PM Modi inaugurates Mudra LNG Terminal & other projects, and attends public meeting in Anjar, Gujarat

Bhuj: PM Modi inaugurates MudraLive: LNG Terminal & other projects, and attends public meeting in Anjar, Gujarat. Presented below are highlights of his speech:

– Earlier I would think, how come it happens that a Kutchi living in any part of world would surely visit Kutch once in a year. But I myself have felt it. This is heat of Bhadrva month(Gujarati calendar month of last part of monsoon) and you have gathered here to offer your blessings. I bow my head to welcome your love and blessings.

– Today from the land of Anjar I am fortunate to dedicate/launch Rs 6,000 crore projects. There was a time when launch of Rs 6 crore worth project was enough to attract admiration. Today in one function Rs 6,000 projects are being launched. A young generation here in age of around 20 or more have seen through their eyes how Kutch has changed rapidly. Those who were born post year 2001 perhaps don’t know what was the situation of water starved Kutch before that. Contrary to those days, today Kutch has become a place of attraction for India and the world. When I would visit this place as Chief Minister of Gujarat, I would say I would need to teach new barakhadi – K for Kutch, Kha for Khamir(pride).

– The biggest project dedicated today is LNG terminal. Many Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers were in power in the past, but perhaps I am the only fortunate one that I am dedicating third LNG terminal. When first LNG terminal came up in Gujarat, people were surprised. Today three are already here and fourth is also going to come up. Gujarat is gateway and hub for LNG and thus it has become a center of energy for the nation. Today I would also like to tell the people of India that as third LNG terminal is being dedicated to the nation here, all three LNG terminals in Gujarat are going to transport the gas to Eastern shore of nation. Poverty of energy can’t pull any country out of poverty. If we want freedom from poverty, if we want economic progress, then energy is essential. Without energy, even a mobile phone can’t be charged. It feels like world is cut off. A person would be in problem without energy. He would feel like the world is over. When we started it(the gas oriented energy movement in Gujarat) we were aware that the nation will eventually have to go for gas-based economy and Gujarat will have to play a role.

– Earlier during scarcity of water, people would demand mitti work, kachcha road work. Today time has changed. People come and ask what would they do with just a single road, they want double lane road, they want paver road. And they don’t stop here. Rail and road are matter of past. In changing time, they want railway, highway, iway(information way), gas grid, water grid, power grid, optical fiber network – in a way a young generation seek full fledged modern infrastructure. And in response to this, gas grid has been also dedicated here to nation. It will go upto Palanpur and Rajasthan. Rajasthan will enjoy economic prosperity and further ahead this gas line will also cover Punjab with gas based economy. In East, if Chhindri has fertilizer plant to offer urea, a pipeline from Gujarat will offer gas to it. Gas from Gujarat will be useful for production of urea. This energy will become medium for employment and prosperity.

– There was a time, one would need to please political leaders to get a gas cylinder and stove. One would need to try desperately for that. In our nation, awarding of gas stove and cylinder started in 1955. From 1955 to 2014, in 60 years, 13 crore houses were given gas stove. In last 4 years we gave gas to 10 crore. And we want total replacement of wood fuel chulha with gas in every house.

-There’s huge scope of development in the area of tourism. Before I came to power, white Rann of Kutch was there. But none would look at it. Recently I was in Sikkim where country’s 100th airport was operated. In 67 years, on an average one new airport was made operational per year. In last four years, 9 new airports were made operational per year. There was a time that journey in plane was not for common man. Today a common person can sit in plane. Last year more people traveled in planes compared to air conditioned coaches of trains across the country. There were 400 planes from time of independence to 2014 while in last four year 900 planes have been ordered.

– A day is not far that Indian economy will overtake British economy.

– When I became Prime Minister, I inquired how many villages were left without electricity supply in place. I was replied, 18,000. I asked our babus, how many years would take to give power to all 18,000 villages. Babus replied it would take 7 to 10 years. I made announcement from Red Fort and our associates did the job and gave power supply to all 18,000 villages. They thought they would be able to have rest now but then we asked them to work to ensure power connection to each of 4 crore leftover houses that are without power. We are marching ahead to achieve this target. Once a term ‘Langdi vijli’ was popular in Gujarat, but today, thanks to a network of sub-stations, that term is forgotten.

– I want to push ahead Kutch further in the sector of tourism. Kutch has now enough realized what is the benefit of tourism. On one hand we are strengthening roots and other hand we are equally giving thrust to make modern India that can raise its head high in the world.

– Some people are pessimistic. You speak about cleanliness, toilet, they would find it impossible. They would raise questions! Such mentality wasted our 70 years. I am here to do it. Somewhere we need to start. And we have achieved results.

– The governments in State and Centre are working and for Gujarat, all five fingers are in ghee.

DeshGujarat