GG News Bureau
Kathua, 26th Feb. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh shared on Sunday the ambitious plan to develop Basohli in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir as a Heritage Town and Aroma Startup Destination in the coming years.
Addressing a public gathering in Basohli, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the historical neglect of Basohli by previous administrations, leading to a visible development deficit in the region. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi since 2014, there has been a concerted effort to integrate neglected areas into the mainstream development agenda, aiming to eliminate the development deficit syndrome.
Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated the Prime Minister’s vision of creating a developed India and a developed Jammu and Kashmir, with a specific focus on empowering the poor, farmers, youth, and women. Emphasizing the government’s commitment to inclusive development through schemes like ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’, he outlined various initiatives aimed at empowering these segments of society.
Highlighting infrastructure development efforts, Dr. Jitendra Singh mentioned landmark projects such as North India’s first-ever Cable-Stayed Bridge Atal Setu and J&K’s first inter-State bridge at Keerian-Gandyal, which have been instrumental in transforming the region’s connectivity landscape.
Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the significance of the Shahpur-Kandi Project, which was resumed after being stalled for 70 years, thanks to the priority accorded to it by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Stressing its importance as a lifeline for the area, he highlighted its potential to irrigate 4000 acres of agricultural land, thus boosting agricultural productivity and livelihoods.
Moreover, Dr. Jitendra Singh encouraged the adoption of the Aroma Mission, citing successful initiatives in neighboring states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. As Basohli has been instrumental in the Purple Revolution in India, he urged the exploration of lavender cultivation, emphasizing its potential to significantly increase the income of local farmers.
