The Prime Minister has made a strong pitch for maintaining communal harmony. Annoucement of 100 more airports to link small places, launching of Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Energy Mission with plans to set up the world's largest solar plant and laying the foundation for an underground corridor of Jaipur Metro are the other hight lights of Dr.Manmohan Singh's visit to Rajasthan today.
Placing the foundation stone for developing Kishangarh Airport near Ajmer in Rajasthan today, he called upon the people in the backdrop of Muzaffarnagar violence to maintain peaceful relations. He asked them to respect all religions and ideologies.
Invoking Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti he said his teachings are relevant today at a time when some parts of the country are facing communal tension. Dr.Singh said no one is benefited by thoughts and works of hate and violence. He said relations among communities, religions and people have been cordial in our country and the only way before us is to follow these great traditions.
The Prime Minster also announced that 100 more airports will be built soon to link in small cities by air services. He said the government is implementing an ambitious plan for this. He said Kishangarh will be the first airport of under the plan. One hundred and sixty one crore rupees will be spent for developing the Kishangarh airport and it will be completed by 2016. He said, the number of air passengers is increasing and it will cross 30 crore by 2020.
Later, addressing a public meeting in Jaipur after dedicating the first phase of Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Energy Mission to the nation, the Prime stressed upon the need of promoting solar energy in the country to attain the goals of energy security. He said this will also help to meet the challenges arising from climatic changes. Depending on petrol, diesel and coal will not only prove expensive but is harmful for the environment also. Renewable energy is best alternative to this. He said the Mission has been started with a target to generate 20 thousand Megawatt solar power by the end of 2020 with the world's largest solar plant coming up near the Sambhar lake in Rajasthan to generate 4,000 MW.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Chandpole-Badi Chaupar underground corridor of Jaipur Metro at a function in Jaipur today. This two and a half kilometer long underground stretch passes through the walled city and it will be constructed without damaging the heritage look of the pink city.
Commenting on the rapid pace of urbanization, the Prime Minister said that providing a good public transport system to 60 crore people who will be residing in the cities by 2031 will be a big challenge. He said that Metro rail project is the only solution to this problem.
Referring to welfare schemes like MGNREGA, MDM, NRHM and Food Security, Dr. Man Mohan Singh said that these schemes have been instrumental in improving the quality of life of the people and infrastructural development in the country.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minster Ashok Gehlot said that additional generation of 7222 Megawatt electricity in last five years is a big leap in the field of power generation in Rajasthan. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah said under the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Energy Mission, 1970 Megawatt solar power has already been added to the national power grid.
