In Uttarakhand, PM Modi accuses previous governments of looting state

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 23 projects worth more than Rs 17,500 crore, including the Rs 5,747 crore Lakhwar hydropower project, in Uttarakhand.

It was his second visit to the poll-bound state this month. On his last visit on December 4, PM Modi had unveiled projects worth over Rs 18,000 crore in Dehradun.

Addressing the Vijay Sankalp rally in Haldwani, he announced that he was bringing infrastructure projects worth Rs 2,000 crore to Haldwani as a New Year gift.

The projects are related to the construction of roads, laying of the sewerage network and installation of streetlights.

Defence-related needs ignored

The previous govts looted Uttarakhand. In spite of being a border state, many defence-related needs were ignored. Narendra Modi

Modi accused successive Congress governments at the Centre and in Uttarakhand of dragging their feet for decades over development projects, forcing people to migrate from their villages in the state.

“The previous Uttarakhand governments looted the state and did nothing for its development,” he said, adding that in spite of being a border state, many defence-related needs were ignored.

“Along with connectivity, every aspect of national security was overlooked… Soldiers did not have essential armour, ammunition and arms for giving a befitting reply to invaders and terrorists,” he claimed.

On the Lakhwar project, the PM said it was thought of in 1974 and took nearly 46 years to see the light of day.

“Wasn’t it sinful on part of those who were in power before us to delay a project like Lakhwar meant to give you electricity, drinking water and irrigate your lands. Would you forget their sin? Will you get carried away by their tall promises?” he asked a cheering crowd at the MB Inter College ground in Haldwani.

“Generations of people in Uttarakhand villages were forced to leave their homes in the absence of roads and other facilities and migrate somewhere else,” he said.

“While I correct their mistakes, you teach them a lesson,” the Prime Minister said.

Apart from the Lakhwar Project, the PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of Rs 8,700 crore road projects to “improve connectivity in remote, rural and border areas”. “The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will get better connectivity,” he said.

The PM also laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Rishikesh satellite centre at Udham Singh Nagar, Jagjivan Ram Government Medical College at Pithoragarh, Aroma Park at Kashipur and Plastic Industrial Park at Sitarganj, along with initiatives in housing, sanitation and drinking water supply in the state that goes to polls early next year.

Lakhwar hydropower project
Rs5,747 crore estimated cost

300 MW
Electricity to be generated

330 million cubic M
Water in its reservoir will supply irrigation and drinking water to U’khand, HP, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan & Delhi