Sonia lays foundation stone for power, water projects in Rajasthan

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot during a public rally in Suratgarh on Thursday. Photo: Rohit Jain Paras

Certain political parties had been working to create instability in the country making development a casualty, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said on Thursday.

Ms. Gandhi, who was in Rajasthan to lay the foundation stone for a power project and a rural drinking water scheme of the State government, also said the UPA government had tried to bring the Food Security Bill so that “no one goes to sleep hungry” but opposition parties had scuttled the government’s efforts.

“Opposing Congress’ efforts towards the betterment of people has become the main objective of these political parties,” said Ms. Gandhi.

On Thursday morning, Ms. Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the seventh and eighth units — 660 MW each — of the Super Critical Thermal Power Project at Suratgarh in Sriganganagar district.

The Suratgarh Super Critical Thermal Power Station is the biggest one in the State with six 250 MW units and a total installed capacity of 1500 megawatt.

“This project marks a new milestone in Rajasthan’s development. Under the Chief Ministership of Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan has made great strides in power generation,” she said.

“It is heartening that the State currently generates 12,000 MW electricity. The UPA government has also approved several smaller power projects in the State based on gas, wind and solar energy,” said Ms. Gandhi.

Later, the AICC president laid the foundation stone of the ‘country’s biggest rural drinking water project’ in Jayal, about 50 km from Nagaur district headquarters.

Rajasthan Rural Drinking Water and Fluoride Eradication Project aims at providing potable, fluoride-free water from the Indira Gandhi Canal to every home in Nagaur.

“With the completion of this project, 900 villages and six cities will get clean water,” said Ms. Gandhi.

Ms. Gandhi praised Mr. Gehlot for ensuring availability of drinking water “in more than 100 cities and over 18,000 villages in the State.”

“Imagining potable water for Nagaur was a distant dream but today this dream is being realised,” said Mr. Gehlot.

He said former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had initiated efforts to bring Himalayan water to Rajasthan through the Indira Gandhi Canal in Jodhpur. “Now, the Rs. 3,000-crore project is entering its second phase in Nagaur,” he said.