Biswajit bats for accelerating forest cover restoration activities
Source: Chronicle News Service DIPR / Kaimuanthang Mangte
CCpur, August 18 2021:
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is a festival to highlight the socio-cultural, political and economic strength of the country, said Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Thongam Biswajit Singh at the 'India@75: Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (Senanar-cum-Tree plantation)' at Zoumun to Sehken (MN03170), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) road in Churachanpur district organised by Rural Engineering Department/MSRRDA on Wednesday.
Addressing the seminar held at Mata community hall as the chief guest, minister Biswajit said that it is an intensive, country-wide campaign focused on peoples/citizens' participation which is 75-week long programme launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi on March 12, 2021 .
"We have to encourage public participation so that it will help in bringing changes in every locality through the various activities undertaken during the festival.
This will provide a significant gain for the country," he said.
BJP is a people and development oriented party and as a government it has brought about development in the state and the whole country in various fields, Biswajit said.
In terms of road construction works, he said, BJP has taken up construction of the Guite road linking the state and Mizoram and various other projects to connect the villages in remote areas under PMGSY and other similar schemes.
The minister continued that PM Narendra Modi shares his vision of building a new Atmanirbhar Bharat.
He said, to realise this vision of a new self-reliant country, many developmental schemes have been taken up.
Saubhagya is one such scheme, providing power connection to even in remote parts of the country, he added.
He also mentioned that PMGSY Was introduced by former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee to bring equality between the villages and cities by enhancing connectivity and bring an equal development.
He also said that PMGSY has been mostly beneficial for the hill districts.
"We may discuss, criticise or talk of the quality, but to have connectivity is the priority.
Once we have the connectivity, we can always upgrade", Biswajit said.
Atmanirbhar Bharat means building a new India, and if we do not build a new Manipur while building a new India, when will we find time, he posed and stated that India is made up by all the states together and one cannot call India developed if any part of the country is left behind.
As such, the Prime Minister is giving tremendous focus on the North East states, be it in sports, road infrastructure, economy, women empowerment, etc, he maintained.
Biswajit continued that it is a historic event that in recognition of Mary Kom's performance, talents and achievements, she was nominated as Rajya Sabha MP by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He then blamed the Congress, stating that the party had ruled the country for about 27 years but during its reign, there was discontent and the country divided.
In contrast, ever since BJP came in power, bridges have been constructed and what Congress could not implement in terms of road construction, BJP has done it, he claimed.
The minister, however, stressed that as there has been large-scale deforestation there is need to replenish the forest cover.
Tree plantation drive is a meaningful activity as it will help in checking the environmental degradation.
Churachandpur AC MLA V Hangkhanlian who attended as guest of honour stressed that undertaking of tree plantation activities is the best initiative under PMGSY as there is large-scale deforestation resulting in scanty rainfalls.
Regarding the construction works under the PMGSY schemes, he stressed the need to maintain quality, adding that it may not always be possible in certain cases and circumstances.
Rural Engineering Department chief engineer Pantising Thaimei, additional chief engineer Kh Rajen Singh and department officials, among others attended the programme.
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