'Most panchayats in Bihar connected with high-speed broadband': Ravi Shankar Prasad

All 8,743 panchayats in Bihar, except a few, have been connected with high-speed broband network under BharatNet, Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Pras said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a programme, he said only 10-12 panchayats could t be connected due to ir location in forest areas.

re were 4.2 crore mobile phone users in 2014-15 in Bihar which has increased to 6.21 crore in August this year, while number of internet users was 80 lakh in 2014-15 but w it has increased to 3.93 crore, he said.

Pras said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in promoting and building both physical and digital infrastructure of country.

re are around 35,000 Common Service Centres (CSC) in state that along with postal service have delivered hundreds of crores of rupees to poor people during lockdown, minister ded.

Pras was speaking at a function where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for seven urban infrastructure projects worth Rs 541 crore in poll- bound state via video conference.

Several schemes and projects have been undertaken to build urban infrastructure in Bihar with prime minister unveiling various schemes, he said.

prime minister has been saying that development of every region of country is necessary for inclusive growth and it includes eastern India and rast and Bihar, which is one of big states in East, he said, mentioning Rs 1.25 lakh crore pack for state and development of rail infrastructure.

Pras, who represents Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, expressed happiness on inauguration of two Sew Treatment Plants (STPs) -- one in Beur and ar in Karmalichak in state capital.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that state government has taken a decision that treated sew water will t be discharged in rivers, rar it will be used for irrigation purposes and a detailed plan is being worked out.

Effluent treatment plants (ETPs) have been installed in 57 industrial units located along Ganga, he said, ding that zero effluent is being discharged in river by such units.

Stating that Bihar has received Rs 2,074 crore under 'Namami Gange' project, Sushil Modi said Rs 34,217 crore has been spent in last 15 years on various schemes of Urban Development and Housing Department.

Total Rs 155 crore has been approved for organic farming in 12 districts that are situated along Ganga and have been identified as Organic Corridor of state, he said.

Organic farming has been started in 103 clusters in five cities along Ganga, Sushil Modi said.