World-class ‘Earthquake Observatory’ at Udhampur
Avtar Bhat
UDHAMPUR, June 21: Taking a jibe at opposition parties for misleading the people that no development has taken place in J&K, Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent Charge Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that they (Opposition) are looking through the prism of their own non performance.
Dr Jitendra Singh was talking to reporters while inaugurating latest upgraded world-class “Earthquake Observatory” under the aegis of “National Centre of Seismology”, Union Ministry of Earth Sciences here, today.
He said that during last eight years of Narendra Modi’s rule many national projects were brought in far-flung and remote areas of J&K like Udhampur -Doda region and the opening of Seismological Observatory at Udhampur is one of them.
Dr Jitendra Singh advised the opposition parties that instead of misleading the people they should learn to appreciate the good work done by the Government for overall public welfare.
“Bringing national level projects to J&K was done with the intention that UT should not lag behind the other developed States or UTs of country”, he said adding that no one has made such a demand of establishing such world class observatory in Udhampur, but this Government which is committed to public welfare took the initiative on its own.
With this, the Minister said, Udhampur has emerged on the world seismological map and this is the latest among several national level projects gifted to Udhampur by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi over the last eight years. Devika river project, Passport Office, Radio Station, Highway Village, Centrally funded Medical College, country’s first rank PMGSY roads, etc are among the many other benefits given by Central Government, he mentioned.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, however, the opposition parties are unable to digest the same and they are indulging in false propaganda to mislead the people for their vested interests.
Union Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences and a nationally known Scientist , Dr M. Ravichandran was also present on the occasion. It was his first-ever visit to Udhampur.
The Union Minister said the pace of development in Udhampur district under Modi rule can be gauged from the fact that during last three consecutive years the district came number one in implementation of PMGSY schemes and received national awards.
Dr Jitendra Singh later while addressing the function informed that during the last eight years under Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, India has set up more than 70 such observatories across the country, compared to just about 80 set up in over six decades before that.
While dedicating this observatory to the people, the Minister said, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has laid renewed emphasis on the scientific programmes by prioritising Science and Technology based developments and allocating sufficient budgets to the science departments .
The Minister also said that in the last seven-eight years, departments that previously did not get their due importance are now being prioritised. One such department that has been brought to the forefront is the Department of Earth Sciences that used to work in anonymity earlier, he added.
Dr. Jitendra Singh further said that India has a very long coastline of around 6,000 km and it is the only country which has an ocean named after it. It is a symbol and a legacy of our glorious past and a bright future towards which India is heading under PM Narendra Modi, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that in next five years, 100 more such seismological Centres will be opened across the country for improving the real time data monitoring and data collection. India is moving closer to playing a critical role in seismological advancement and understanding, the Minister added.
Elaborating about this development at Udhampur today, Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed that this observatory at Udhampur will record the data related to the inner activities of the earth’s crust and will provide data to various seismological stations across the globe.
The Minister maintained that J&K is in the seismic zone especially South and North Kashmir where such Observatories have been established. Udhampur is the third place in J&K where such seismological observations will be recorded now, he informed.
Ocean resources, Coastal initiatives and Earthquake studies are among futuristic StartUp possibilities offered by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh said.
Explaining the special significance of Udhampur for setting up this observatory here, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Udhampur district lies between the two seismological fault lines and thus can provide critical data related to the earthquakes.
While elaborating on various developmental initiatives undertaken in the recent years under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, many languishing projects have been completed without any political considerations. He said that many projects that had long standing demands were taken up alongside other critical projects that although did not have any local demand but were based on judgment and expert advice.
Dr. Singh also enumerated various developmental initiatives undertaken in Udhampur in the recent years like the setting up of Medical Colleges, Engineering Colleges, Degree Colleges, development works under “River Devika Abatement and Beautification Project”, record number of PMGSY roads and bridges, construction of highways, establishment of Radio Station in Udhampur, Passport Office etc. He also mentioned that a new Industrial Estate has been established that should factor in the industrial sectors that will have relevance in the upcoming years. This should include StartUps in every sector, he added.
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