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PM Launches Atal Bhujal Yojana

Published By : Admin | December 25, 2019 | 12:20 IST
Subject of water was very important to Atal ji and very close to his heart: PM Modi
Water crisis is worrying for us as a family, as a citizen and as a country also it affects development: PM Modi
New India has to prepare us to deal with every situation of water crisis: PM Modi

On the Birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) and named the Strategic Tunnel under Rohtang Pass after Vajpayee, in an event held in New Delhi today.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said that today the name of a big project which is very important for the country, Rohtang Tunnel, connecting Manali, Himachal Pradesh with Leh, Ladakh and Jammu Kashmir, will now be known as Atal Tunnel. He also said that this strategic tunnel will change the fortunes of this region. It will help in promoting tourism in the region.

On Atal Jal Yojana, PM highlighted that the subject of water was very important to Atal ji and very close to his heart. Our Government is striving to implement his vision. Atal Jal Yojana or the guidelines related to the Jal Jeevan Mission, are big steps in proving the resolve to deliver water to every household in the country by 2024, the PM added. He said that this water crisis is worrying for us as a family, as a citizen and as a country also it affects development. New India has to prepare us to deal with every situation of water crisis. For this, we are working together on five levels.

Prime Minister emphasized that Jal Shakti Ministry freed the water out of Compartmentalized Approach and laid stress on a Comprehensive and Holistic Approach. In this monsoon, we have seen how extensive efforts have been made for water conservation on behalf of the society, from the Jal Shakti Ministry. He said that on one hand, Jal Jeevan Mission, will work towards delivering piped water supply to every house, and on the other hand Atal Jal Yojana, will pay special attention to those areas where groundwater is very low.

To incentivise gram panchayats to perform better in water management, Prime Minister said that a provision has been made in the Atal Jal Yojana, in which better performing gram panchayats, will be given more allocation. He said that in 70 years, only 3 crore out of 18 crore rural households have access to piped water supply. Now our Government has set the target to deliver clean drinking water to 15 crore homes in the next five years through pipes.

Prime Minister emphasized that water-related schemes should be made according to the situation at every village level. This has been taken care while making the guidelines of the Jal Jeevan Mission, he added. He also said that both Union and State Governments will spend Rs 3.5 lakh crore on water related schemes in the next 5 yrs. He requested the people of every village to make a water action plan and create a water fund. Farmers should make a water budget where groundwater is very low.

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL)

ATAL JAL has been designed with the principal objective of strengthening the institutional framework for participatory groundwater management and bringing about behavioral changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management in seven States, viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Implementation of the scheme is expected to benefit nearly 8350 Gram Panchayats in 78 districts in these States. ATAL JAL will promote panchayat led ground water management and behavioural change with primary focus on demand side management.

Out of the total outlay of Rs. 6000 crore to be implemented over a period of 5 years (2020-21 to 2024-25), 50% shall be in the form of World Bank loan, and be repaid by the Central Government. The remaining 50% shall be through Central Assistance from regular budgetary support. The entire World Bank's loan component and Central Assistance shall be passed on to the States as Grants.

Tunnel under Rohtang Pass

The historic decision to construct a strategic tunnel below the Rohtang Pass was taken by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The 8.8-kilometre long tunnel is the world's longest tunnel above an altitude of 3,000 metres. It will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kilometres and save crores of rupees in transport costs. It is a 10.5-metre wide single tube bi-lane tunnel with a fire proof emergency tunnel built into the main tunnel itself. The breakthrough from both ends was achieved on October 15, 2017. The tunnel is now nearing completion and is a step in the direction of providing all weather connectivity to remote border areas of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh which otherwise remained cut off from the rest of the country for about six months during winters.

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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat and Daman on 5th June, 2026. At around 2:30 PM, Prime Minister will visit Hazira in Surat district and review ongoing industrial operations and infrastructure projects. At around 4:15 PM, Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of various development projects worth around ₹18,800 crore in Surat. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

Prime Minister will then travel to Daman, where at around 6:15 PM, he will inaugurate the New Terminal Building of NAMO Airport in Daman. This will be followed by the dedication of NAMO Hospital in Daman to the nation. Thereafter, at around 7:15 PM, Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects worth around ₹2,970 crores in Daman. He will also lay the foundation stone of four important projects for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep worth around ₹885 crore. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

PM in Surat

Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over ₹18,800 crore in Surat across the road, power and industrial sectors.

Prime Minister will dedicate Packages VI and VII of the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway to the nation, enhancing high-speed transportation, logistics efficiency and economic connectivity between Gujarat and Maharashtra. Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for key infrastructure projects which includes the four-laning of critical sections on NH-56 to enhance connectivity across tribal regions and boost access to the Statue of Unity.

Prime Minister will also inaugurate a 200 bedded ESIC Hospital in Surat, providing modern secondary healthcare across key specialties, backed by a central laboratory and essential ancillary services. It also features 24/7 emergency and trauma care to ensure the timely management of occupational injuries and medical emergencies. Prime Minister will inaugurate critical utility and industrial infrastructure projects, including the Transmission Network Expansion in Gujarat to enhance power evacuation capacity under the Inter-State Transmission System. Prime Minister will also inaugurate several important initiatives of Government of Gujarat, including modern power distribution upgrades under the Revamped Reforms-Based Distribution Sector Scheme in Valsad, advanced effluent disposal and treatment infrastructure at Dahej Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) and Sarigam Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), and essential layout utilities at the Jambusar Bulk Drug Park.

PM in Daman

Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of development projects worth around ₹2,970 crore in Daman. These projects span various sectors including healthcare, civil aviation, tourism, infrastructure, connectivity and public welfare and are expected to provide a major boost to the overall development of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

Prime Minister will inaugurate and dedicate projects worth around ₹1,340 crore, including the New Terminal Building of NAMO Airport and NAMO Hospital, among others in Daman. The new airport terminal will significantly enhance regional air connectivity and facilitate economic growth in the region. NAMO Hospital, the district hospital in Daman district, has been developed to cater to nearly 1,500 OPD patients per day and will strengthen access to quality healthcare services for the people.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of projects worth around ₹1,630 crore. Major projects include the Iconic Bridge, the Daman Convention Centre and the NIFT Campus at Daman, among others. These projects are expected to strengthen modern infrastructure, boost tourism, promote investment, generate employment opportunities and improve the quality of life of the people.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of important projects for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep worth around ₹885 crore. These projects include Development of Port Facilities on the Eastern and Western Sides of both Kalpeni Island and Kadmat Island. The development of these multipurpose jetties will facilitate year-round berthing of large passenger vessels, including cruise vessels of up to 300 metres in length. The projects will enable safe and efficient passenger and cargo handling and provide integrated facilities for fish handling, fuel distribution, ice supply and boat repair. These initiatives will strengthen maritime connectivity, support the livelihoods of local fishermen, promote tourism and contribute to the socio-economic development of the islands.