Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 24 April, in celebration of National Panchayati Raj Day in Palli Panchayat, Samba district, while addressing all Gram Sabhas across India, said that he is here "with a message of development," and "to give speed to development in J&K", as reported by ANI news agency.
"This year's Panchayati Raj Day, being celebrated in J&K marks a big change. It is a matter of great pride that when democracy has reached the grassroots level in J&K, I am interacting with you all from here," the Prime Minister said.
"Projects worth Rs 20,000 crore related to connectivity and electricity have been inaugurated here today. In a bid to speed up the development in Jammu and Kashmir, many development initiatives are being taken up in the Union Territory," the PM was quoted as saying by ANI.
Projects Inaugurated
He inaugurated a 500 KW solar power plant and laid the foundation stone for three road packages of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway.
Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated the Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, which will lessen the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, and reduce the time to travel by around one and a half hour.
The Prime Minister also proposed the construction of two hydroelectric projects - an 850 megawatt facility built on the Chenab river in Kishtwar which will cost around Rs 5,300 crore. The other project, Kwar, is a 540 megawatt facility which will be constructed on the same river and will cost above Rs 4,500 crore.
He also presented the plan to revive 75 water bodies in the country, an initiative called 'Amrit Sarovar'.
It is the prime minister's first official visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the central government scrapped Article 370 in August 2019.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha felicitated Modi at the event.
"PM Modi has given a new industrial scheme in J&K. Since independence till now there was just Rs 15,000 crore investment, now we have proposal of Rs 52,000 crore while projects of Rs 38,000 crore will be inaugurated by the PM. We expect investment to cross Rs 70,000 crore," Sinha said, as reported by ANI news agency.
Suspected Blast in Bishnah Area
A few hours before the prime minister's arrival, the police said that the people of Lalian village in the Bishnah area in Jammu reported a suspected case of a blast.
"A suspected blast was reported by villagers in open agricultural land in Lalian village, Bishnah, Jammu," the Jammu and Kashmir Police said, according to ANI news agency.
An investigation has already been launched.
Two days before Modi's visit, one official was killed and four others injured in a fierce gun battle that erupted between security forces and terrorists near an army installation at Sunjwan in Jammu on Friday, 22 April.
(With inputs from ANI)
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