati Sarovar and the Shiva Temple. He meditated for 25 minutes, a government statement said. Modi also visited Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh. Adi Kailash, at an altitude of over 14,000 feet, is adjacent to the China-Nepal border, which Hindus believe is the residence of Lord Shiva’s family.
Then, at Gunji village, he spoke with residents about the Centre’s ‘vocal for local’ scheme and other development projects. He also met the people of Ran Samaj Kalyan Samiti and interacted with Army, ITBP and BRO personnel. Ran community members gave the PM an urn filled with holy water from Mansarovar. Uttarakhand plans to develop 16 temples in the Kumaon division under its ambitious Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission, including the Jageshwar Mahadev Temple in Almora, Chitai Golu Temple, Suryadev Temple in Katarmal, Kasar Devi Temple, Nanda Devi Temple and Patal Bhuvaneshwar Temple in Pithoragarh among others.
Avaneesh Mishra – 2023-10-13 04:00