Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that development and democracy are flourishing in in Jammu and Kashmir after the Constitutional reforms as he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for highway and power projects worth Rs 20,000 crore in the Union Territory.
Addressing members of Panchayati Raj Institutions of the UT at Palli in Samba district, PM Modi said, "Be it democracy or development, Jammu and Kashmir today is setting a new example. New dimensions of development have been created in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 2-3 years."
"It is a symbol of change that this year Panchayati Raj Day is being celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a matter of great pride that I am addressing the panchayat members across the country from Jammu and Kashmir when democracy has reached the grassroots level here," the Prime Minister said.
"Be it electricity, water connections or constructions of toilets under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jammu and Kashmir is receiving benefits of all such Central government schemes," he added.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Ratle and Kwar Hydroelectric projects. The 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project will be constructed on Chenab river in Kishtwar District at a cost of around Rs 5,300 crore. The 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project will also be built on the Chenab river in Kishtwar district at a cost of over Rs 4500 crore.
"With the inauguration of a 500 KW solar power plant at Palli in Samba District, it is moving towards becoming the country's first panchayat to become carbon neutral…The people of Palli have demonstrated what 'Sabka prayas' can do," said PM Modi.
Prime Minister inaugurated the Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, built at a cost of over Rs 3100 crore. The 8.45 Km long tunnel would reduce the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, and reduce journey time by around one and a half hour.
It is a twin-tube tunnel – one for each direction of travel – with the twin tubes being interconnected by a cross passage every 500m, for maintenance and emergency evacuation. The tunnel would help establish an all-weather connection between Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of three road packages of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, being built at a cost of over Rs. 7,500 crore. They are for the construction of 4/6 lane access controlled Delhi-Katra-Amritsar Expressway from: Balsua on NH-44 to Gurha Baildaran, Hiranagar; Gurha Baildaran, Hiranagar to Jakh, Vijaypur; and Jakh, Vijaypur to Kunjwani, Jammu with spur connectivity to Jammu Airport.
In order to further expand the network of Jan Aushadi Kendras in Jammu and Kashmir and to make good quality generic medicines at affordable prices available, 100 Kendras made functional were also dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister.
Referring to the laws which are now applicable to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, PM Modi said, "There were almost 175 laws which were not applicable here."
"We have implemented those laws here in Jammu and Kashmir to empower every resident of the UT," he explained.
Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated by Parliament.
Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories, with Ladakh being constituted as a separate unit.
Also read: Solar Plant In Samba District Completed In Record 20 Days: Union Minister Jitendra Singh
"Projects worth Rs 20,000 crore related to connectivity and electricity have been inaugurated here today. In a bid to bid speed up the development in Jammu and Kashmir, many development initiatives are being taken up in the Union Territory," said PM Modi in Palli Panchayat of Samba district.
PM Modi further said that these initiatives will provide huge employment opportunities to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
