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Govt. successful in ensuring economic progress: Chauhan

Photo: A. M. Faruqui.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan inspects the Independence day parade at Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal on Friday.

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said in his Independence speech here on Friday that his Government had been successful in ensuring economic progress with a human face.

In his message to the people after taking the salute at the special Independence Day parade here, Mr. Chauhan said that the State Government had focused attention not only on economic infrastructure but also on improving the quality of life of the common people.

He said that panchayats (conventions) of different sections had been organised regularly at his residence to enable people to join the decision-making process for their welfare.

Mr. Chauhan said that all developmental schemes introduced by his Government had revolved around the common people and there was nothing to stop the march of progress. Asking the people to join the dynamic process of development, he said that 3147 MW of new power generation capacity had been built in the last four-and-half year period against the capacity of 2991 MW created over the last 50 years. Describing the progress on the road construction front as historic, he said that 40, 000 kilometers of roads had been constructed or improved in the State. Madhya Pradesh is ahead of other States in construction of roads through private investment as well as implementation of Prime Minister’s Rural Roads Scheme, he added.

In the irrigation sphere also, the State had achieved tremendous progress, Mr. Chauhan said adding that the budget for water resources went up from Rs. 700 crore four years ago to Rs. 1500 crore during the current fiscal. There is a provision of Rs. 10, 000 crore for building additional seven lakh hectare of irrigation capacity in the Eleventh Five Year Plan, he said adding that by speeding up work on the Narmada Valley projects, 1.53 lakh hectare of irrigation capacity and 2356 MW of power generation capacity has been built.

The Chief Minister also threw light on special measures taken for farmers’ welfare.

The official Independence Day function was interrupted for some time when a person seated among the audience came rushing out shouting “Vande Mataram”. He was soon over-powered by security personnel and arrested. The police have identified him as Ashish Upadhyaya of Bharatiya Chatra Shakti.

Another big Independence Day event on Friday was the “Paigam-e-Mohabbat” rally at the busy Bhopal Talkies square in the old Bhopal area. It was addressed by the State Congress President, Suresh Pachouri and senior Congress leader and film actor Rajesh Khanna. Mr. Pachouri recalled the sacrifices of the Freedom fighters and said that there is no place for divisive forces in the country.

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