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Thursday, Jan 17, 2008
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Foundation laid for Ganga Expressway

Special Correspondent

It will link Ballia and Noida in U.P.

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati laid the foundation for the Ballia-Noida Ganga Expressway Project on Tuesday, which was her 52nd birthday. She also attacked the Samajwadi Party for opposing the mega scheme.

The Chief Minister announced several welfare measures, including a Rs.1,600-crore package for the drought-hit Bundelkhand region and two districts of the Purvanchal region. She held the Centre and the previous State government responsible for the drought in Bundelkhand.

The Congress has threatened to launch a mass agitation if the interests of the farmers affected by the 1,000 km Ballia- Noida Ganga Expressway Project is ignored by the State government in Uttar Pradesh.

The rehabilitation package announced by Ms. Mayawati was described as inadequate and unclear by the Congress.

President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee Rita Bahuguna Joshi said her party supported all the welfare schemes but the manner in which the project was being expedited raised doubts over the authenticity of the State’s claims.

At a press conference, Ms. Mayawati described the expressway as the biggest infrastructure project in the country, and said it would give a fillip to the development of the backward regions on the left bank of the Ganga. The project would benefit entrepreneurs, traders and people in the rural areas..

Mostly infertile and barren land would be acquired.

SP plans foiled

The Samajwadi Party had decided to launch an agitation against the expressway project, but Ms. Mayawati ensured that her birthday party was not disrupted.

A heavy police contingent and the Rapid Action Force were deployed around party president Mulayam Singh’s residence and the SP office.

Bundelkhand plan

Lending her support to the creation of Bundelkhand, Ms. Mayawati said that if the UPA government took a decision in this regard, she would send a resolution passed by the Vidhan Sabha to the Centre.

She also supported the creation of separate States of Purvanchal and Western Uttar Pradesh (Harit Pradesh).

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