Rajasthan received sops from the Centre on completion of one year of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule in the State with Union Power and Surface Transport Ministers announcing several schemes to mark the day.
Speaking at a gala function organised here on Saturday, Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the setting up of a dry port in Rajasthan in addition to several road projects worth Rs 4,000 crore. He promised to complete the Delhi-Jaipur Highway by June 2015 and said road network was important for the development of any State. He announced a grant of Rs 10,000 crore for setting up of dry port.
The Minister said the Centre was now working to encourage the use of bio-fuel and run battery buses for public transport which would not only reduce pollution but also boost tourism. The States can give proposals for running public transport on bio-fuel and electricity, for which the Centre is willing to provide funds, Mr Gadkari said, adding there was no dearth of money.
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Earlier, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said Rajasthan had the potential of becoming an energy hub in the country and announced setting up of three solar parks – two in Jodhpur and one in Jaisalmer. The proposal for this had been sent by the State government.
To make Rajasthan fully electrified, Mr. Goyal said the Deen Dayal Gram Jyoti Yojana had been amended to remove the provision of not providing transmission lines to small hamlets with a population of less than 100. Since Rajasthan has very small hamlets and did not qualify under the scheme, the changed provisions will greatly benefit the State.
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Mr Goyal said the Centre would give Rs 11,000 crore to the State for laying a network of transmission and distribution lines for improving the power supply and additional funds for upgrading power sub-stations and putting meters to prevent theft of power.
On Swachch Bharat campaign, Mr Goyal said the Centre would get 4,950 toilets constructed in over 2,000 schools in Rajasthan which included separate toilets for girls.
On her part, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje took on the Congress and said that party had been at the helm of affairs for the past 53 years and never held itself accountable for anything. But they were now holding BJP accountable for one year of achievements.
She was responding to the State Congress president Sachin Pilot who was on a dharna along with other office bearers to observe a ‘black day’ against BJP's one year of ‘misrule’.