PM Modi to launch solar-powered boats in Varanasi today, visit to Ballia also on cards

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on Sunday where he will launch solar-powered boats for plying on river Ganga apart from distributing 1,000 e-rickshaws.

The Prime Minister took to Twitter to confirm his schedule. In a series of tweet he wrote:

In Varanasi will distribute e-rickshaws & interact with beneficiaries. Will also meet prominent citizens of Kashi. Looking forward.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2016

Particularly excited to launch a scheme for environmentally friendly e-boats at Assi Ghat. These will help bring down pollution.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2016

The e-boats will also bring down operational costs thus ensuring higher incomes for those who earn their livelihoods through such boats.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2016

The Prime Minister will arrive at the Babatpur airport from New Delhi by a special aircraft and will leave by helicopter for Ballia in eastern Uttar Pradesh to launch the Pradhanmantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will be launched in Ballia. The scheme provides LPG connections to 5 cr women beneficiaries from BPL families.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2016

The PMUY scheme aims to provide free LPG connections to about five crore families living below poverty line across the country.

From Ballia, the Prime Minister will fly back to Varanasi where will preside over a function to distribute 1000 e-rickshaws to beneficiaries at Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) ground.

Modi will then visit "Jnana Pravaha", a centre of cultural studies and research, in Samne Ghat area. The centre was founded in 1997 by city-borne philanthropist Bimla Poddar, who was conferred with Padma Shri last year.

The Jnana Pravaha boasts of a museum with rare artefacts belonging to ancient and medieval ages, a library equipped with rare books and manuscripts and a handicraft atelier where artisans churn out exquisite specimens of brass, copper and Ashtadhatu (alloy comprising eight metals).

The Prime Minister will thereafter head to the Assi Ghat on river Ganga, where he will launch 11 solar-powered "e-boats".

Widespread use of motorboats, mostly powered by diesel, has been a cause of concern in view of the alarming pollution level in the holy river. The introduction of "e-boats" is being seen as a remedial measure.

This will be the Prime Minister's third tour of his parliamentary constituency since January this year.