Srinagar, Aug 16: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has directed departments to accelerate the formulation and execution of projects under the ₹1,579.09 crore disaster recovery package sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir, while ensuring that all reconstructed infrastructure is made resilient to future disasters.
The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting on the implementation of the Recovery and Reconstruction (R&R) Plan–2025 and utilization of disaster recovery assistance approved by the Government of India.
The package includes ₹1,534.58 crore sanctioned under the NDRF/SDRF R&R Funding Window for damages caused by floods, cloudbursts, landslides and other disasters, besides ₹44.52 crore for the dedicated Ramban District recovery plan following the April 2025 cloudburst and flash floods.
During the review, it was informed that departments have so far prepared costed action plans worth ₹1,225.78 crore, leaving ₹353.31 crore to be operationalized by the Jal Shakti and Agriculture sectors.
Dulloo stressed that disaster recovery must go beyond restoring damaged assets to their pre-disaster condition. He directed executing agencies to strictly adopt the ‘Build Back Better’ approach and incorporate disaster-resilient features into reconstructed infrastructure.
The Chief Secretary also called for strict cross-verification of beneficiary lists and project proposals with major ongoing schemes, including PMAY-G, Jal Jeevan Mission, AMRUT, SASCI, NABARD, PMGSY and Samagra Shiksha, to prevent duplication and ensure efficient utilization of public funds.
He directed departments to incorporate appropriate resilience measures, including compliance with Seismic Zone IV/V requirements, elevated plinths and slope stabilization wherever required. All projects were also ordered to be geo-tagged and uploaded on the BEAMS digital platform for unified monitoring of physical progress and financial utilization.
Giving a sector-wise review, Principal Secretary, DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti informed that the Social Sector has formulated plans worth ₹262.11 crore against an approved allocation of ₹289.40 crore.
The Housing component has achieved 100 per cent commitment of its ₹193.19 crore allocation, covering 9,083 households, including 5,227 fully and 3,856 severely damaged houses.
Roads and Bridges emerged as one of the best-performing sectors, with the entire allocation of ₹461.64 crore planned for restoration of around 1,230.7 km of roads and 4,494.5 metres of bridges.
In the Power sector, ₹70.08 crore has been planned against ₹72.97 crore, targeting restoration of more than 21,000 poles, 1,100 circuit kilometres of conductors and 800 transformers, benefiting around 1.45 lakh consumers.
Drinking Water and Sanitation has formulated plans worth ₹59.02 crore against ₹139.65 crore, while Irrigation and Flood Control has planned ₹93.01 crore against ₹199.79 crore.
In the productive sectors, Agriculture has formulated plans worth ₹168.36 crore against ₹223.67 crore, covering 45 packages related to crop inputs, land reclamation and restoration of research infrastructure at SKUAST-Jammu. Animal Husbandry and Livestock has planned ₹8.86 crore against ₹10.28 crore, while Horticulture has fully utilized its ₹3.87 crore allocation, benefiting 3,493 farmers.
The meeting also reviewed the dedicated ₹44.52 crore Ramban recovery plan prepared following the April 19–20, 2025 cloudburst and flash floods. The plan includes ₹23.24 crore for Roads and Bridges, ₹3.34 crore for Irrigation and Flood Control, ₹1.78 crore for Education and ₹1.48 crore for Animal Husbandry and Livestock.
Dulloo directed that household relief under the recovery programme be disbursed strictly according to the 30:40:30 progress-linked Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) pattern, ensuring payments remain aligned with actual reconstruction progress.
He further directed block, sub-divisional and district-level Nodal Officers to resolve E-Samadhan and CPGRAMS grievances within 15 days.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that the recovery programme must deliver not only timely restoration of damaged infrastructure but also a more resilient and disaster-ready Jammu and Kashmir, with every rupee sanctioned translating into durable public assets and tangible relief for affected communities.
Senior officers, including the Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Additional Chief Secretary, PWD; Principal Secretary, DMRR&R; Director, CD & SDRF; Administrative Secretaries and Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, attended the meeting. Deputy Commissioners from all 20 districts participated virtually.
