BALRAMPUR (Uttar Pradesh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that people in Balrampur have given two Bharat Ratnas to the country – Nanaji Deshmukh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
“Whenever we will speak of Ram temple in Ayodhya, the contribution of Maharaja Pateshwari Prasad Singh Saheb of Balrampur princely state (erstwhile) will be mentioned. People in Balrampur are connoisseurs, they gave two Bharat Ratna in the form of Nanaji Deshmukh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” PM Modi said after inaugurating Saryu Nahar National Project in Balrampur. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was first elected to Lok Sabha from Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh. Nana Deshmukh had also represented the seat in the Lower House of Parliament.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister said that the completion of the Saryu Nahar National Project is a testament to “honest intentions and efficient work”.
“Proper utilization of the water of the country’s rivers, and adequate water reaching the farmers’ fields, is one of the top priorities of the government. The completion of the Saryu Canal National Project is proof that when the thinking is honest, the work is also solid,” he said.
The Prime Minister also expressed condolences over the tragic death of the country’s Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor on Wednesday.
“I express my condolences to all brave warriors who died in the helicopter crash on December 8. The demise of India’s first CDS Gen Bipin Rawat is a loss to every patriot. He was brave and worked hard to make the country’s armed forces self-reliant, the nation is a witness to that,” he said.
Speaking at the event Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that the way Saryu canal project has been completed, about 63 projects in the country have been completed or are on the verge of completion.
“Saryu canal project was pending for over 40 years, not only this scheme but many schemes were pending. The way Saryu canal project has been completed, about 63 projects in the country have been completed or are on the verge of completion,” said the Union Minister.
He further said that this scheme will bring change in the lives of 25 lakh farmers.
“This scheme will bring change in the lives of 25 lakh farmers. An additional 2.5 million tonnes of foodgrains will be produced here. There will be positive change in the lives of farmers of nine districts, through this scheme and Rs 50,000 crore rupees will come to their homes every year” said Shekhawat.
According to an official release, the work on the Saryu Canal project started in 1978 but due to “lack of continuity of budgetary support, interdepartmental coordination and adequate monitoring,” it got delayed and was not completed even after nearly four decades.
The Saryu Nahar National Project has been built at a total cost of more than Rs 9,800 crore, of which more than Rs 4,600 crore was provisioned in the last four years. The project also involves the interlinking of five rivers – Ghaghara, Saryu, Rapti, Banganga and Rohini to ensure optimum usage of water resources of the region.
Tributes to Gen Rawat
Remembering Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, who lost his life in a recent chopper crash in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday stressed that efforts to make the country’s armed forces self-reliant, campaign to strengthen coordination between the three armed forces will continue, adding that the late General Rawat will see India marching ahead with new resolutions in days to come.
Addressing the launch event of the Saryu Nahar National Project in Balrampur, PM Modi paid homage to India’s first Chief of Defence Staff and said that his demise is a great loss for every Indian, for every patriot. “The whole country has been a witness to the hard work that General Bipin Rawat ji was doing to make the country’s forces self-reliant. Though India is in sorrow but even after suffering the pain, we neither stop our pace nor progress. India will not stop. Efforts to make the country’s armed forces self-reliant, campaign to strengthen coordination between the three armies, will continue. Wherever he is, General Bipin Rawat, in the days to come, will see his India moving forward with new resolutions,” said the Prime Minister.
He further said that the work of improving the security of the country’s borders, work to strengthen border infrastructure will continue.
PM Modi said that the doctors are working hard to save the life of Group Captain Varun Singh who is a son of Uttar Pradesh, a resident of Deoria.
“I pray to Maa Pateshwari to save his life. The nation is with the family of Varun Singh ji today and with the families of the heroes we have lost”, the Prime Minister added.
General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other defence personnel were killed when a Mi17V5 helicopter carrying them crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday last week.
Other 10 defence forces personnel who died in the chopper crash are Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik B Sai Teja.
Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor in the crash, has been shifted to Air Force Command hospital at Bengaluru for further treatment. (ANI)