NE NEWS SERVICE
SAMBA, APRIL 24
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the idea of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ is to bridge distances between different parts of the country.
Addressing a mammoth rally at Palli Gram Panchayat in Samba district, Modi said, “The day is not far away when the Devi of Kanyakumari will meet Vaishno Devi with a single road.
“When I speak about ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, our focus is on connectivity and bridging distances. Our aim is to provide all-weather connectivity to J&K.
“Work is going on at fast pace to give new impetus to development of Jammu and Kashmir which is also an example of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas,” Modi said.
Speaking of the recent boom in tourism industry of Kashmir, the Prime Minister said that tourism is also thriving in the valley again.
Speaking about the transparency in the functioning of the government, he said, “Earlier, a file that was initiated for the development of J&K took 2-3 months to reach the state, today, it reaches the state within three weeks.”
He said many investors have now come forward to invest in J&K and this would give an impetus to both employment and industry here.
“A new story of development is being written in Jammu & Kashmir. Many private investors are interested to come to J&K,” he said.
Speaking about the lack of opportunities to the underprivileged classes in J&K in the past, he says, “Those who did not get the benefit of reservation for years in Jammu and Kashmir are now getting the benefit of reservation.
“All the schemes of the central governments are being implemented in the Valley. People are using the schemes to their benefits,” he said.
Talking about the devolution of power to the grassroots level in the country that has become possible because of the empowerment of the Panchayati Raj, he said, “It is a matter of great pride that democracy has reached grassroots in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I greet everyone on National Panchayati Raj Day. Today is a big day for Jammu and Kashmir”, he said.
“Today, Jammu and Kashmir is presenting a new example for the whole country. In the last few years, Kashmir has created a new dimension for law and development.
“Palli is on the way to become India’s first carbon-neutral panchayat. I congratulate people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that “today it seems that after decades the people of Jammu and Kashmir are a part of such a gathering.”
Panchayati Raj institutions strengthen the spirit of democracy. Addressing Gram Sabhas across the country from Jammu & Kashmir. https://t.co/dMWlbBU92x
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2022
Palli enters history as India’s first ‘Carbon Neutral Panchayat’, PM Modi inaugurates 500 KV Solar Plant
The nondescript hamlet of Palli in Jammu and Kashmir’s border district of Samba entered into the ‘modern history’ of India on Sunday as country’s first “carbon neutral panchayat” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating to the nation 500 KV solar plant, installed in a record time of nearly three weeks. Modi, inaugurated the solar power plant amid cheer and applause from the people.
The prime minister said that Palli has shown the way to the country for achieving carbon neutral state. “People of Palli has helped in the project. They have also provided food to people engaged in the project,” he said. In all 1,500 solar panels put up on the total area of 6,408 square metres will provide clean electricity to 340 houses in the model panchayat under the central government’s Gram Urja Swaraj’ programme, officials said. The residents of Palli in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba border district are upbeat over the Prime Minister’s vist to their village.
They term this day as the “red letter day” in the India’s modern history of development and transformation. “It is red letter day for us. With the blessing of Modi ji, the village has entered into history of India as first carbon neutral solar village. We thank Prime Minister for choosing this hamlet across country,” Palli villager Gurdeep Singh said.
From the macadamised roads to the recently launched electric bus service, the village located just 17 kms from the winter capital Jammu is witnessing a major transformation with an upgraded Panchayat Ghar, renovated government high school building, a new pond and improved playfields. The project was completed at a cost of Rs 2.75 crore in a record time, officials said. The electricity generated will be distributed to the village, having a daily requirement of 2,000 units, through the local power grid station.
The village, which has 450 houses, have been given solar Chulhas’ (stoves) and all the houses will be covered by the next phase after the prime minister’s visit, the officials said.
