Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Urban Development and Energy Minister A.K. Sharma inaugurated the ₹83.24 crore Gursarai-Garautha Combined Reorganised Drinking Water Scheme in Jhansi district on Friday, providing a major boost to safe drinking water access in the Bundelkhand region. The project will ensure a regular supply of treated drinking water to nearly 7,740 households in Gursarai Municipal Council and Garautha Nagar Panchayat.
Addressing the gathering, Sharma described the project as more than an infrastructure initiative, calling it a significant public welfare programme that will improve the health, dignity, and quality of life of thousands of families. He said the scheme includes a modern water treatment and distribution system designed to deliver safe and high-quality drinking water directly to households.
The minister said the state government remains committed to the comprehensive development of Bundelkhand by strengthening essential infrastructure, including drinking water, electricity, and urban services. He noted that several solar energy projects are progressing rapidly across the region and will provide residents with reliable, high-quality, and uninterrupted power supply while establishing Bundelkhand as an emerging energy hub.
Highlighting the broader development strategy for the region, Sharma said the Bundelkhand Defence Corridor and ongoing renewable energy projects are creating new opportunities for industrial investment and employment. He emphasised that the government is committed to ensuring local youth receive priority in jobs generated by these projects, helping reduce migration and strengthen the regional economy.
“The government’s priority is to create employment opportunities for young people within their own districts so that they can build successful careers without leaving their homes,” Sharma said.
The minister also urged parents to prioritise quality education for both sons and daughters, describing education as the most important foundation for a secure future. He said industries and companies coming to the region would provide skill-based training, enabling educated and capable youth to secure dignified employment close to home while contributing to the state’s economic growth.
Sharma said the government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is implementing an integrated development model that combines infrastructure expansion with employment generation, education, and industrial growth. He added that Bundelkhand is rapidly transforming from a region once associated with backwardness into a destination for investment, opportunity, and sustainable development.
Garautha MLA Jawahar Lal Rajput, who was also present at the event, stressed that local youth should receive priority in employment opportunities created by industries and development projects in Bundelkhand. He said such an approach would accelerate economic growth while ensuring employment remains accessible within the region.
More than 3,000 local residents, along with public representatives and officials, attended the inauguration ceremony.
