Mandi, Dec 27 (UNI) The world is astonished how India is developing while protecting environment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, and urged the need for a campaign against plastic to save the mountains in particular.
"The whole world is astonished and praising India as how our country is accelerating development while saving the environment, "Modi told a public rally here in Himachal Pradesh.
"From solar power to hydro power, from wind power to green hydrogen, the country is working continuously to make full use of every resource of renewable energy,” he said.
He was addressing a gathering on the occasion of four years of the Jai Ram Thakur government in the state. He lavished praise on the Chief Minister and his team.
The Prime Minister called for the elimination of single use plastic.
He said his government was alert about the damage caused to the mountains due to plastic. Along with a nationwide campaign, the government was also working on plastic waste management, he said.
Touching upon the need for behaviour change, Modi said: "Plastic has spread everywhere. Plastic is going into rivers. We have to make efforts together to stop the damage it is causing to Himachal.”
Modi credited Himachal Pradesh with helping India remain the pharmacy of the world.
After laying the foundation stone of hydropower projects worth over Rs 11,800 crores and dedicating the Sawara Kudu power project, he said the government in Himachal was focussing on food processing, farming and pharmaceutical sector.
The Prime Minister also presided over the ground breaking ceremony of the Himachal Pradesh Global Investors Meet.
He told a public rally here that the state government led by Jai Ram Thakur had developed a mega food park, strengthened cold storage infrastructure, promoted natural farming and encouraged AYUSH industry.
He said that in the past seven decades, previous governments provided 7 lakh water connections in Himachal Pradesh. "We did the same in two years, that too amid Covid."
"Every nation has varied ideologies, but people living in these hills can clearly see there are two ideologies here -- one of delay, other of development."
The project opened in Shimla district was a 111 MW Sawra-Kuddu Hydro Power Project developed at a cost of around Rs 2,080 crores.
Modi laid the stones of three new power projects including 210 MW Luhri Stage-1 to be constructed by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd on Satluj river.
It was designed to produce 210 MW. A target has been set to complete this project in 62 months.
This project will generate 758.20 million units of electricity annually. Project was designed with art of science green technology and will help to reduce carbon emission by 6.1 lakh tonnes annually.
The Renukaji Dam project in Sirmaur district was jointly designed by six states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Delhi.
In his speech, the Prime Minister reiterated that India is meeting its environment related goals.
“In 2016, India set a target to meet 40 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil energy sources by 2030. Today, every Indian will be proud that India has achieved this goal in November itself.”
Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur were present.
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