On his second day of the South visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a road show in Lakshadweep on Wednesday. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation of several development projects worth Rs 1,156 crores in Kavaratti. PM Modi also distributed laptops, bicycles, Kisan Cards and Ayushman cards to the beneficiaries of several schemes in Kavaratti. The projects were launched at a function attended by hundreds of islanders.
Development projects launched by PM
The Prime Minister launched the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fibre Connection (KLI - SOFC) project, which he announced in his Independence Day speech in August 2020 at the Red Fort. This groundbreaking initiative aims to address the issue of slow internet speed on Lakshadweep Island, promising a remarkable increase from 1.7 Gbps to 200 Gbps, as confirmed by officials.
In his address to the gathering, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the successful connection of Lakshadweep through a submarine optical fibre cable, signifying a significant advancement in communication infrastructure. This development is expected to bolster internet services, telemedicine, e-governance, education, digital banking, currency usage, and overall literacy in the islands.
In addition to the KLI-SOFC project, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant at Kadmat, capable of producing 1.5 lakh litres of clean drinking water daily. Furthermore, he dedicated the Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to all households on the Agatti and Minicoy islands, contributing to improved access to essential amenities.
Other projects launched by Modi include the solar power plant at Kavaratti, the first-ever battery-backed solar power project in Lakshadweep.
He also laid the foundation stone for the renovation of the primary health care facility in Kalpeni and the construction of five model Anganwadi centres (Nand Ghars) in the five islands of Androth, Chetlat, Kadmat, Agatti and Minicoy.
'Lakshadweep played huge role in Inda's development'
The Prime Minister further said that Lakshadweep also played a big role in building a developed India during the 'Azadi ka Amrit Kaal'. "The Government of India is trying to bring Lakshadweep prominently on the international tourism map. Lakshadweep has gained international recognition due to the recent G20 meeting held here... Lakshadweep also has two 'Blue Flag' beaches," he added.
'Centre committed to development of Lakshadweep'
The Prime Minister reached Lakshadweep on Tuesday and addressed a public function immediately after his arrival at Agatti Airport. Speaking at the function, he said that numerous developmental projects have been completed in the UT over the past 10 years of his government, and the Centre is committed to the progress of the islands.PM Modi also noted the immense possibilities that Lakshadweep offers and alleged that the islands faced neglect for many years after independence. "The Union Territory is full of many possibilities, but for a long time after independence, the infrastructure of Lakshadweep was not given much attention," he remarked.
The Prime Minister also mentioned weak port infrastructure despite shipping being the lifeline of the area. This applies to education, health and even petrol and diesel, he said. He said now the government has taken up the task of its development in the right earnest. “All these challenges are being removed by our government”, he added.
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