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PM inaugurates and lays foundation stone of key projects of power and urban sector in Kerala

Published By : Admin | February 19, 2021 | 16:30 IST
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Development works starting today are spread across all parts of Kerala and cover a wide range of sectors : PM
India’s solar energy capacity has increased 13 times, in the last six years : PM
Farmers are being connected with the solar sector to make our Annadatas as Urjadatas : PM
Development and good governance does not know caste, creed, race, gender, religion or language : PM

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Pugalur - Thrissur Power Transmission Project, Kasaragod Solar Power Project and Water Treatment Plant at Aruvikkara in Kerala today through video conference. He also laid the foundation stone of Integrated Command and Control Centre and Smart Roads Project in Thiruvananthapuram during the event.

Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Pinarayi Vijayan along with Union Ministers of State (IC) for Power New & Renewable Energy Shri Raj Kumar Singh and Housing & Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the development works starting today are spread across all parts of Kerala and cover a wide range of sectors. They will power and empower the beautiful state of Kerala, whose people are making rich contributions to India’s progress.

He said that the 2000 Megawatt  state of the art Pugalur - Thrissur High Voltage Direct Current  system inaugurated today is the first HVDC interconnection of Kerala with National Grid and will facilitate transfer of huge quantum of power to meet the growing power demands of the State. This is also the first time the VSC converter technology has been introduced in the Country for transmission. He added Kerala is largely dependent on import of power from the National Grid due to its seasonal nature of internal power generation and HVDC system helps to bridge the gap. He expressed happiness that the HVDC equipment used in this project has been made in India and gives strength to it’s AatmaNirbhar Bharat movement.

The Prime Minister said our gains in solar energy ensure a stronger fight against climate change, a boost to our entrepreneurs. He said farmers are also being connected with the solar sector to make our Annadatas as Urjadatas. Under PM-Kusum Yojana, over 20 lakh solar power pumps are being given to farmers. He added that in the last six years, India’s solar energy capacity has increased 13 times. India has also brought the world together through the International Solar Alliance. He said our cities are engines of growth and power houses of innovation. Our cities are seeing three encouraging trends: Technological development, favourable demographic dividend and increasing domestic demand.

The Prime Minister said the Integrated Command and Control Centres under the Smart Cities Mission are helping cities in better urban planning and management. He announced that 54 Command Centre projects have become operational and 30 such projects are at various stages of implementation. He said that these centres were especially useful during the pandemic days. Under the Smart Cities Mission, the two Kerala Smart Cities - Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram have made significant progress. 27 projects worth Rs 773 crore were completed and 68 projects worth about Rs 2000 crore are in the pipe-line.

The Prime Minister said AMRUT is helping cities expand and upgrade their wastewater treatment infrastructure. A total of 175 water supply projects are being taken up in Kerala under AMRUT at a cost of more than Rs 1100 crore. Universal coverage is provided in 9 AMRUT cities. He said Aruvikkara Water Treatment Plant inaugurated today is completed at a cost of Rs. 70 crore. This would improve the lives of around 13 lakh citizens and this will help increase per capita water supply in Thiruvananthapuram to 150 litres per day from 100 litres per day supplied earlier.

The Prime Minister said the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj inspires people across India. PM said that Shivaji gave emphasis on Swarajya, where the fruits of development reach all sections of society. He said Shivaji had built a strong navy and worked hard for coastal development and welfare of fishermen and the Government is continuing his vision. PM said India is on the way to becoming AatmaNirbhar in the defence sector. There have been path-breaking reforms in defence, and space sectors. These efforts will create opportunities for so many talented Indian youngsters. He said India is investing in the Blue Economy. Our efforts for fishermen communities are based on : More credit, Increased technology, top quality infrastructure and supportive government policies. He said Government policies will ensure India becomes a hub for sea-food exports.

Quoting the great Malayalam poet Kumaranashan

“I am not asking

your caste Sister,

I ask for water,

I am thirsty.”

the Prime Minister said that development and good governance do not know caste, creed, race, gender, religion or language. Development is for everyone and that is the essence of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas. PM sought the support of the people of Kerala to move forward and realise this shared vision of togetherness and development.

 

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Cabinet approves constitution of world’s largest grain storage plan in cooperative sector
May 31, 2023
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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the constitution and empowerment of an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) for facilitation of the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector” by convergence of various schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

In order to ensure time bound and uniform implementation of the Plan in a professional manner, Ministry of Cooperation will implement a pilot project in at least 10 selected Districts of different States/ UTs in the country. The Pilot would provide valuable insights into the various regional requirements of the project, the learnings from which will be suitably incorporated for the country-wide implementation of the Plan.

Implementation

An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) will be constituted under the Chairmanship of Minister of Cooperation, with Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Minister of Food Processing Industries and Secretaries concerned as members to modify guidelines/ implementation methodologies of the schemes of the respective Ministries as and when need arises, within the approved outlays and prescribed goals, for facilitation of the ‘World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector’ by creation of infrastructure such as godowns, etc. for Agriculture and Allied purposes, at selected ‘viable’ Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

The Plan would be implemented by utilizing the available outlays provided under the identified schemes of the respective Ministries. Following schemes have been identified for convergence under the Plan:

(a) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare:

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF),
Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI),
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH),
Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)
(b) Ministry of Food Processing Industries:

Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME),
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
(c) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution:

Allocation of food grains under the National Food Security Act,
Procurement operations at Minimum Support Price
Benefits of the Plan

The plan is multi-pronged – it aims to address not just the shortage of agricultural storage infrastructure in the country by facilitating establishment of godowns at the level of PACS, but would also enable PACS to undertake various other activities, viz:
Functioning as Procurement centres for State Agencies/ Food Corporation of India (FCI);
Serving as Fair Price Shops (FPS);
Setting up custom hiring centers;
Setting up common processing units, including assaying, sorting, grading units for agricultural produce, etc.
Further, creation of decentralized storage capacity at the local level would reduce food grain wastage and strengthening food security of the country.
By providing various options to the farmers, it would prevent distress sale of crops, thus enabling the farmers to realise better prices for their produce.
It would hugely reduce the cost incurred in transportation of food grains to procurement centres and again transporting the stocks back from warehouses to FPS.
Through ‘whole-of-Government’ approach, the Plan would strengthen PACS by enabling them to diversify their business activities, thus enhancing the incomes of the farmer members as well.
Time-frame and manner of implementation

National Level Coordination Committee will be formed within one week of the Cabinet approval.
Implementation guidelines will be issued within 15 days of the Cabinet approval.
A portal for the linkage of PACS with Govt. of India and State Governments will be rolled out within 45 days of the Cabinet approval.
Implementation of proposal will start within 45 days of the Cabinet approval.
Background

The Prime Minister of India has observed that all out efforts should be made to leverage the strength of the cooperatives and transform them into successful and vibrant business enterprises to realize the vision of “Sahakar-se-Samriddhi”. To take this vision forward, the Ministry of Cooperation has brought out the ‘World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector’. The plan entails setting up various types of agri-infrastructure, including warehouse, custom hiring center, processing units, etc. at the level of PACS, thus transforming them into multipurpose societies. Creation and modernization of infrastructure at the level of PACS will reduce food grain wastage by creating sufficient storage capacity, strengthen food security of the country and enable farmers to realise better prices for their crops.

There are more than 1,00,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the country with a huge member base of more than 13 crore farmers. In view of the important role played by PACS at the grass root level in transforming the agricultural and rural landscape of Indian economy and to leverage their deep reach up to the last mile, this initiative has been undertaken to set up decentralized storage capacity at the level of PACS along with other agri infrastructure, which would not only strengthen the food security of the country, but would also enable PACS to transform themselves into vibrant economic entities.