SRINAGAR: The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) on Tuesday approved a Rs 664.54 crore disaster recovery package for Jammu and Kashmir, including the reconstruction of 8,804 fully and severely damaged houses and 1,227 infrastructure works.
The decision was taken at the third meeting of the SEC, chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, where action plans submitted by various departments under the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) assistance were reviewed.
The assistance has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs through the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Dulloo directed departments to use the funds strategically and focus on building infrastructure that is more resilient to future disasters rather than merely restoring damaged assets.
He called for timely utilisation of funds, close coordination among departments and adherence to prescribed timelines and quality standards so that the benefits reach affected people at the earliest.
According to the approved plan, Rs 188.35 crore has been earmarked for housing recovery. The funds will be placed at the disposal of Deputy Commissioners for reconstruction of 8,804 fully and severely damaged houses through a district-wise mechanism.
The School Education Department has been allocated Rs 29.28 crore for 175 restoration works, aimed at repairing disaster-affected educational infrastructure and ensuring safe access to schools.
The Jal Shakti Department has been allocated Rs 118 crore for 21 water supply works, while Rs 196.45 crore has been earmarked for 61 critical works by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to strengthen flood protection and safeguard vulnerable areas.
The Tourism Department will receive Rs 32.63 crore for 75 works involving the restoration and revival of tourism assets and cultural heritage sites.
Another Rs 99.83 crore has been allocated to the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department for 895 greening, conservation and ecological restoration works.
Principal Secretary, DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti, presented the reconstruction and development roadmap before the SEC.
The approved interventions form part of the Rs 1,416 crore Departmental Plan for 2026-27, mapped against an overall assistance ceiling of Rs 1,534.58 crore sanctioned under the PDNA framework.
The recovery programme covers social, infrastructure, productive and cross-cutting sectors, with emphasis on restoring essential services, rebuilding community assets and strengthening disaster resilience.
The departments have been directed to follow the national Recovery and Reconstruction Guidelines and NDMA standards, while incorporating the “build back better” approach wherever applicable.
The government said the package is aimed at translating PDNA assistance into ground-level interventions to restore damaged infrastructure, support affected families and strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s capacity to withstand future disasters.
