‘Kumbh set benchmarks in cleanliness, security, mgmt’

Lucknow: Amidst pandemonium as the Samajwadi Party members jumped into the well of the House shouting slogans like "Governor go back", Anandiben Patel, for the first time in her tenure as Governor, trimmed her 44-pages written speech to wrap it up in just 8 minutes and 35 seconds.
Moments after the Governor began addressing the joint session of both houses of the state legislature and the first session of 2025 on Tuesday, SP members jumped into the well of the House shouting slogans holding placards demanding UP government to come out with actual number of deaths during the Maha Kumbh stampede, new MSP for sugarcane and unemployment. While mentioning the ongoing Maha Kumbh, the Governor said "The UP government has had the honour of organizing the Maha Kumbh 2025. This year's event has set new benchmarks in cleanliness, security, and management."
The Governor said: "Maha Kumbh 2025 is a unique blend of faith and modernity, showcasing both tradition and progress The event was one that embodies the spirit of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" (One India, Great India)."
The Governor, while expressing sorrow over the unfortunate incident on Mauni Amavasya, said, "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy." She extended her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
"Under my government, there have been no incidents of communal riots or caste-based conflicts," the Governor said and highlighted the achievements of Operation Conviction, adding that between July 2023 and December 2024, the initiative led to 51 criminals being sentenced to death, 6,287 to life imprisonment, 1,091 to over 20 years in prison, 3,868 to 10-19 years, 5,788 to 5-9 years, and 51,748 to less than five years in jail.
She further said that since November 2019, effective prosecution of notorious mafia and gang members resulted in 31 mafia dons and 74 co-criminals receiving life imprisonment, jail sentences, and fines, with two criminals sentenced to death.
"Additionally, the government seized and razed benami properties worth over Rs 4,074 crore and freed movable and immovable properties valued at over Rs 141 billion from illegal occupations," she added.
She also mentioned the success of Operation Trinetra, under which more than 11 lakh CCTV cameras have been installed in police stations. "Additionally, the response time of UP-112 emergency services has seen a remarkable improvement, reducing from 25 minutes 42 seconds in 2017 to just 7 minutes 24 seconds in 2024," she pointed out.
The Governor also highlighted the state's progress in connectivity, calling Uttar Pradesh the ‘Expressway State' of India.
Uttar Pradesh now boasts the highest share of the nation's expressway network, she stated.
The Governor shared details of ongoing projects, including the Chitrakoot Link Expressway, the connector linking Agra-Lucknow and Purvanchal Expressways, the Bundelkhand-Agra-Lucknow link via Farrukhabad, the Ganga Expressway, and the Jewar Airport Link Expressway.
The Governor announced plans to build new expressways to enhance state connectivity and reduce logistics costs. These include the 320km Vindhya Expressway (Prayagraj-Mirzapur-Varanasi-Chandauli-Sonbhadra) and a spur linking the Purvanchal Expressway to Ghazipur via Chandauli. Additionally, an expressway will connect the Bundelkhand Expressway from Chitrakoot to Prayagraj via Rewa, and another will link the Ganga Expressway from Meerut to Haridwar.
In a significant move to enhance the education system, the Yogi government has distributed free textbooks to 1.5 crore children and upgraded 680 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, the Governor said.
Patel highlighted that the free textbooks distribution has benefited a total of 1.49 crore students, from classes 1 to 8. In addition to Hindi, English, and Urdu language textbooks, Braille textbooks are also being provided free of cost to visually impaired children.
The Governor said, "Through the strategic efforts, effective implementation, and continuous monitoring of my government, Uttar Pradesh has secured the top position in various national schemes."
She elaborated on the state's accomplishments, including significant progress in tourism, providing gas connections, honouring farmers, enhancing cleanliness, and ensuring justice for criminals.
The Governor emphasized the state's leadership in employment generation. She highlighted the creation of 1.65 crore jobs through 96 lakh MSME units.
In 2024, the annual UP International Trade Show attracted over 500 domestic and international traders, securing business deals worth Rs 2,200 crore.
Discussing urban development, she outlined several initiatives to improve infrastructure and quality of life. "Under Amrit Yojana 2.0, 39 lakh drinking water connections have been provided. Additionally, under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), all urban bodies have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), constructing nine lakh individual toilets and over 69,000 community and public toilets. Community, public, and pink toilets have been built across 1,100 blocks for enhanced women's safety," she said.
Patel said that agricultural development and farmer welfare are among the government's top priorities.
The Governor said, "Food grain production in Uttar Pradesh has reached approximately 669 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, about Rs 496 crore has been disbursed as compensation to nearly 10 lakh insured farmers in the year 2024-25. Additionally, under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, approximately Rs 79,500 crore has been transferred through DBT to the accounts of nearly 3 crore farmers."
She further said, "Digital trade worth approximately Rs 6,099 crore has been conducted across 125 mandis of the state till January 2025."
Lucknow: Amidst pandemonium as the Samajwadi Party members jumped into the well of the House shouting slogans like "Governor go back", Anandiben Patel, for the first time in her tenure as Governor, trimmed her 44-pages written speech to wrap it up in just 8 minutes and 35 seconds.
Moments after the Governor began addressing the joint session of both houses of the state legislature and the first session of 2025 on Tuesday, SP members jumped into the well of the House shouting slogans holding placards demanding UP government to come out with actual number of deaths during the Maha Kumbh stampede, new MSP for sugarcane and unemployment. While mentioning the ongoing Maha Kumbh, the Governor said "The UP government has had the honour of organizing the Maha Kumbh 2025. This year's event has set new benchmarks in cleanliness, security, and management." tnn