Mirzapur (UP), July 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a number of projects including the much awaited Bansagar canal which is expected to provide a big boost to irrigation.

The Prime Minister arrived in Mirzapur on Sunday, on the second day of his visit to Uttar Pradesh.

The Bansagar canal project would help at least 1.70 lakh farmers of both Mirzapur and Allahabad with the irrigation sector receiving a huge boost. A joint venture of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, the canal is 171 km long.

"The Bansagar project of about Rs 3,500 crore will not just provide irrigation in Mirzapur but also 1.5 lakh hectares of this whole area including Allahabad," Modi said while addressing a gathering here.

He also laid the foundation stone of the Mirzapur Medical College, inaugurated 100 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadi Kendras and a bridge over the Ganga river.

Modi said his government has taken several measures to provide affordable healthcare to the poor, including Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

"These Jan Aushadi Kendras are becoming a much-larger support of poor, lower-middle class. More than 700 medicines in these centres and over half a hundred surgeries are available at cheap prices," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the Swachh Bharat Mission is also proving effective in controlling disease. He said the health insurance scheme -- Ayushman Bharat -- would be rolled out soon and also spoke of other social welfare schemes of the Central government.

The Prime Minister said the developmental work in the Purvanchal region has accelerated since the BJP-led NDA government came to power and the results can be seen by everyone today.

Targeting the Opposition, he said those who are shedding crocodile tears for farmers today should be asked why they did not take care of the country's irrigation projects which were left incomplete, during their tenure.

He said the Bansagar project had been first conceptualized about four decades ago, and the foundation stone was laid in 1978 but the project was unduly delayed.

Modi said after 2014 this project was made a part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and all efforts were made to complete it.

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Raipur (PTI): Amid reports of shortage of commercial LPG cylinder in several parts of the country due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday assured people that they need not worry about the availability of cooking gas in the state.

He asserted that adequate stock of LPG as well as petrol and diesel was available in the state.

Sai said in a statement that authorities have been directed to regularly monitor stock at gas agencies and keep a close watch on the supply chain. Necessary instructions were issued to officials in all districts to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.

The chief minister instructed officials to take strict action if any complaint of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders is received.

Sai urged state residents not to pay attention to rumours and to book cooking gas cylinders as per their actual requirement.

The government was fully alert to ensure the availability of essential commodities to citizens, he emphasised.

Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association has issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses across the state, urging them to maintain calm and avoid panic buying.

In the advisory, Taranjeet Singh Hora, president of the association, asked members to maintain coordination and immediately inform it about any major disruption in LPG supply.

He cautioned businesses against hoarding cylinders, saying such practices could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.

The association advised hotels and restaurants to prioritise essential kitchen operations, core menu items and already committed banquet events.

Use electric cooking equipment wherever possible for emergency and staff kitchens such as induction cooktops, electric hot plates, electric rice cookers and kettles, the advisory stated.