Gajwel (Telangana), Aug 7 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched Mission Bhagiratha, aimed to supply piped drinking water to every household in Telangana.
He unveiled a pylon to launch the first phase of the flagship scheme of the state government, at Komatibanda village in Gajwel constituency of Medak district.
The Prime Minister also formally turned a tap to launch the project for supply of drinking water to 243 villages in Gajwel constituency represented by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
Modi, who is on his maiden visit to Telangana, also remotely inaugurated or laid the foundation stone for five projects in different parts of the state.
Under Mission Bhagiratha estimated to cost Rs.42,000 crore, Krishna and Godavari rivers and existing reservoirs will be interlinked to collect, reserve and supply treated drinking water to every household in over 24,000 villages and 65 towns. The project involves laying 1.30 lakh km of pipelines.
Accompanied by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister Rao and some central ministers, Modi also went around a photo exhibition on Mission Bhagiratha.
He also laid foundation stone for 1,600 MW Telangana Super Thermal Power Project being set up by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) with an investment of Rs 10,500 crore at Ramagundam in Karimnagar district.
Modi also unveiled a plaque to lay foundation stone for revival of Ramagundam Fertilizer Plant. The plant, closed 17 years ago, is being revived at a cost of Rs 5,250 crore.
He also laid foundation stone for Kothapally-Manoharabad railway line, connecting Hyderabad and Karimnagar. The work is estimated to cost Rs 1,100 crore.
He also dedicated to nation a 1,200 MW thermal power plant established by Singareni Collieries with an investment of Rs.8,000.
Modi also inaugurated Kaloji Narayanrao University of Health & Sciences in Warangal district.
Addressing a public meeting later, Modi lauded the initiatives taken by Telangana government since the formation of the new state. He hoped that the youngest state will fulfil its dreams.
Union Ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu, Ananth Kumar, Suresh Prabhu, Piyush Goel and Bandaru Dattatreya also attended the programme.
The Prime Minister arrived in Hyderabad at 2.20 p.m. After landing at Begumpet Airport, he left for Komatibanda in a helicopter.
Modi was to address a BJP workers' meeting at L.B. Stadium in Hyderabad before returning to Delhi.
