Chouhan to launch 330 new road projects costing Rs 3,550 cr in J-K
DH NEWS SERVICE
Srinagar, Apr 27
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the interests of the farmers and the country have been kept paramount in all the free trade agreements (FTAs) between India and other nations.
He was reacting to the allegations of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “sold” India’s agriculture to the US.
“They (Congress) did not do anything ever. They destroyed farmers and our farms.
“Now if we are working, he has to make accusations here or there. I can say this firmly that all the FTAs that have taken place have been done while keeping the interests of the people of India above all,” Chouhan told reporters here.
The Union minister said the FTAs have been done keeping the interests of the farmers paramount.
“There have been several FTAs, (but) there has been none with the US yet. Whichever FTA has been done, those are in the interests of the farmers and the country,” he added.
To a question about concern among Apple growers over the FTA with New Zealand, Chouhan said the import is being done on “our own conditions”.
“I am meeting the growers here. We will listen to them,” he said.
The minister said India has a consumption of 26 lakh metric tons of apples and around 20 lakh metric tons are produced in the country.
“We still import six lakh metric tons of apples from outside. Our endeavour is to increase the production in the country to stop importing apples.
“But, till it is imported, it is on our own conditions, and not theirs, by protecting our farmers. That means, we decide the price,” he said.
Chouhan said India imposes import duty on apples.
“It has been imported for several years now as we are in deficit, but we keep the interests of the farmers paramount,” he said.
The Union minister will launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV, Batch-II at a special programme at SKICC here on Tuesday.
Chouhan will also release Rs 4,568.23 crore as the central share to 24 states and Union Territories under DAY-NRLM, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to creating ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in Jammu and Kashmir.
Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch on Tuesday 330 new road projects covering 1,600 kilometres at a cost of Rs 3,550 crore under the Batch-II of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The Batch-II under the PMGSY-IV will accelerate development in Jammu and Kashmir through the construction of 330 new roads covering 1,600 kilometres at a project cost of Rs 3,550 crore, benefiting 363 habitations across the region, an official spokesman here said.
“Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness a significant milestone in its development journey tomorrow, as Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development will launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV, Batch-II at a special programme at SKICC, Srinagar,” the spokesman said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary are also scheduled to attend the event.
He said that since 2000, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the construction of 3,328 roads under PMGSY, creating a road network of 19,851 kilometres along with 257 bridges.
Chouhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to moving beyond announcements and delivering tangible development on the ground.
He emphasised that the focus is on ensuring that roads, services and other facilities reach even the remotest villages.
The minister also underlined that infrastructure development is being viewed as a key driver to further integrate Jammu and Kashmir into the national development mainstream.
