Live
- Thousands Pay Tribute to Lance Havaldar Anoop Poojary in Udupi
- People should take advantage of Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: PM
- Tata Group to create 5 lakh manufacturing jobs over next half decade: N. Chandrasekaran
- Hansika’s charm remains undeniable
- Housing Sales Decline 4% in 2024, but Sales Value Rises 16% in India’s Top Cities: ANAROCK
- VHP to launch campaign from Jan 5 to free temples from govt control
- Israeli far-right minister visits flashpoint Jerusalem holy site, sparking criticism
- Keralites gulp down liquor worth Rs 152 crore over Christmas period
- Nani exudes style & intensity in ‘HIT 3’ new poster
- Journalist-writer Dr Rentala Jayadeva comes with a book ‘Mana Cinema.. First Reel’
Water security biggest challenge of 21stC : PM
Lays foundation stone for Ken-Betwa river linking project
Khajuraho: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that water security is the biggest challenge in the 21st century, and also pointed out that several states have been engaged in disputes over the sharing of water.
Modi said this while addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone of the country's first river interlinking project -- the Ken-Betwa project in Madhya Pradesh's Khajuraho. "One of the biggest challenges of the 21st century is water security. It is the fact that only that country will be able to progress which has sufficient water and proper water management," the PM said.
Modi stated that farms and fields will be prosperous only if there is water, and industries will flourish only if there is water. He said the last decade will be remembered in the history of India as an unprecedented decade of water security and water conservation.
He said, “I come from Gujarat where most of the areas used to face drought most of the year but the blessings of the river Narmada originating from Madhya Pradesh changed the fate of Gujarat.”
The PM criticised Congress for suppressing the truth about the man who dreamed of Jal Shakti first. “After the country gained Independence, the first thing that was done was Jal Shakti and who thought about it? ...If the credit for the vision of India’s water resources and construction of dams goes to one great man, then the name of that great man is Babasaheb Ambedkar. But the Congress never gave credit to him for his efforts,” he added.
He further stated that in the past, the Congress government was an expert in making announcements, but people never got the benefit of it. “After becoming the Prime Minister, I noticed the old projects while analysing the progress of programmes and projects. I was surprised to see that foundation stone was done 35-40 years ago, but not even an inch of work was done there later,” PM Modi said.
The Ken-Betwa river linking project introduced by Modi, is expected to provide irrigation facilities to various districts in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh benefitting lakhs of farmer families.
