Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that our government has undertaken development works much more than what was done in the rule of rajas, maharajas, nawabs and the previous governments in the last 20 years.

Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing the bhoomi pujan programme of Kukshi Micro Lift Irrigation Project today. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan inaugurated the Vikas Parv, which began in the state from today, with local farmer Mohan Singh Chouhan, his wife Rangili Bai and labourer Parvat, with the bhoomi-pujan of development works worth Rs 2771 crore 16 lakh. Vikas Parv will continue till August 14, under which Jan Samwad, Hitgrahi sammelan, road-shows etc. along with bhoomi pujan/dedication of development works on a large scale, will be organized in all the districts of the state.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that in the last 20 years there have been remarkable changes in the fields of roads, electricity, water, irrigation, education, health etc. In Dhar district alone, a total of 835 roads of about 3 thousand 300 km length have been constructed and upgraded at a cost of more than Rs one thousand 268 crores. 117 bridges have been constructed at a cost of Rs. 196 crore 62 lakh in the district. Rs 333 crore has been spent on construction and strengthening of electrical infrastructure. 54 MW solar power plants are being set up in the district at a cost of Rs 216 crore. 311 works of feeder separation costing Rs 85 crore have been completed. Apart from this, irrigation potential was developed in 29 thousand 790 hectare area through 78 irrigation projects constructed at a cost of Rs 519 crore 26 lakh. Presently 22 irrigation projects are under construction at a cost of Rs 905 crore 33 lakh. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, pure tap water has been made available to 2 lakh 63 thousand 783 families in the district so far. 15 CM Rise schools became functional in the district. Eklavya Vidyalaya, Girls Education Complex, Ashram, Sports Complex and hostels have been constructed at a cost of about Rs 237 crore. A medical college will be set up in Dhar. A total of 529 health centers have been constructed and upgraded at a cost of about Rs 71 crore. Ayushman cards have been made for about 11 lakh 40 thousand beneficiaries of the district. More than 15 thousand patients have been treated free of cost under the Ayushman Yojana.

Referring to other schemes including Ladli Bahna Yojana, Chief Minister Chouhan said that these are bringing positive changes in the lives of the people of the state. We are moving ahead by imbibing Prime Minister Modi’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’. Along with this, the work of changing the lives of the people is also being done by making public welfare, prosperity and development the pillars of governance. He said that the difficult task of taking Narmada water to Kshipra river has been done by the government.

Not only this, there is a plan to transport Narmada water in Nimar, Malwa, areas where it cannot be transported through canals by installing motor through pipes. The Chief Minister said that the word impossible is not in my dictionary. Irrigation and drinking water will be arranged in each and every village of Dhar district.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that Bhoomi-pujan of Kukshi micro lift irrigation project has been done at Meghnad Ghat today and lift irrigation project at Pati and irrigation project at Nagalwadi are going to be dedicated. We will leave no stone unturned for the betterment of the farmers. We have increased the Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi to Rs 6 thousand, which was earlier Rs 4 thousand. By combining this with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana, now farmers will get Rs 12 thousand. Earlier farmers used to get loans at 16 percent interest, which we have reduced to zero percent. Kanya Vivah Yojana, Sambal Yojana, laptop distribution were stopped by the previous government, which we have restarted. Now on July 20, laptops will be distributed to meritorious students.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that the Kukshi Micro Lift Irrigation Project is based on Prime Minister’s “per drop more crop” (more crop per drop of water). Making this mantra its resolve, the Madhya Pradesh government is making every drop of water useful by innovating in the field of irrigation. Madhya Pradesh is becoming proof of this commitment of the government. Micro lift irrigation projects operated successfully in MP. The entire water distribution system of Kukshi Micro Lift Irrigation Project is based on underground pipeline and 23 meter pressurized water will be available to the farmer for every 2.5 hectare plot. With pressurized water, farmers will be able to take advantage of sprinklers under micro irrigation and will get the benefit of more irrigation with less water. On getting irrigation through this method, the farmer will not need to level the field. Permanent land acquisition will not be done for pipe canals. From the project, irrigation is proposed in 39 thousand 854 hectare area of 96 villages of Kukshi tehsil, 35 thousand 149 hectare area of 79 villages of Gandhwani tehsil, 7248 hectare area of 24 villages of Kukshi assembly constituency and 67 thousand 752 hectare area of 151 villages of Gandhwani assembly constituency area. He said that Meghnad Ghat would be developed and cruise would operate from here to Sardar Sarovar.

Chief Minister worshipped Narmada, offered chunri, sang bhajans

Before Bhoomi-Pujan, Chief Minister Chouhan offered prayers to Maa Narmada at Meghnad Ghat and offered 551 meter chunri to Maa Narmada. Musical bhajans were presented by Bhajan Mandali on the banks of Narmada. Chief Minister Chouhan sang his childhood favorite hymn “Ram Bhajan Sukhdayi – Japo Re Mere Bhai”.

Chief Minister planted saplings

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan planted a sapling of Parijat at Meghnad Ghat in Chandankhedi village of Kukshi tehsil. Soil from 175 villages was brought here for planting saplings. The Chief Minister had come to village Chandankhedi of Nisarpur village of Kukshi tehsil on Sunday.