Sonbhadra: In a significant stride towards inclusive development, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 177 development projects in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. These projects, valued at Rs 10 crore 41 lakh, are funded from Puri’s MPLAD fund as part of the MP Local Area Development Scheme.
Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who also serves as a Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha, assumed the responsibility of overseeing development initiatives in Sonbhadra in 2018, aligning with the Aspirational Districts Programme of NITI Aayog.
During the virtual inauguration, Puri highlighted the remarkable progress Sonbhadra has witnessed, emphasizing that the projects signify the district’s ongoing and rapid transformation. “We are set to enhance our education landscape with new school buildings, enrich community life through community centres, and improve connectivity and sanitation with the construction of passenger sheds, Sulabh toilets, culverts, and CC roads,” he stated.
Acknowledging Sonbhadra’s exceptional journey, Puri noted its consistent ranking among the top five districts out of 112 in the overall performance of the Aspirational Districts Programme from January 2018 to March 2024, as recognized by NITI Aayog.
The Minister commended the district authorities for their swift conceptualization and implementation of the projects, highlighting the active participation of Sonbhadra’s residents. He lauded the collaborative effort as a manifestation of Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’.
The projects encompass various sectors, reflecting a holistic approach towards uplifting the living standards and infrastructure of the district. Shri Hardeep Singh Puri expressed optimism about the positive impact these initiatives would have on Sonbhadra’s overall development, fostering a spirit of collective progress and community engagement.