Yogi Adityanath announced the start of international flights from Kushinagar Airport by Diwali. (File)
Lucknow:
In a huge image makeover for eastern Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced the start of international flights from Kushinagar Airport by Diwali.
Also known as Padrauna Airport, it is located in Kushinagar District, about 52 km east of Gorakhpur, where Chief Minister Adityanath lives.
The Union’s cabinet, at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided in June this year to recognize Khushinagar as the international airport, the 29th in the country and the fourth in Uttar Pradesh, including the next Jewar airport.
Insisting on the strategic importance of Kushinagar Airport, located close to the international border, Chief Minister Adityanath, in a statement, said that this entire region is part of the “Buddha Circuit” and that this facility will increase. the influx of foreign tourists.
He said that there is immense potential for tourism in the eastern region of the UP and therefore officials were urged to prepare an action plan in consultation with representatives of the public to present it as a tourist hub. international.
Amid growing numbers of young people from Bihar and eastern UP who travel to various Gulf countries to find work there, this airport would also become convenient for them to reach their destinations, an official said.
In his statement, the Chief Minister also announced his decision to celebrate with fanfare the next centenary of the Chauri Chaura movement of 1922.
The incident involving the struggle for freedom took place in Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district on February 4, 1922, when a large group of demonstrators, participating in the non-cooperation movement, clashed with the police, who opened fire on them, killing three civilians. .
Protesters in retaliation attacked and torched the Chauri Chaura police station, killing all 22 occupants. Following the violence in Chauri Chaura, Mahatma Gandhi had put an end to his movement of non-cooperation at the national level.
The chief minister made the two crucial announcements while reviewing the development plans of the Gorakhpur division, comprising the eastern UP districts of Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar and Maharajganj.
Public representatives from all districts were present at the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister via video conference.
The CM also interacted with representatives and received their comments on development projects in their constituencies.
Mr Adityanath also called on officials to develop an integrated action plan to craft a permanent solution to the nagging flood threat in the eastern part of the state.
He called on officials to undertake the dredging of rivers in the region for a double benefit: relief from floods and the availability of sand which will bring income to the district administration.
He said his government largely controlled Japanese encephalitis (JE) and acute respiratory syndrome (AES).
He also said that pure water is the key to effective control of JE and other communicable diseases.
“Do a house-to-house water supply project in every village affected by JE,” he said.
