J&K Chief Secretary orders faster rollout of Rs 1,579-crore disaster package

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Sunday reviewed the implementation of the Rs 1,579.09 crore disaster recovery package approved by the Centre and directed departments to speed up project formulation and execution. The package, cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the National Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Response Fund, covers damages from floods, cloudbursts, and landslides, including a dedicated Rs 44.52 crore plan for Ramban district after the April 2025 cloudburst.

Departments have so far prepared action plans worth Rs 1,225.78 crore, leaving Rs 353.31 crore to be operationalised by the Jal Shakti and Agriculture sectors. Dulloo stressed the 'Build Back Better' approach, asking that all reconstructed assets be made more resilient to future disasters. He also called for cross-verification of beneficiary lists with schemes like PMAY-G and Jal Jeevan Mission to avoid duplication.

The power sector has planned to use Rs 70.08 crore to restore over 21,000 poles and 800 transformers, benefiting about 1.45 lakh consumers. In housing, 100 percent of the Rs 193.19 crore allocation has been committed, covering 9,083 households. Dulloo directed that all projects be geo-tagged on the BEAMS platform and that household relief be disbursed through a 30:40:30 progress-linked direct benefit transfer pattern.