On PM’s b’day, Shah unveils 17 Delhi projects worth Rs 1,723 cr

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched 17 Delhi government projects worth Rs 1,723 crore and flagged the BJP’s tradition of observing a special fortnight of service to mark the occasion.

Addressing an event in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at Thyagaraj Stadium here, Shah said the decision to mark Sewa Pakhwara - the period from PM’s birthday on September 17 to Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 - was taken when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014.

“Undertaking development and welfare measures during the period is a BJP tradition being followed for 11 years now. Panchayats, state governments and the Centre coordinate to hold a series of public welfare events, including campaigns for health, cleanliness and service of the poor,” said Shah.

CM Gupta described the Centre as the “lifeline” of Delhi and said it had nurtured the national capital for 11 years, hand holding it and backing it up with support in the form of projects and schemes.

Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi Cabinet members, BJP MLAs and state party chief Virendra Sachdeva donated blood at a mega camp organised to mark the occasion. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also donated blood at the same camp at Kartavya Path. Besides, the CM led the “Sewa Sankalp Walk”.

Among projects Shah launched virtually today are — five new hospital blocks, 101 Ayushman Arogya Mandir clinics, 150 dialysis machines, registration of 50,000 people under the old-age pension scheme and 10 resource centres for children with special needs.

The Home Minister also unveiled Atal Asha Nursing Home, a hostel in Narela, a financial assistance scheme for caregivers of persons with high-support needs, a hostel for college-going visually-impaired girls, Savitri Bai Phule Shelter Home for senior citizens and 24 quick response vehicles for firefighting in congested areas.

In her speech, the CM listed central projects allocated for Delhi, including Rs 1.25 lakh crore spent on linking Delhi with expressways and roads and Rs 9,000 crore for Yamuna rejuvenation.

She announced plans to launch 75 development and welfare projects as part of “Seva Pakhwada”.

* What Shah launched

- Waste-to-energy plants at Narela and Okhla. Narela plant, costing Rs 604 crore, will process 3,000 tonnes of solid waste a day, converting it into electricity.

- Okhla plant expansion will raise processing capacity from 1,950 to 2,950 tonnes a day and will cost Rs 361 crore.

- 75 drones developed under the Netra-Nari-Netritva project, worth Rs 85 lakh. These drones have been developed by students of the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women and will be operated by the Delhi Police.