The Union Minister of State, Dr. Jitendra Singh said today that Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir will become North India’s largest power hub which will generate nearly 6,000MW of electricity upon completion of ongoing power projects.

Speaking at a public rally about Jammu’s virtual mode, Singh said, “The surplus energy from Kishtwar is not only used for other parts of UT, but also sold to other states. He lamented that Chenab’s rich natural resources were underexploited by the previous governments that ruled JK for 60-65 years.”

It is important to mention that the 1,000MW Pakal Dul project, the 624MW Kiru project, the 540MW Kwar project and the 930MW Kirthai project are all in close proximity to each other, along with the 850 MW Ratle project, which was revived as a joint venture between the Center and the UT.

The minister said: “This makes the Kishtwar region one of the major centers of power in North India. He also announced a 100 percent reservation for locals in unskilled jobs for these projects and pledged to prioritize local talent when it comes to skilled labor.”

dr Jitendra Singh said: “Before 2014, road traffic to Kishtwar was tedious and Doda-Kishtwar road was blocked on the least land side. But today, the road travel time from Jammu to Kishtwar has shrunk from over seven hours in 2014 to less than five hours now.

Similarly, he said, in those eight years, Kishtwar has appeared on the Aviation Map of India and been sanctioned as an airport under the center’s UDAAN program, something no one ever imagined.

The minister said Kishtwar has an AYUSH hospital while Padar received a Kendriya Vidyalaya under the center’s RUSA program because the state government at the time refused to do so.

Overall, in the former district of Doda, to which Kisthwar belonged, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh India’s first ever national institute for high altitude medicine is emerging in Bhaderwah and a centrally funded medical college has already opened in Doda.

Similarly, three new national roads including the Khilani-Sudhmahadev highway, a number of colleges and cellphone towers en route to Machail Yatra and other remote areas emerged during the Modi government, he said.

dr Jitendra Singh called on citizens to motivate youth to make the most of start-up opportunities Aroma Mission, Purple Revolution and Lavender Farming, which have already been picked up in neighboring Bhaderwah and are said to be unexplored sources of livelihood.

dr Jitendra Singh said that areas like Jammu and Kashmir, the northeastern states and other hill states have suffered in many ways in the past 60-65 years due to the short-sighted policies of the successive central governments, but shortly after the Modi government took over in 2014, the PM says every effort is being made to bring the Northeast region, J&K and other lagging regions on par with the country’s more developed regions.

dr Jitendra Singh said: “Here today Prime Minister Narendra Modi will always be commended for introducing a new culture of work in India where each of the programs for the poor and the public welfare programs have been designed to reach those most in need or the last.” Man in the last line, regardless of caste, creed, religion or choice.”

dr Jitendra Singh said: “Revolutionary plans like Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana, Jan Dhan, Ujjawala, Sauchalaya, PM Aawas, Har Ghar Jal, Har Ghar Bijli and Ayushman have reached every nook and cranny of the country, including hilly and difficult terrain like Kishtwar. He said people are getting the benefits of welfare systems without discrimination, unlike in the past when appeasement policies were widespread.

The minister stressed that these welfare measures lifted millions of people out of the clutches of abject poverty and enabled them to live in dignity.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Jitendra Singh, areas of unexplored potential such as Kishtwar, the Northeast and other hilly regions will play a pivotal role in the next 25 years of India’s journey and these regions rather than the saturated states will propel India as a nation at the forefront of the world, when it celebrates 100 years of independence in 2047.

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