With the Samajwadi Party Government, which completed three years in office on Sunday, facing flak from the Opposition parties on the law and order situation, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is now banking on development and the completion of projects before the 2017 polls. The day was also marked by several announcements and laying of foundation stones.
“Money will have to be spent in two years on the development works …..no fresh project will be taken up as it would not be completed”, Mr. Yadav said at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Bhadohi Carpet Bazaar (Carpet Export Mart) at his residence here on Sunday. He directed the officials that the carpet mart (to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 150 crore) should be completed in two years “as there is no dearth of money”.
Mr. Yadav took pot-shots at the Bharatiya Janata Party, albeit without naming it, when he said: “Some wanted to export talks (“baaten”), if it were to be so then India would end up being the richest country.”
Bhadohi near Varanasi is an important carpet manufacturing centre with an annual turnover of Rs. 5,000 crore from the export of carpets and “durries”. However, Bhadohi town and its environs are synonymous with pathetic condition of roads in the sense that buyers and exporters find it difficult to approach the centre from Varanasi. The UP Cabinet last year approved the construction of a four-lane highway from Bhadohi to Babatpur in Varanasi.
Referring to the construction of the highway, the Chief Minister was critical of the bureaucracy and “red tape”, which almost stalled the project as it did not fulfil certain norms. It was after Mr. Yadav queried about the turnover from the carpet manufacturing centre that some headway was made. “Cabinet approval had to be sought for the road”, he said.
Mr. Yadav said the road from Bhadohi to Mirzapur was full of potholes for the last 50 years, adding that the potholes were filled, but reappeared after some time. He said a decision was taken to build the road with RCC cement.
In his address, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Bhagwat Sharan Gangwar mooted the idea of building a big export hub in Lucknow with space for 1,000 stalls and a conference hall to seat 5,000 people.
Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan said export strategy and export policy has been included in the Government’s development agenda.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the centralised modern kitchen under the Mid-day Meal Scheme at the Primary and Higher Primary School in Sarojininagar. The kitchen has been built by Akshay Paatra. Mr. Yadav also inaugurated the Sheru Dairy under the Kamdhenu Dairy Scheme.
