PM Modi lauds UP's handling of second Covid wave

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday in Varanasi,inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of various development projects worth over Rs 1,583 crore.  He inaugurated a 100-bed Maternal and Child Health Wing in Banaras Hindu University, multi-level parking at Godauliya, Ro-Ro Vessels for tourism development on River Ganga and three-lane flyover bridge on the Varanasi-Ghazipur Highway. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stones of several projects and public works worth around 839 crore rupees. These included the Centre for Skill and Technical Support of Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology (CIPET), 143 rural projects under Jal Jeevan Mission and mango and vegetable integrated pack house in Karkhiyaon. He also inaugurated the International Cooperation and Convention Centre - Rudrakash, which has been constructed with Japanese assistance. 

In his address PM Modi said Uttar Pradesh's handling of the second wave of COVID-19 cases was "unparalleled". UP - which recorded over 30,000 new cases daily at the peak of the second wave, up from a record single-day high of 7,016 cases in the first - had "stood up and battled the virus efficiently", and that its management of the pandemic was "worthy of praise", he said.  The Prime Minister also hailed UP for "the maximum number of vaccinations in the country". He said that Varanasi is becoming medical hub in entire eastern UP. "Work is underway for setting up 550 new oxygen plants in Uttar Pradesh," he added. Modi urged citizens to get vaccination and strictly follow Covid norms as the pandemic is still not over. "We will not let Corona dominate us again," he said.

In his inaugural address CM, Yogi Aadityanath said that in Varanasi, projects worth about Rs 10,300 crore were completed in the last seven years and schemes worth about Rs 10,200 crore are in progress.