SRINAGAR, AUGUST 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has substantially revised the Delegation of Financial Powers governing Administrative Approval, Technical Sanction and Award of Contracts for individual works, with the move aimed at expediting project execution and decentralising financial decision-making.
The Finance Department has amended the existing provisions under the powers conferred by Section 67 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The revised provisions replace the corresponding provisions of the earlier notification issued on January 9, 2020.
Administrative Approval Powers Enhanced
Under the revised framework, Administrative Departments have been empowered to accord approval for individual works costing up to ₹30 crore, subject to the concurrence of the Director Finance/FA & CAO.
The revised financial powers include:Administrative Departments: Up to ₹30 crore .Chief Engineers: Up to ₹15 crore, with concurrence of FA/CAO.Heads of Departments, including DDCs: Up to ₹7.50 crore.Superintending Engineers: Up to ₹4.50 crore
For works costing more than ₹30 crore, proposals, after obtaining the concurrence of the Finance Department, will be placed before the Council of Ministers (CoM) for consideration and approval.
Technical Sanction Limits Revised
The Government has also revised the powers for according Technical Sanction to detailed estimates of original works, including special repairs, renovations, additions, alterations and improvements not chargeable to maintenance.
The revised limits are:Superintending Engineer: Up to ₹2 crore.Executive Engineer: Up to ₹75 lakh.Assistant Executive Engineer: Up to ₹10 lakh
The notification further provides that plans and designs for individual works costing above ₹5 lakh and ₹20 lakh, respectively, will require approval from the Superintending Engineer and Chief Engineer before technical sanction is accorded by the competent authority.
Maintenance, Repair Powers Defined
For works relating to maintenance and repairs, the revised technical sanction powers have been fixed at:Superintending Engineer: Up to ₹7.50 lakh.Executive Engineer: Up to ₹3.75 lakh.Assistant Executive Engineer: Up to ₹1 lakh
Contract Award Powers Enhanced
The Government has simultaneously enhanced the financial powers for sanctioning and awarding contracts for individual works.
Under the revised provisions:
Departmental Contract Committee: Up to ₹60 crore.Chief Engineer: Up to ₹30 crore.Superintending Engineer: Up to ₹10.50 crore.Executive Engineer: Up to ₹2.25 crore
Move to Expedite Development Works
The latest amendments are expected to streamline financial approval procedures, reduce administrative delays and strengthen decision-making powers at various levels of the government machinery.
The revised delegation will enable projects falling within prescribed financial limits to be processed and implemented at the appropriate administrative and engineering levels, reducing the need for unnecessary reference to higher authorities.
The notification has been issued by the Finance Department, Codes Division, Civil Secretariat, Jammu/Srinagar, and signed by Shailendra Kumar, IAS, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department.(KNC)
