SRINAGAR, AUGUST 16: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, reviewed the implementation of the Recovery & Reconstruction (R&R) Plan–2025 and utilization of the disaster recovery assistance sanctioned for Jammu & Kashmir by GoI directing departments to accelerate project formulation and execution while ensuring that every reconstructed asset is made more resilient to future disasters.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Additional Chief Secretary, PWD; Principal Secretary, DMRR&R; Director, CD & SDRF; Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir; and other senior officers. Deputy Commissioners from all 20 districts participated virtually.
The Chief Secretary took detailed stock of the ₹1,579.09 crore recovery package approved by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the NDRF/SDRF R&R Funding Window. The same was approved through MHA for Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) for damages caused by floods, cloudbursts, landslides and other disasters to the tune of ₹1,534.58 crore, besides ₹44.52 crore for the dedicated Ramban District recovery plan following the April 2025 cloudburst and flash floods.
Reviewing the progress, the Chief Secretary noted that departments have so far prepared costed action plans amounting to ₹1,225.78 crore, leaving a balance of ₹353.31 crore to be operationalized by the Jal Shakti and Agriculture sectors.
Emphasizing that disaster recovery should not merely restore damaged infrastructure to its pre-disaster condition, the Chief Secretary directed all executing agencies to strictly follow the ‘Build Back Better’ (BBB) approach.
Dulloo 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 eliminate any possibility of duplication and ensure optimal use of public resources.
He called for reconstructed assets to incorporate appropriate disaster-resilient features, including compliance with Seismic Zone IV/V requirements, elevated plinths and slope stabilization measures, wherever applicable. The departments were also asked to optimally utilize both norm-based and flexible assistance available under the approved recovery framework to meet incremental resilience requirements.
The Chief Secretary further directed that all projects be geo-tagged forthwith and uploaded on the BEAMS digital platform, creating a unified digital record for monitoring progress, financial utilization and physical outcomes.
Giving the sector-wise review, the Principal Secretary, DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti revealed that significant progress has been achieved in several components of the recovery programme. In the Social Sector, he highlighted against an approved allocation of ₹289.40 crore, departments have formulated plans amounting to ₹262.11 crore.
Similarly in the Housing component 100 per cent commitment of its ₹193.19 crore allocation, covering 9,083 households, including 5,227 fully and 3,856 severely damaged houses has been achieved.
With respect to the Roads & Bridges component, it has emerged as one of the strongest performing infrastructure segments, with its entire ₹461.64 crore allocation planned for restoration of approximately 1,230.7 km of roads and 4,494.5 metres of bridges.
Additionally, the Power sector has planned utilization of ₹70.08 crore 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.
The meeting was apprised that the Drinking Water & Sanitation has so far formulated plans for ₹59.02 crore against ₹139.65 crore, while Irrigation & Flood Control has planned ₹93.01 crore against ₹199.79 crore and are in a process of utilizing the full kitty of funds available.
In the productive sectors, Agriculture has formulated plans worth ₹168.36 crore against ₹223.67 crore, covering 45 packages relating to crop inputs, land reclamation and restoration of research infrastructure at SKUAST-Jammu. Animal Husbandry & Livestock has planned ₹8.86 crore against ₹10.28 crore, while Horticulture has fully utilized its ₹3.87 crore allocation to support 3,493 farmers.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the dedicated ₹44.52 crore Ramban recovery plan prepared in response to the cloudburst and flash floods of April 19–20, 2025. The plan includes ₹23.24 crore for Roads & Bridges, ₹3.34 crore for Irrigation & Flood Control, ₹1.78 crore for Education and ₹1.48 crore for Animal Husbandry & Livestock, with approved and proposed allocations fully reconciled in these components.
The Chief Secretary directed that household relief under the recovery programme be disbursed strictly in accordance with the 30:40:30 progress-linked Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) pattern, ensuring that payments remain aligned with actual progress of reconstruction.
He further directed block, sub-divisional and district-level Nodal Officers to ensure complete resolution of E-Samadhan and CPGRAMS grievances within 15 days, making grievance redressal an integral part of the recovery monitoring mechanism.
The Chief Secretary underscored that the recovery programme should result not only in timely restoration of damaged assets but also in a more resilient and disaster-ready Jammu & Kashmir, with every rupee sanctioned translating into durable public infrastructure and tangible relief for affected communities.
