UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has shot off two letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi drawing attention towards the poor conditions of national highways passing through UP and about short supply of fertilisers.So far Yadav has written six letters to the prime minister in last one month. The other letters talked about release of grants for power sector, social welfare sector and providing additional money for building infrastructure.
In his recent letter Chief Minister says conditions of the highways have turned from bad to worse following heavy rains during the monsoon. Yadav has requested prime minister to pay immediate attention towards the problem because bad condition of roads is also leading to loss of human life due to accidents.The condition of the roads, he said, is also affecting the development of the state.
The state government is trying to invite investments in Uttar Pradesh. Good roads are the first requisite in this direction, Chief Minister said.Yadav has reminded the prime minister of the letter written by the Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding release of funds for repair of national highways. “In his last visit to UP, the union minister had assured help to the state government in building infrastructure.
You directive in this regard may expedite the thing,” he said.Gadkari had assured the state government that all national highways would be repaired by the end of this fiscal year, which UP officials believe is improbable task.As many as 43 national highways pass through UP. The total length of the highways is 6681 km, of which 3178 km comes under the state public works department.
The second letter talks inadequate supply of fertilisers to UP. Chief Minister said Uttar Pradesh government has requested for 67 lakh metric tonne of fertilisers (40 lakh metric tonne of urea, 12 lakh metric tonne of DAP, 0.50 lakh metric tonne of MAP, 1 lakh metric tonne of DAP light, 8.50 lakh metric tonne of NPK, 2,50 lakh metric tonne of MOP and 2.50 lakh metric tonne of SSP) from the Central government.
However, the Centre has provided only 53.15 lakh metric tonne of fertilisers (33 lakh metric tonne of urea, 9.15 lak metric tonne DAP, six lakh metric tonne NPK, 2,50 lakh metric tonne MOP and 2.50 lakh metric tonne of SSP) so far. This is much less than our requirement, he said.
“It may be brought to your notice that Uttar Pradesh of late had won the most productive state award for its record wheat production. UP has also achieved a record production in kharif. The Government is trying to meet the demand of fertilizers from its own resources. It would be nice if UP gets support from the centre,” Chief Minister said in his letter.