29 projects completed, remaining expected in next few years
*418 works completed under BADP in 8 distts of J&K UT
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 1: Most of the projects under Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have gained momentum and a remarkable progress has been achieved under the package due to removal of potential bottlenecks by the administration.
As per the Economic Survey 2022-23 released by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta yesterday, Rs 80,064 crore worth PMDP announced by the Prime Minister on November 7, 2015 was aimed at expanding economic infrastructure, provision of basic services, providing thrust to employment and income generation and providing relief and rehabilitation to the victims of September 2014 floods besides to strengthen Disaster Management Framework of Jammu and Kashmir.
The package initially consisted of 63 projects. However, after reorganization of erstwhile State, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was left with 54 (presently 53-one dropped) PMDP projects with an outlay of Rs 58,477 crore. Nine projects with an outlay of Rs 21,441 crore were transferred to the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Seventeen projects—(five of Central Sector and 12 of UT Sector) have been completed in all respects while as 12 projects (four of Central Sector and eight of UT Sector) stand substantially completed up to November 2022, said the Economic Survey, a document presenting the elaborate picture of economic and developmental profile of J&K for the closing financial year.
“Out of the remaining 24 projects, 3 projects are being completed/ substantially completed very shortly and the remaining 21 projects are expected to spill over to financial year 2023- 24 and beyond”, the Economic Survey said, adding most of the projects have gained momentum and a remarkable progress has been achieved under the package mainly due to identification and removal of potential bottlenecks like land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting, court cases etc.
An amount of Rs 42,303 crore has been released against 53 projects and an amount of Rs 39,928 crore has been expended till January 2023. As far as Central Sector projects are concerned, the percentage of expenditure against sanctioned cost was 71.28 while as that in respect of UT Sector projects was 61.86. In totality, there was 67.23% expenditure against sanctioned cost.
Likewise, the percentage of expenditure against funds released in respect of Central Sector Projects was 97.73 while as the same in respect of UT Sector projects was 89.70. In totality, there was 94.39% expenditure against the funds released, the Economic Survey said.
It is pertinent to mention here that PMDP was essentially based on five pillars – Humanitarian Relief, Crisis Management, Social Infrastructure, Development Projects and Economic Infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Economic Survey said that an expenditure of Rs 19 crore has been incurred during the year 2022-23 up to January by completing 418 works under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP), the objective of which is to meet special developmental needs of the people living in remote and inaccessible areas situated near the International Border.
Moreover, the BADP is aimed to saturate the border areas with the essential infrastructure through convergence of the Central/State/ BADP/local schemes and participatory approach and to promote a sense of security and well being among the border population.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has 816 kilometers border running through 8 districts namely Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara. The BADP is operational in 83 blocks and 1179 villages of J&K Union Territory having an area of 5439.55 square kilometers and 25.97 lakh population as per Census 2011 and works under BADP are executed under the close supervision of concerned Deputy Commissioner.
It is pertinent to mention here that as per old BADP guidelines about 10% of the allocation was required to be earmarked for Border Guarding Forces (BGFs). Therefore, funds were earmarked/ released to 9 Corps, 14 Corps, 15 Corps, 16 Corps, ITBP Leh, BSF Jammu, BSF Kashmir, Project Beacon and Project Sampark under Annual Action Plans of BADP up to 2019-20.
However, under revised BADP guidelines no separate allocation is made for BGFs. Instead the priority works as identified by the BGFs are required to be discussed in the District Level Committees of the concerned border districts and decision taken in light of the overall fund position.
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