Nitish Inaugurates Projects in Arwal

Arwal: Feb. 17, 2007Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while inaugurating a number of schemes totaling more than Rs. 197 crore in Arwal district on Saturday, said the state government will build a bridge on the river Sone that will dramatically change the face of the district by generating new opportunities for its residents."I have pledged not only to bring development in the state, I am also committed to restore the pride of Bihar that took a severe beating during the previous Lalu-Rabri regime. I want Biharis to be proud of their state so they do not have to shy away from saying proudly that they are from Bihar," the Chief Minister said amidst thundering applause."Gone are the days of polishing your lathis with oil; now is the time to put ink in your pens and join me in my effort to put Bihar on the path of development," Kumar said."If I fail in my mission by the end of my tenure, I promise I will not come back here to ask for your votes again," he said.Kumar said the NDA government was working on a war footing level to improve the supply of electricity and water and provide good roads in all districts. "In the past Bihar used to buy electricity from other states; now the state will produce its own energy eliminating the need of relying on other sources," he said adding a hydro-electric plant being built in Arwal at a cost of nearly Rs. 25 crore would drastically improve power supply in the state.Reacting to some protestors flying the banners of Communist Party of India (ML), the Chief Minister said these people had fooled Bihar for over 15 years but now their shops were about to be shut down for good.Among those present on the occasion included Food, Supply, and Commerce state minister Suchitra Devi, Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav, Energy Minister Vijendra Yadav and many leaders from Arwal district.