PM inaugurates Rs 11,581 crore developmental projects in HP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said it has benefited the people of Himachal Pradesh to have a double-engine governments in the State as well as at the Centre, as the speed of development projects and the implementation of different schemes have got momentum.

Addressing a rally at the Paddal ground to mark four years of the Jai Ram Thakur-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the State, he underscored  the advantages of a double-engine government.

With less than a year to go for the 2022 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, Modi said the people of the hill State have benefitted a lot over the last four years as various welfare schemes launched by the Centre were implemented in a more efficient manner by the Thakur government. 

He inaugurated and laid foundation stones of developmental projects worth about Rs 11,581 crore for the State which included  111 MW Sawara Kuddu HydroElectric Project virtually from  Mandi constructed by the HP Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL) at a cost of Rs 2082 crore. He also laid foundation stones of Rs 7000 crore Renuka ji Dam on Giri river in Sirmour district and 66 MW Dhaulasidh Hydro Electric Project, a joint venture between the Government of India and the State Government located on the Beas river in Hamirpur and Kangra districts.

In addition to this, he laid the foundation stone of 210 MW Luhri Stage-I hydro-electric project to be constructed by spending an amount of Rs 1811 crore on Satluj river in Shimla and Kullu districts of the State.

The Prime Minister said that he also shares an emotional bonding with Himachal Pradesh and congratulated the State Government for completing four years of its eventful tenure. He said that this double engine Government has ensured that the pace of development goes uninterrupted during the pandemic.

He also appreciated the efforts made by the State Government for effectively controlling the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that the vaccine coverage of cent percent eligible population in the State was the result of dedicated and committed efforts of the State Government. 

He said that the State got AIIMS, Atal Tunnel and four Medical Colleges during the tenure of the present Government.Modi said that ‘ease of living’ of the people of the country is one of the foremost priorities and electricity plays a huge role in this. Hydro-power projects launched today reflect India’s commitment to eco-friendly development.

“When the Shree Renukaji Dam project on the Giri river is completed, a large area will be directly benefited by it. Whatever income will be generated from this project, a large part of it will also be spent on development here”, the Prime Minister remarked.

He talked about the speed with which India is meeting its environment related goals and mentioned that “In 2016,India had set a target to meet 40 percent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil energy sources by 2030. Today every Indian will be proud that India has achieved this goal in November this year itself.”

The Prime Minister continued “the whole world is praising India, for how our country is accelerating development while saving the environment. From solar power to hydro power, from wind power to green hydrogen, the country is working continuously to make full use of every resource of renewable energy”, he said.

The Prime Minister talked about elimination of single use plastic, saying that the government is alert about the damage caused to the mountains due to plastic. Along with the nationwide campaign against single use plastic, the government is also working on plastic waste management. Touching upon the need for behaviour change.  He said “tourists also have a huge responsibility in keeping Himachal clean, free of plastic and other waste. Plastic has spread everywhere, plastic going into rivers, we have to make efforts together to stop the damage it is causing to Himachal.”

Modi praised the growth of the pharmaceutical sector in Himachal Pradesh and said, “If India is called the pharmacy of the world today, then Himachal is the force behind it. Himachal Pradesh has helped not only other states but also other countries during the Corona global pandemic.”

2ND GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY OF 287 INVESTIBLE PROJECTS WORTH RS 28,197

The Prime Minister also presided over the second Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Himachal Pradesh Global Investors’ Meet at Mandi. In the event, 287 Investible Projects  were grounded. These grounded projects  are expected to provide impetus to economic development in the region as well as generate around one lakh job opportunities.

He also unveiled the ‘Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy’ of the State on the occasion and  also released Coffee Table Book, ‘Seva aur Siddhi Ke, 4 Saal Samridhi Ke’, highlighting the four years achievements of the present State Government, brought out by the Information and Public Relations Department.  A documentary film based on various achievements of the present State Government brought out by the Department was also screened on the occasion. 

The Prime Minister was also felicitated by the Chief Minister by presenting him with a shawl, Himachali Cap and Trident. Earlier, the Prime Minister was accorded a rousing welcome by the Governor, Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues on arrival at Kangnidhar Halipad, Mandi.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that it was a record in the history of Himachal Pradesh that the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones of development projects worth Rs 11,581 crore in a single day. He said that Renuka ji National Project, foundation stone of which was laid by the Prime Minister today would not only generate 200 million unit of energy in a surface power house with 40 MW installed capacity, but would also meet the 40 per cent drinking water requirement of Delhi by supplying 23 cubic meter water per second to National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Thakur said the State Government would strive hard to break the trend of changing of guards after every five years in the State with hard work, dedication and serving the people in a befitting manner. 

He said that it was due to the double engine government at the Centre and the State that today the State has six medical colleges in Government sector and one in private sector, Atal Tunnel, Satellite Centre PGI at Una, apart from AIIMS at Bilaspur.