*Funds to be utilized for priority projects in next 5 years
Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, July 12: Determined to put on rails the ravaged economy of Jammu and Kashmir post-2014 floods, the Central Government has formulated about Rs 50,000 crores comprehensive package aimed to create new infrastructure in key sectors and provide the much-needed impetus to the State economy.
Top official sources in Union Finance Ministry told EXCELSIOR, “the broad contours of the package, which has blessings of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had also been shared with the PDP patron and Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed”, adding, “the package will cover key sectors like flood management, road connectivity, power, education, healthcare, drinking water supply, agriculture, tourism and industries”.
“Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley played the key role in formulation of the package and officials of his Ministry have prepared the package after threadbare deliberation with top brass of the State”, sources pointed out adding, “the package has been given final shape and now, only an official announcement is awaited”.
Asked about the probable date of announcement of package, sources said, “the formal announcement will be made only after the approval of Prime Minister, who shall be returning to New Delhi on July 13 after his eight-day visit to the five Central Asian countries and Russia”, adding, “the issue subsequently will be discussed in a meeting comprising all stake holders besides Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley”.
Though Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley are visiting Jammu on July 17 for the centenary celebration of former Minister and Member of Parliament Girdhari Lal Dogra, there is little possibility of any announcement being made on that day in the winter capital. “Since, the function is being organised by Girdhari Lal Dogra Memorial Trust, any announcement regarding to the developmental package is ruled out”.
Source affirmed, “there is strong possibility of the package being announced on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and the announcement will be made from New Delhi”.
Elaborating over the details of the financial package, sources said, “about 50,000 crore package will be comprehensive development package and cover several aspects, which weren’t mentioned in the previous Rs 44,000 crore package that was being demanded by the NC led coalition”, adding “the package will be spread over a five year term and cover all projects that have been identified by the Mufti-led coalition Government bearing in mind the recovery needs, in the aftermath of the devastating floods. The package has identified short, medium and long-term priorities to kick-start a structured reconstruction process in the State.
“While the State Government had identified projects worth Rs 1, 00,000 crore, the top officials of the Union Finance Ministry had re-worked the entire package after threadbare deliberations with the State officials. The package will cover various projects including those pertaining to education, health, roadways, power, renewable energy, smart cities, urban renewal and tourism projects”, sources said.
Sources said, “the package will also include the establishment of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) campus in Jammu besides in Kashmir (Anantnag), an Indian Institute of Technology each in Jammu and Kashmir and an Indian Institute of Management in Jammu”. The terms of reference of the package would be similar to the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP), which was announced by the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in 2004. However, the PMRP was worth Rs 24,000 cores (revised alter to Rs 36,265 crores), the new developmental package would involve much more projects.
The package proposed reconstruction and redevelopment process in a time-bound manner.
The spadework for the package had been done by the high level Central team headed by Union Expenditure Secretary, Ratan P Watal who visited the State in June this year and held marathon deliberations with J&K Government over the infrastructure needs for putting in place an effective financial arrangement for reconstruction and redevelopment of the public infrastructure.
The Central team included many Union Secretaries and other senior officers from Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Union Ministry of Power, Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NITI Aayog, Department of Economic Affairs and Central Water Commission. The J&K Government delegation was led by Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey and also included Principal Secretary Planning, B R Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B B Vyas and Administrative Secretaries of Finance, Power, Relief & Rehabilitation, PWD, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control and other officials.
Sources said, “the package in addition to the flood-rehabilitation programme would also set into motion a comprehensive process for implementation of infrastructure projects in sewage, drainage, solid waste management, water supply, irrigation and flood management to improve the quality of public service to the people. It would also give further impetus to the process for upgradation of Srinagar-Jammu highway that would be put on fast-track to ensure all-weather connectivity to the Valley”.
The package would be over and above the Rs 60,000 crore 14th Finance Commission award recommended for J&K for next five years.
Earlier, on June 16, this year the Centre had released additional funds to the tune of Rs 2,437 crore for reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir. The announcement was made by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in a joint press conference in New Delhi. Nearly Rs 2,600 crore had already been released last year by the Government to help the State in relief and rehabilitation work.
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