Scindia launches ₹43 crore Kuno River project, inaugurates badminton academy in Guna
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on 28 June inaugurated the Jeeto Badminton Academy in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, and launched the ₹43 crore Kuno River Revival Project, capping a packed three-day visit to his home constituency with a string of development announcements. The events signal a concentrated infrastructure push across sports, water conservation, renewable energy, and rail connectivity in the Guna district.
Kuno River Revival and Tree-Planting Drive
The centrepiece of Scindia's visit was the launch of the Kuno River Revival Project, valued at ₹43 crore, aimed at restoring the ecologically significant Kuno River — also referred to as the Coono River — whose origin lies in Kanza village. Addressing the district-level closing ceremony of the Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan as chief guest, Scindia drew a direct line between ecological health and human survival. 'Earth and nature are the only possible source of human survival,' he said, underscoring the vision behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
As part of the same drive, Scindia planted 700 saplings in Kanza village. Over 1,700 saplings have already been planted at the river's source as part of an initiative targeting 2,500 trees in total.
Jeeto Badminton Academy Inauguration
The Jeeto Badminton Academy is intended to provide professional-grade training infrastructure to youth in the Guna region. Scindia played badminton with children during the inauguration ceremony, a gesture underscoring the facility's focus on grassroots sports development. The academy is expected to give local athletes access to structured coaching that was previously unavailable in the district.
Solar Power, Temple Renovation, and Rail Connectivity
Earlier in the visit, Scindia inaugurated a 4.5 MW solar power plant at Ruthiyai, built under the Centre's PM-KUSUM scheme, boosting renewable energy capacity in the region. He also performed a bhoomi pujan for the restoration of the ancient Ram-Janaki Temple in Patai village — a move that blends modern development priorities with cultural preservation.
On the connectivity front, Scindia flagged off the new Bina-Guna-Indore MEMU train service from Guna Railway Station, improving regional rail links for commuters across the corridor.
Public Outreach and Grievance Meetings
Scindia held public grievance meetings at the Circuit House in Guna, personally receiving applications from local residents — a format that reinforces direct constituency engagement ahead of upcoming political cycles. The three-day itinerary combined infrastructure launches with community-level outreach, reflecting a template increasingly common among Union Ministers visiting their home seats.
With the Kuno River project now formally launched and the badminton academy open, attention will turn to implementation timelines and whether the ₹43 crore restoration effort translates into measurable improvement in the river's health and the region's water table.