PM Modi Launches Development Projects In Khajuraho, Honors Atal Bihari Vajpayee With Commemorative Stamp and Coin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (25 December) inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several key development projects in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

Among the highlights was the launch of the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, the country’s first interlinking of rivers initiative under a national perspective plan.

The Ken-Betwa project aims to provide irrigation facilities to numerous districts in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, benefiting lakhs of farmer families. The project includes the construction of the Daudhan dam in the border area of Chhatarpur and Panna districts, which will store approximately 2,853 million cubic meters of water.

A 221-km-long link canal from the Daudhan dam will transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa River, ensuring drinking water and irrigation facilities for both states.

The river linking initiative will enable irrigation across 8.11 lakh hectares of land in 2,000 villages spread across 10 districts of Madhya Pradesh, including Panna, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Sagar, Raisen, Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Datia. This will be achieved through a pressurized micro-irrigation system, benefiting at least 7 lakh farmer families.

In addition to the river linking project, the Prime Minister released a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for 1,153 Atal Gram Sushasan buildings, which are expected to enhance governance at the grassroots level. “These buildings will play an important role in the practical conduct of work and responsibilities of Gram Panchayats, leading to good governance at the local level,” he noted.

Another significant project inaugurated by PM Modi was the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project, located in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.

The solar project is designed to reduce carbon emissions and support the Government’s mission of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070. The initiative will also aid water conservation by reducing evaporation.