VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked previous governments on the issue of river Ganga and said, “The issue of Pravah (uninterrupted flow) and Nirmalta (free from pollution) in Ganga continued becoming complicated in previous governments. However, instead of improvement in condition of Ganga personal wealth of those in power continued increasing in the name of cleaning Ganga.”

Though Modi did not talk about measures being initiated for Pravah in Ganga, he said, “Over 200 projects being run between Gangotri and Ganga Sagar with a budget of Rs 21000 crores by his government will start yielding results soon. It will be evident to the people of country as well as Kashi. The government is not only ensuring construction of sewage treatment plants to check disposal of sewage in Ganga but also ensuring that new STPs are running uninterruptedly for at least 15 years.”

Addressing a public meeting organised to mark the inauguration of 21 completed projects and foundation laying of 12 projects of Rs 937 crores at Kachnar village in Rajatalab area on Saturday late afternoon Modi said, “Previous government spent huge money in the name of cleaning Ganga but failed to put check on increasing pollution in the river.” He said that the people should not forget the deteriorated condition of ghats, when even solid waste was disposed in river Ganga, four years back.

Modi said, “After formation of government at centre in 2014 we had been facing challenges in executing development projects till the BJP came to power after 2017 assembly polls as previous government was hurdling all center funded projects.” He said that BJP governments are working with a vision of `transformation through transportation’ as a part of which the roads in Varanasi are widened and improved. He said that the Purvnachal Express, for which he laid foundation in Azamgarh , is also the part of same vision as his government is focusing on improving basic infrastructure in eastern parts of the country.

Thaking his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe the PM said that following his Varanasi visit Abe had gifted Varanasi International Cooperation and Convention Center (VCC) and the work on this project is starting with Rs 180 crores. He said that not only Abe but even French president consider the welcome accorded by them from the people of Varanasi as unforgettable. He asked the people of city to get ready to welcome non-resident Indians from across the globe congregating here for a convention between January 21 and 23. “I will also be here on January 21 to welcome thousands of NRIs with you”, he said.

