Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that ancient and great country India is transforming rapidly. Economic growth rate is increasing and policy paralysis has ended. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has implemented programmes like Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Clean India and Start-up India. Now, India is marching ahead with renewed enthusiasm and vigour. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was addressing a business seminar at Singapore on Thursday.
The Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh is pioneer State in the country in development. State’s growth rate has been in double digits for consecutive last 7 years. State’s agriculture growth rate has been over 20 per cent, which is highest in the world. Central Government is conferring Krishi Karman Award to the State for consecutive 4 years. Development in Madhya Pradesh is being ensured by following a roadmap. Earlier, attention was paid to infrastructure development. Roads measuring 1.60 lakh kms were constructed in the State.
Round-the-clock power supply has been ensured. Now, Madhya Pradesh has become a power-surplus state. A decade ago, only 2900 MW power was available, which has increased to 16800 MW now. Remarkable work has also been done in renewable energy sector. Asia’s largest solar power plant of 130 MW is situated at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh and world’s largest 750 MW solar power plant is also being established in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. State’s irrigation capacity has increased from 7.50 lakh hectares to 36 lakh hectares, which would be increased to 60 lakh hectares in next 5 years.
The Chief Minister said that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had dreamt of River-link Project. Madhya Pradesh realised this dream by completing Narmada-Kshipra link Project, which will irrigate 16 lakh hectares and provide drinking water to 72 cities. Now, process is on to link Ken and Betwa rivers. Through these projects, water will be taken to fields through pipelines.
The Chief Minister said that now attention is being paid to industrialisation in the state. Priority is being attached to food processing for value addition and creating of new job opportunities. Madhya Pradesh has deposits of many minerals including limestone, coal, iron ore etc. Plants can be established in the State to process them. Madhya Pradesh is taking rapid strides in renewable and IT sectors. The State has also immense possibilities in tourism sectors. Asia’s largest manmade water structure Indira Sagar is situated in Madhya Pradesh.