PM reviews projects, calls for focus on rural infrastructure

The Dollar Business Bureau In a move to review the ongoing infrastructure-related projects in the country, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, recently chaired a high-level meeting focused at development of infrastructure sectors. In the review meeting, which witnessed the deliberations on overall status of the country’s infrastructure sector, a special focus was also laid on specific sectors like rural infrastructure, power, coal, renewable energy and petroleum and natural gas, among others. The Prime Minister, who reviewed the status of currently-stalled projects under infrastructure sector and other sectors, was given a detailed overview of the plans of various Ministries towards completion of pending projects within the current financial year. Besides this, the Prime Minister was also informed about the steps being taken towards the enhancement of infrastructure creation in accordance with the government’s vision for 2022. The Prime Minister further urged the government departments and concerned ministries of the States on the need to focus on spending the budgeted amounts right from the start of the financial year. The Prime Minister asked the officials to collect specific data on the projects related to affordable housing, smart cities, among others. In this regard, he urged them to focus on the conversion of ‘waste into wealth’ in the urban areas and also sought development of efficient systems for waste water disposal and solid waste management in 500 Indian cities. Highlighting the need for improvement of country’s rural infrastructure, the Prime Minister urged the government departments and officials to have a special and top priority on the works envisaged under ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana’ scheme development of rural India. Irrigation potential of all reservoir projects should be realized to the extent possible, the Prime Minister added. On the power sector, the Prime Minister sought the early completion of the projects related to the electrification of the unconnected villages and a road map on the same was presented to the Prime Minister. Making an enquiry over the progress of renewable energy projects and goals set in this regard, the Prime Minister directed the officials to also have a maximum focus on the energy sector. In this regard, he highlighted the public spaces like railways stations, among others, as the key areas to be focused for setting-up and adopting energy efficient technologies and renewable energy projects. In the meeting that was chaired by the Prime Minister, the Union Ministers from Ministries of Finance, Petroleum, Railways, Civil Aviation, infrastructure ministries, key officials of the NITI Aayog, were also present.    

May 4,  2015 | 2:34 pm IST.