Blue Revolution will help fishermen: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched development projects worth ₹1,000 crore at Daman and Diu and inaugurated air services connecting the Union Territory (UT) to other parts of Gujarat.
At a function in Daman, Modi, who was joined by administrator Praful Patel, congratulated the UT on achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and lauded the efforts of the administration and the locals towards ensuring cleanliness.
As he praised the efforts of locals in saving ₹7 crore in electricity bills by opting for LED bulbs, the PM urged local fishermen to form small groups and register themselves to avail the benefits of the Blue Revolution.
Modi said, “The government is taking several steps for the welfare of fishermen. Our entire emphasis on the Blue Revolution is inspired by the commitment to bring a positive difference in the lives of fishermen.” He added that the government would provide long boats to the community, which would help the fishermen venture into deep seas and get a bigger catch.
Modi, who inaugurated Air Odisha’s flight connecting Ahmedabad with Diu under the Centre’s regional connectivity scheme UDAN, said the move would boost tourism in the region. “Tourists who want to visit the Somnath Temple and the Gir forest (in Gujarat) can now go (there) from Diu,” he said.
Compared to the road travel between Ahmedabad and Diu, which takes 12 hours, the new flight will cover the distance in one hour. The PM also laid the foundation stone for a slew of projects, including a water treatment plant, a gas pipeline, an electric sub-station, a municipal market and a foot overbridge.
From Daman, Modi travelled to Chennai to launch the AIADMK government’s ambitious scheme of providing 50% subsidy to working women to buy two-wheelers. The Amma scooter scheme, a pet project of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, was launched on Saturday to mark her 70th birth anniversary. Modi will be back in Gujarat on Sunday to inaugurate a marathon — Run For New India — in Surat.
Meanwhile, the Congress released hundreds of black balloons to protest against the Prime Minister after police stopped them from carrying out a march to the venue of his programme.
Police said some party workers also waved black flags as the Prime Minister’s motorcade approached the venue from the helipad where his aircraft touched down. Police officials said no one had been detained for the protest.
The president of the Daman and Diu unit of the Congress, Ketan Patel, however alleged that police had cordoned off his house and had detained party workers who had gathered there. “Hundreds of party workers had gathered at my residence since morning. But a large posse of police was deployed outside to prevent us from marching out,” Patel said.
AHMEDABAD/DAMAN: