SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir has received a fresh allocation of Rs 600 crore under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) XXXI for 2025-26, marking the start of 201 new projects across key sectors including roads, irrigation, agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, and healthcare.
The announcement came during a meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) of NABARD held in Jammu under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, who reviewed the progress of ongoing RIDF works and approved the new project proposals for the coming financial year.
Officials informed that since RIDF XXVI, a total of 1,426 projects worth Rs 7,000 crore have been sanctioned across Jammu and Kashmir, with an overall expenditure of about 36 per cent achieved so far. The largest share of projects lies with the Public Works Department, which is executing 1,145 works worth Rs 5,249 crore, followed by the Jal Shakti Department with 90 projects worth Rs 740 crore, and the Agriculture Department with 104 projects worth Rs 517 crore.
For the upcoming financial year, NABARD has earmarked Rs 330 crore for the Public Works Department, Rs 149 crore for the Jal Shakti Department, Rs 50 crore for Agriculture, Rs 47 crore for Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Rs 14 crore for Horticulture, and Rs 9 crore for the Health and Medical Education Department.
The Chief Secretary directed all departments to complete projects sanctioned under earlier RIDF tranches within their stipulated timelines, particularly those nearing completion under RIDF XXVI and XXVII. “Projects nearing completion must receive top priority. Delays not only affect delivery but also create unnecessary liabilities on departmental budgets,” Dulloo said, stressing that feasible projects with realistic timelines should be prioritised.
He also advised that time-intensive works be proposed under other funding programmes, while NABARD allocations should be reserved for projects that can be completed within the RIDF cycle.
Principal Secretary, Finance, Santosh D Vaidya, informed the Committee that expenditure under RIDF had shown a significant upward trend this year, with a higher number of completed projects than in previous years. The expenditure target for 2025-26 has been fixed at Rs 1,304 crore to ensure the timely completion of all ongoing and pending works.
DG Resources, MY Itoo, in his presentation, emphasised the importance of accelerating expenditure efficiency and timely submission of Project Completion Certificates and Reports to facilitate the release of further funds and smooth approval of new projects.
The Chief Secretary concluded the meeting by directing departments to maintain strict adherence to deadlines, ensure quality execution, and achieve optimal fund utilisation to maximise developmental impact at the grassroots level.
