PM Modi Lakshadweep Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for various projects worth Rs 1,150 crore in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on Wednesday. The projects were launched at a function attended by hundreds of islanders in Kavaratti.
Speaking during the launch event, PM Modi took a swipe at previous governments and said that the governments that remained at the Center for decades after independence, their priority was only the development of their political party.
The governments that remained at the Center for decades after independence, their priority was only the development of their political party. Far-off states, border areas or those in the middle of the ocean were not given any attention. In the past 10 years, our government has prioritised these states... Today foundation of several development projects projects worth crores has been laid here: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep.
Prime Minister Modi said that the area of Lakshadweep may be small, but its heart is huge. "The area of Lakshadweep may be small, but its heart is huge. I am overwhelmed by the love and blessings I am receiving here. I pay my gratitude to you all," PM Modi said, as quoted by ANI.
The projects launched by the Prime Minister includes the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fibre Connection (KLI - SOFC) project, which he announced during his Independence Day speech in August 2020 at the Red Fort.
The initiative aims to overcome the challenge of slow internet speed on Lakshadweep Island. This will result in an increase in internet speed by more than 100 times, from 1.7 Gbps to 200 Gbps, in the islands, news agency PTI reported, citing officials. They further stated that Lakshadweep is now connected through a submarine optical fibre cable, marking a significant shift in communication infrastructure. This will enhance internet services, telemedicine, e-governance, education, digital banking, currency usage and literacy in the islands.
"In 2020, I guaranteed you that you will get a fast internet facility within the next 1000 days. Today, the Kochi-Lakshadweep Submarine Optical Fiber Project has been inaugurated. Now, the internet in Lakshadweep will be available at 100 times higher speed," PM Modi said, as quoted by ANI.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant at Kadmat, which will produce 1.5 lakh litres of clean drinking water every day. Additionally, he also dedicated to the nation the Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) in all households on the Agatti and Minicoy islands.
Other projects launched by the Prime Minister include the solar power plant at Kavaratti, the first-ever battery-backed solar power project in Lakshadweep, as reported by PTI. 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.