PM LAUNCHES PRADHAN MANTRI GRAM SADAK YOJANA (PMGSY) – III

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of two hydropower projects and launched Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh today.
• The letter received from a teacher from the area who shared details of Chamba with the Prime Minister. The letter was shared by the Prime Minister in Mann kiBaat.
• The opportunity to launch multiple projects on road connectivity and employment generation for Chamba and other remote villages. Remembering his days in Himachal Pradesh, the the adage that ‘Pahad ka PaaniaurPahadkiJawaniPahadkeKaamnahiaati’ i.e. Youth and water of hills is not used for hills, is changing.
• “Now the youth of hills will play an active part in the development of the area”,
• “The next 25 years are very crucial for 130 crore Indians”,
• “India’s Azadi ka Amrit Kaal has begun during which we have to accomplish the goal of making India a developed country.
• In the coming few months, 75 years of the establishment of Himachal are also going to be completed.
• That is, when India celebrates 100 years of independence, Himachal will also celebrate 100 years of its establishment.
• That is why every day of the coming 25 years is very important for us
• The days when Himachal Pradesh had little influence in Delhi and its demands and requests were ignored resulting in important places of faith and natural beauty like Chamba, lagging behind in the development race.
• Special attention was paid to it as Aspirational District as he was aware of the strengths of Chamba.
• He also expressed happiness about children from Kerala coming to Himachal in the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

challenges

• Throwing light on the challenges faced by hilly and tribal areas in terms of employment,the strength of the area into the strength of the people here.
• “The wealth of water and forest in tribal areas is priceless”,
• Chamba belongs to the area of the country where the generation of hydroelectricity was started.
• The Prime Minister underlined that the projects for which the foundation stone has been laid today will increase the share of Chamba and Himachal in the field of power generation.
• Chamba, Himachal will earn hundreds of crores from the electricity generated here and the youth of this place will get employment opportunities.
• “Last year also I had the opportunity to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 4 such big hydro-electric projects.
• The Hydro Engineering College which was started in Bilaspur a few days back will also benefit the youth of Himachal”

Background

• The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of two hydropower projects – the 48 MW Chanju-III Hydro-electric Project and the 30 MW DeothalChanju Hydro-electric Project.
• Both these projects will generate over 270 million units of electricity annually and Himachal Pradesh is expected to get annual revenue of around Rs. 110 crores from these projects.
• The Prime Minister also launched Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) – III in Himachal Pradesh for the upgradation of around 3125 kilometres of roads in the state.
• More than Rs. 420 crores has been sanctioned by the Central Government under this phase for the upgradation of 440 kilometres of roads in 15 border and far flung blocks of the state.
• PM GatiShakti National Master Plan has the potential to save over Rs. 10 Lakh Crore annually by improving logistics efficiency
  GatiShakti is increasingly being used in the social sector for better infrastruture planning; National Master Plan to take fruits of technology to every single citizen
  PM GatiShakti NMP would find a place in history as a powerful intervention that spurred rapid growth and development in the country
  PM GatiShakti to help bring in balanced, equitable, inclusive development in the country; NMP to help remotest areas undertake integrated infrastructure planning and close development gaps
  Through PM GatiShakti National 197 critical infrastructure gap projects identified

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB