Readers' Forum
The face of progress
In view of the fact that Gujarat’s chief minister Narendra Modi has not received a good Press, especially among the Parsis, permit me to mention a few facts about Kutch, a place I visit frequently.
Narendra Modi: acknowledge his achievements
Kutch, with a population of about 18 lakhs, about one percent of Uttar Pradesh, produces 12,000 mega watts (MW) of power and this will rise to 27,000 MW in the next four years. To put this number into perspective, Australia produces 30,000 MW power despite being the world’s biggest per capita power consumer and having a population 11 times that of Kutch. By 2018, the power produced will be 35% more than Pakistan, which has a population 100 times that of Kutch.
Kutch is in the process of becoming the highest cement producing district in India. It is about to produce 10% of the country’s potash requirement in a year’s time. This will be of direct benefit to India as we are at present importing almost 100% of our potash requirements.
Kutch is the largest wind farm power producing district. It is the third largest area producing saw pipes in the world. These are used in oil and gas piping. It handles the maximum sea cargo in the country and is home to two of the largest ports, the old Kandla and Mundra, a new deep water port. Kutch has the largest edible oil refining capacity in India. Though it lacks forests, it has the maximum number of saw mills for wood in India. Its tourism has developed 1,200% in seven years, and that too in Muslim majority areas. Kutch has the largest road network in India.
Being a desert region, and lacking in water for over five decades, Kutch now receives drinking water directly from the Narmada which goes right up to the border and is used by the jawans of the Border Security Force. Had it not been for the obstructive tactics of the central government in Delhi, the availability of Narmada water would have been much higher.
All these things have happened in front of our eyes after the severe earthquake of 2001 which reduced the district to rubble. Those who recognize the development under Modi’s stewardship will appreciate this.
All this can and will be replicated all over the country by Modi should he become Prime Minister of India. It is time to discard pejoratives like "dictatorial,” "divisive” and "polarizing” which are frequently used by critics who may not be aware of or not wish to acknowledge his achievements. P. N. AMERSEY
milton1@vsnl.net
Kutch is in the process of becoming the highest cement producing district in India. It is about to produce 10% of the country’s potash requirement in a year’s time. This will be of direct benefit to India as we are at present importing almost 100% of our potash requirements.
Kutch is the largest wind farm power producing district. It is the third largest area producing saw pipes in the world. These are used in oil and gas piping. It handles the maximum sea cargo in the country and is home to two of the largest ports, the old Kandla and Mundra, a new deep water port. Kutch has the largest edible oil refining capacity in India. Though it lacks forests, it has the maximum number of saw mills for wood in India. Its tourism has developed 1,200% in seven years, and that too in Muslim majority areas. Kutch has the largest road network in India.
Being a desert region, and lacking in water for over five decades, Kutch now receives drinking water directly from the Narmada which goes right up to the border and is used by the jawans of the Border Security Force. Had it not been for the obstructive tactics of the central government in Delhi, the availability of Narmada water would have been much higher.
All these things have happened in front of our eyes after the severe earthquake of 2001 which reduced the district to rubble. Those who recognize the development under Modi’s stewardship will appreciate this.
All this can and will be replicated all over the country by Modi should he become Prime Minister of India. It is time to discard pejoratives like "dictatorial,” "divisive” and "polarizing” which are frequently used by critics who may not be aware of or not wish to acknowledge his achievements. P. N. AMERSEY
milton1@vsnl.net
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