Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

By 2022, per capita income in UP will match national average, says Yogi

Previous govts didn’t reduce regional disparity: CM

- ■ HT Correspond­ent letters@hindustant­imes.com

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said the per capita income in the state would match the national average by the time his government completes its term in 2022.

Speaking in the Vidhan Parishad (Legislativ­e Council), he blamed the previous government­s for the dip in the per capita income in Uttar Pradesh, which is almost half the national average.

He said that his government was working to improve it.

Adityanath said that Balrampur, Chitrakoot and Chandauli districts could have also been developed just like Noida but the previous government­s did not try to strike a balance and reduce regional disparity.

He said, “The per capita income in the state is almost half the national average. But when our government completes its term in 2022, it will be touching the national average.” The Adityanath government presented Rs 5,12,860.72 crore budget for 2020-21 on February 18.

He also charged the previous government­s with discrimina­tion in extending benefits of developmen­t schemes.

Adityanath said, “The Central government has selected 112 aspiration­al districts all over the country of which eight are in Uttar Pradesh. These districts are near the national average on the developmen­t front.”

Giving an account of the works done by his government, he said a Rs 15,000-crore scheme to provide potable water to every household of the Bundelkhan­d region was on the cards.

New medical colleges were coming up in 16 districts of Uttar Pradesh, he said, adding that the number of bank branches in the state had gone up to 18,869 against the 16,264 branches when the BJP came to power in 2017.

Earlier there were 8.62 crore bank accounts and now there were 16.36 crore accounts, he said.

Talking about the condition o f schools in the state, Yogi Adityanath said, “The government has revamped 1.58 lakh schools so far. Arrangemen­ts are being made to build playground­s in villages. The state hosted the National Youth Festival this time in which over 7,000 youth participat­ed.”

Targeting the Opposition, Adityanath said: “What kind of Samajwadi are you? You studied in primary school but your kids studied in Australia.” (The hint was apparently to Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav).

The chief minister added that expressway­s were also being constructe­d across the state.

“Pothole-free roads have been constructe­d in rural areas. Betterment of expressway­s has also been done here. Purvanchal Expressway is also being built here. We are also building industrial corridors,” said Adityanath.

The chief minister added that an airport was being built in Ayodhya. “By the end of this year, we will dedicate the main expressway to the public. We will also be building Ganga Expressway. In 2017, there were no metro facilities in any city across the state,” he said. “Today, seven airports are operationa­l and work on 11 airports is underway across UP. We are building Asia’s largest airport in Jewar. We are also building an an airport in Ayodhya,” he added.

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Legislatur­e proceeding­s in Lucknow on Thursday.
HTPHOTO ■ Legislatur­e proceeding­s in Lucknow on Thursday.

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