Vijayawada: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched phase-1 of 'Mission Bhagiratha', a flagship project of Telangana government aimed at providing piped drinking water to every household in the state.
Modi unveiled a plaque in Medak district's Komatibanda village under Gajwel constituency, represented in the Assembly by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and formally turned on a water tap on the premises to mark the occasion.
This is the Prime Minister's maiden visit to Telangana after formation of the state in June 2014.
On the occasion, Modi also unveiled plaques to mark the laying of foundation stone for the 152-km Manoharabad-Kothapalli new railway line (connecting Hyderabad and Karimnagar), NTPC's Telangana Super Thermal Power Project Stage-1 (2x800 MW), Ramagundam, Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Warangal and revival of Ramagundam fertiliser plant in Karimnagar district.
He also dedicated to the nation the Singareni Thermal Power Project (2X600 MW) at Jaipur in Adilabad district.
Speaking at the event, Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao said for the first time in history, there has been a corruption-free government at the Centre for the last two years.
K Chandrashekhar Rao reminded Modi of the day they shared dais at Ludhiana in 2009, where Modi assured that Telangana movement will reach its goal.
Modi hailed Telangana, saying it is just a two-year-old state yet it has been able to fulfil the expectations of the people.
"The CM has always spoken about development whenever he met me. The issue of water scarcity is very close to his heart," Modi said. He promised that the BJP government at the Centre would resolve Telangana's water problem.
"It is our duty as citizens to save water. If water is saved, it will be available for use by the people. If anyone visits Porbandar, the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi you will see the technology used by villagers to save water, 200 years ago," Modi said.
There used to be tension between Centre and states in the past. Today, Centre and states are working together shoulder-to-shoulder. We have inaugurated five new projects for Telangana today, said Modi
NTPC will establish the project in two phases, 1600 MW (2x800MW) in Phase-I and 2400 MW (3x800 MW) in Phase-II, it said in a statement.
The project is being set up in the available land in the premises of NTPC's existing Ramagundam station. An investment approval of Rs. 10598.98 crore has been accorded for the project.
The AP Reorganisation Act 2014 mandates that NTPC shall establish a 4000MW power facility for the newly carved-out state of Telangana.
Ministry of Coal last year allotted Mandakini-B coal mine in Odisha to NTPC for the 4000 MW Telangana STPP. As an interim arrangement till the development of this mine, tapering coal linkage for Telangana Phase-I (2X800 MW) shall be provided from WCL, the statement added.
Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh ESL Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Union Minister of State Power, Coal, New & Renewable energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya are among those expected to be present on the occasion.
Modi will also lay the foundation for the 150-km Rs 1,160-crore Manoh-arabad-Kothapalli railway line. It will connect
About 88 km of the route would be in Medak district and 59 km in Karimnagar district, and 4 km passing through
The new stations are Nacharam, Iranagaram, Gajwel, Kodakandla, La-kdaram, Duddeda, Siddi-pet, Gurralagondi, Chin-na Lingapur, Sircilla, Vemulavada, Boinpally and Wedira. It will provide a viable alternative route between Secun-derabad and
Modi is also expected to inaugurate a few other projects and schemes before he leaves for the BJP maha sammelan at the LB stadium in
He is expected to fly back to
The government has made elaborate arrangements to extend a grand welcome to the PM. Over 3,500 buses have been arranged to transport 2,00,000 people for the public meeting that Modi would address in Gajwel in Medak district. There are expectations the PM would announce a Rs 20,000 crore package for the water grid project.
