The Aryavarth Express
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday emphasised the spirit of national unity and cooperative federalism, asserting that political differences among states should never override the larger national interest.
Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, Yadav said that while political rivalry and differences of opinion may exist, every state holds equal importance from the country’s perspective.
“Politically, there may be rivalry and differences between states, but for the nation, Tamil Nadu is as important as Kerala. Whichever state it may be, the country is one,” he said.
Highlighting the role of the PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) portal, the Chief Minister said the platform effectively addresses critical development issues by enabling coordinated monitoring of projects that serve national interests, including the utilisation of underground and natural resources.
Drawing attention to major river-linking projects, Yadav cited the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, which was conceptualised during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and gained significant momentum under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“There is an investment of nearly Rs 1 lakh crore in this project, of which Rs 50,000 crore is being contributed by the Government of India. The state’s share is only about 5 per cent, and with proper planning, much of the work progresses efficiently,” he said.
He also referred to the Parvati–Kalisindh–Chambal (PKC) project, noting that despite being under implementation in Rajasthan for nearly two decades, it continues to be closely monitored, with even minor procedural delays drawing attention.
The Chief Minister further observed a significant shift in governance culture in Centre–state relations.
“Today, when we meet the Prime Minister or the Home Minister, they first ask about our projects and their progress even before formal courtesies. This reflects a changing era of governance, and I believe we are living in an extraordinary time,” Yadav said.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also lauded the PRAGATI portal, highlighting its role in technology-driven governance and inter-agency coordination. Speaking in Lucknow on Tuesday, he said Uttar Pradesh currently has 330 infrastructure projects worth Rs 10.48 lakh crore under implementation, monitored through the portal, marking the state’s transformation from a “bottleneck” to a “facilitator and accelerator” of development.
