The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in Leh on the first leg of a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. PM Modi inaugurated important projects and threw light on important issues.
Pertinently, He attended the Closing Ceremony of the Birth Centenary Celebration of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche in Leh. At the same event, he unveiled a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the Zojila Tunnel.
As a matter of fact, The 14 km long Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, had approved the construction, operation and maintenance of this tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg, on the Srinagar-Leh section of NH-1A, at a total cost of Rs 6800 crore earlier this year. The construction of this tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. It will cut down the time taken to cross the Zojila pass from the present three and a half hours, to just fifteen minutes. It will lead to all-round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. It also has immense strategic importance.
Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister recalled the rich contribution of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. His was a life dedicated to serving others, the Prime Minister said.
He added that the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche distinguished himself as an outstanding diplomat. He mentioned that during his visit to Mongolia, he had witnessed first-hand, the goodwill he has in that country.
PM Narendra Modi expressed happiness that he is visiting the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the State of Jammu and Kashmir is going to get development projects worth Rs. 25,000 crore. These projects will have a positive impact on the people of the state, he added.
While appealing to Kashmiri youth who have taken to arms to return to the mainstream, Prime Minister NarendraModi said the only solution to any conflict was development. “We all should spend our energy on development of Jammu and Kashmir. Every issue and every conflict has only one solution – development, development and only development,” PM Modi said at a function at SKICC.
Also, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project and laid the Foundation Stone of the Pakul Dul Power Project in Jammu & Kashmir today. Pakal Dul, with 1000 MW capacity, will be the largest Hydro Power Project in Jammu & Kashmir on completion. It is also the first storage Project in Jammu & Kashmir.
330 MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project, located in Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a run of river scheme. All units of the project have been sychronised on 30.03.2018 and the annual generation of the main project is 1712.96 MU. The Project has been proposed to be completed at a cost of Rs. 5882 crore.
Kishangana H.E. Project will provide a free power of 13 per cent to the state, which will be around Rs. 133 crore per year. There are other benefits to the state like- Employment to the people of J&K, infrastructure development etc. It is estimated that the project engaged about 1850 local persons during construction stage and 750 local persons during operation stage through direct and indirect employment. The Project was handed over to NHPC for execution by the State Government after an MoU was signed between J&K Govt. and Ministry of Power, Govt of India in July 2000.
The project cost of Pakal Dul as per CCEA sanction is Rs. 8112.12 crore and it is supported by the Government of India as well as the Government of J&K.
Timelines of implementation is 66 Months from the start of the Project. It shall be leading to additional Generation of 650 MU in downstream projects as it is a storage type project and shall improve the water availability during the lean season.
Pakal Dul project will have immense benefits for J&K. Around 3000 persons shall be employed directly/ indirectly during construction phase of the project. Further, around 500 persons shall be employed directly/indirectly during operation phase of the Project. It has been agreed that the Govt. of J&K shall be getting 12 per cent free power after 10 years of commissioning of the Project and water usage charges as applicable. Additional 1 per cent free power will go towards Local Area Development Fund (LADF). Govt. of J&K has first right to purchase balance power of NHPC (49%) & PTC (2%). Furthermore, local population will be benefitted by the improvement and widening of roads and improvement of bridges under the Project.
R K Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India was also present at the occasion.
Timelines of implementation of project are 66 Months from the start of the Project.
PM Modi also commented on ceasefire .
“A new Jammu and Kashmir and a peaceful Jammu and Kashmir would make India strong,” Modi said.
He said the ceasefire announcement was a message to those who are “misusing Islam to perpetuate terrorism”. “The holy month of Ramadhan is the time when we re-dedicate ourselves to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It’s an honour that I am here during the holy month of Ramadan.”
Referring to the Insaniyat (Humanism), Jamhooriyat (Democracy) and Kashmiriyat(Kashmir’s age-old legacy of Hindu-Muslim amity) slogan of former prime minister and veteran BJP leader, AtalBihari Vajpayee, he said, “Atalji was a fan of Kashmiriyat and Modi too is a Murid (a committed disciple) of the same Kashmiriyat.”
Pm Modi remarked – “Every stone or weapon picked up by the youth of this state is only meant to destabilise their own state. We have to take the state out of instability for our future generations.”
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