UP will emerge as tourism hub: Yogi

GORAKHPUR : Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said Uttar Pradesh will emerge as a tourism hub. A detailed plan for promoting tourism in the state had been prepared with the Centre’s cooperation, he added.

The chief minister was speaking in Kushinagar where he laid the foundation stones for projects worth Rs 23 crore.

“This Diwali, we are gifting the Boudh (Buddhist), Ram and Krishna circuits to the people .Tourism will open the gateway to employment in the state and we’ll not allow corruption and riots in UP,” he said.“We will work for the development of all to realise the ‘sabka sath sabka vikas’ dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

He described Kushinagar as the land where Buddha attained Nirvana.“I am deeply attached to this historical place which is popular among Buddhists from across the world. We respect Boudh (Buddhists) and everyone wants to come here. Tathagat (Lord Buddha) took his last breath here,” he said.

Buddhist monks led by Bhadant Gyaneshwar welcomed the chief minister in Kushinagar.

Earlier in the day, Adityanath laid the foundation stone of a Rs 40.66 crore pumping station at Tarkulani regulator of the Malani dam on the Rapti river in Gorakhpur district.

The pumping station will have a capacity of 300 cusec water. It will help solve the problem of water logging in 47 villages near the Rapti. “People were demanding a pumping station since 1954. I started putting in efforts for it from 2009 onwards. Within six months of my becoming CM, I approved it. Forty-seven villages with a (total) population of 50,000 may be saved by construction of the pump house. Farmers can cultivate both Rabi and Kharif crops.”He directed irrigation department officials to prepare a plan by December 15 to deal effectively with flood to minimise losses to life and property. Officials negligent in ensuring the safety of people during floods will not be forgiven, he said. This year, the cleaning of canals will be monitored by drone cameras.”

He also laid the foundation stone of a four-lane road from Nausad to Baghagada and a bridge between Jungle Ayodhaya Prasad and Baijnathpur at Kolua ghat. It was the second day of this chief minister’s fourday visit to Gorakhpur. Adityanath began the day feeding cows and holding Janta Darbar at Gorakhnath temple.