Gorakhpur (UP), Jun 11: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated 66 projects worth Rs 39.29 crore and laid the foundation stones of seven projects worth Rs 19.32 crore during his visit here today.

Emphasising on cleanliness in his address, he said the time had come to fight against Japanese Encephalitis/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (JE/AES) and cleanliness was the weapon to defeat it.

"Gorakhpur district is moving towards new heights of development and now it will not be considered among the backward districts. Along with its heritage, the district will get connected to modern development. Ward-wise cleanliness committees will be formed and they will look after it," the chief minister said.

He asked the corporators to develop their wards as ideal clean wards and said transforming Gorakhpur as a "clean district" was not difficult. "With willpower and awareness, the district and the city can get rid of JE/AES," he said. A huge number of people thronged the Gorakhnath temple this morning to meet the chief minister and tell him about their problems.