The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Jammu & Kashmir on 24 April to participate in the celebration of National Panchayati Raj Day 2022. He visited Palli Panchayat in Samba district.
The PM addressed elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions as well as Gram Sabhas across the country.
- The Prime Minister handed over SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) cards to beneficiaries.
National Panchayati Raj Day 2022
Every year 24 April is observed as National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Govt of India to celebrate the constitutional status accorded to Panchayati Raj system in the country.
- This occasion provides an opportunity for direct dialogue with Panchayat representatives from all over the country as well as recognizing their achievements to empower and motivate them.
Objective:
The objective of the celebrating the National Panchayati Raj Day is to increase awareness about Panchayats and Gram Sabhas, the institutions of the local self-governments for the rural areas mandated by the Constitution, and also about their roles, responsibilities, achievements, concerns, resolutions etc.
Theme:
This year the celebrations were held without any specific theme. Every year, various village level functions, seminars, and other events take place.
History:
- The first NPRD was celebrated on April 24, 2010.
- The day marks the enactment of the 73rd amendment of the constitution in 1992. Through the amendment, the powers of the grassroots were decentralised and the foundation of an institution called Panchayati Raj was laid.
Multiple Development Initiatives:
During the event, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives worth around Rs 20,000 crore.
- He also launched the Amrit Sarovar initiative. It is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country.
Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel:
Prime Minister inaugurated the Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, built at a cost of over Rs 3100 crore.
- The 8.45 Km long tunnel would reduce the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, and reduce journey time by around one and a half hour.
- It is a twin tube tunnel – one for each direction of travel – with the twin tubes being interconnected by a cross passage every 500m, for maintenance and emergency evacuation.
Three road packages of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway:
- Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of three road packages of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, being built at a cost of over Rs.7500 crore.
- They are for the construction of 4/6 lane access-controlled Delhi-Katra-Amritsar Expressway from: Balsua on NH-44 to GurhaBaildaran, Hiranagar; GurhaBaildaran, Hiranagar to Jakh, Vijaypur; and Jakh, Vijaypur to Kunjwani, Jammu with spur connectivity to Jammu Airport.
Ratle and Kwar Hydroelectric projects:
- The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Ratle and Kwar Hydroelectric projects.
- The 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project will be constructed on Chenab River in Kishtwar District at a cost of around Rs 5300 crore. The 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project will also be built on Chenab River in Kishtwar District at a cost of over Rs.4500 crore.
500-kW solar plant at Palli:
- The PM also inaugurated a 500-kW solar plant at Palli Panchayat in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, making it the first panchayat in the country to become carbon neutral.
- The 500-kW solar plant has been installed in a total area of 6,408 square meters. The cost of the project was Rs 2.75 crore.