Srinagar: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during the launch of new rural development projects at SKICC in Srinagar, launched 330 new road projects worth Rs 3,550 crore under the phase IV of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY), aiming to cover 1,600 kilometres in the region. These roads will benefit 363 remote habitations in Jammu and Kashmir, a government statement said.
Speaking at the occasion, Chouhan said “under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre is committed to going beyond announcements and delivering tangible development on the ground.”
He emphasised that the focus is on ensuring that roads, services and other facilities reach even the remotest villages.
The minister also underlined that infrastructure development is being viewed as a key driver to further integrate Jammu and Kashmir into the national development mainstream.
The Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that all five lakh families in Jammu and Kashmir living in ‘kuchha’ houses, will be provided ‘pucca’ houses after physical verification.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given me the task of providing pucca houses to poor people under the PM Awas Yojna. A new survey in Jammu and Kashmir found that five lakh families lack permanent housing. After conducting physical verification, I assure you that no one will live in a kuchha house in Jammu and Kashmir,” Chouhan said addressing a function here.
The minister also launched 330 new road projects covering 1,600 km at a cost of Rs 3,550 crore under the Batch-II of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). These roads will benefit 363 remote habitations in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said Prime Minister Modi has given top priority to development of Jammu and Kashmir, and the government will leave no stone unturned in this regard.
“I have come with the prime minister’s message of development and message of love. The doors of Delhi and our hearts are open for people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
The Union Minister said the Centre will take all steps to ensure development of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Under the PM’s leadership, all efforts are being made to make ‘viksit’ Jammu and Kashmir. Development is the duty of the government but the Modi government is according top priority to J&K as the problems of road connectivity are more in the union territory. We put Jammu and Kashmir first. It was the first to get road projects approved under the PMGSY-IV, batch I and it is the first to get approval in batch II,” he said.
On the Women self help groups, Chouhan said Rs 4,000 crore were being disbursed for making the women self-reliant.
“There are two lakh Lakhpati Didis in Jammu and Kashmir. The PM set a target of six crore for the country. We want no one to remain poor in this country,” he said.
The minister said the government was introducing schemes and taking new measures to ensure that the income of farmers increases.
