Giving pace to major developmental projects
20/04/2018
The Centre Government is all set to release a handsome amount under Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP) to Jammu and Kashmir in the State sector for giving pace to major developmental projects in Works, Power, Health, Rehabilitation and some other departments. Funds around Rs 5500 crore could be released in the State sector for various works by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which monitors the PMDP, during the initial period of upcoming financial year of 2018-19. More funds would be considered depending upon the submission of Utilization Certificates. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar few days back, where he had chaired a high-level review of PMDP and security situation. Gauba had half-an-hour long meeting with Mehbooba at her official residence in summer capital of the State during which they were reported to have discussed overall security and law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir with special reference to the Valley where summer is about to set-in. Both Centre and State Governments were concerned about maintenance of peace in the Valley to facilitate good tourist season and ShriAmarnathJi pilgrimage which would strengthen peace as previous two summers in 2016 and 2017 were almost lost to street protests.
Some more Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) that the State Government wants the Ministry of Home Affairs to announce were also discussed. Significantly, Centre Government's Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma also reached the Valley today and visited parts of Bandipora district. Early this month, Dineshwar had paid four-day maiden visit to Ladakh region covering both mountain-locked Leh and Kargil districts.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has agreed to the State Government demand for release of funds in the State sector to give boost to developmental projects in various Departments including Works, Power, Health, Rehabilitation etc. The State Government was of the view that the Centre was releasing majority of PMDP funds in the Central sector and had demanded that it should give due weightage to the State sector also. Centre could release around Rs 5500 crore in the initial phase of Financial Year 2018-19 under the PMDP in the State sector, thus, conceding the State Government demand. 63 projects of the PMDP, which were under execution in Centre and State sectors could get boost in the upcoming Financial Year due to liberal release of funds by the MHA in both the sectors. However, the Centre has laid down the condition that it would release more funds only when the State gives Utilization Certificates for the already given funds. The MHA has so far sanctioned Rs 62,236 crores out of Rs 80,068 crores worth PMDP. However, latest estimates had revealed that cost of the PMDP has increased from Rs 80,068 crores to around Rs one lakh crore due to delay in execution of projects, leading to massive escalation of cost.
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