SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has prescribed a one-year completion period for works taken up under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Scheme, with an allowance of up to two working seasons for projects in higher reaches where the working season is limited.
The Finance Department stated this in a reply to a starred question by Chanapora MLA Mushtaq Guroo on the execution and monitoring of CDF works.
Under the CDF Guidelines issued through Government Order No. 76-FD of 2025 dated March 10, 2025, read with Government Order No. 279-FD of 2025 dated October 30, 2025, only those works that can ordinarily be completed within one year are to be recommended or sanctioned. In higher reaches, the competent authority may allow works requiring up to two working seasons, subject to the prescribed conditions.
The government said executing agencies have been directed to complete sanctioned works within the stipulated period.
The guidelines also prescribe a 45-day period for preparation of estimates, technical vetting and grant of necessary Administrative Approvals after receipt of a recommendation, subject to availability of funds. No Administrative Approval can be issued in anticipation of funds.
For monitoring, District Development Commissioners are required to coordinate field inspections and verification of CDF works, including physical audits and quality checks. They are also required to submit quarterly monitoring reports and monthly expenditure statements to the concerned MLA and the Finance Department.
The government said CDF works in Srinagar district are being monitored through the e-Nigrani mechanism, while directions have been issued to other districts for operationalising the system. The mechanism is intended to facilitate real-time monitoring and review of the progress of CDF works by the authorities and legislators concerned.
On delayed works, the government said the progress of pending projects is reviewed periodically by the concerned District Development Commissioners. Where delays are found, the executing agency is responsible for ensuring timely completion, while action may be taken against defaulting agencies or contractors under applicable rules and procedures.
The guidelines also require physical verification and quality checks of sanctioned works through the concerned District Social Education Officers or other designated functionaries. No final payment can be released until satisfactory verification reports are received or, where applicable, the defect liability period has been completed.
In Chanapora constituency, the MLA has recommended 137 feasible works under the CDF Scheme. Of these, 126 have received Administrative Approval, 120 have been tendered and 110 have so far been allotted for execution.
The government said 83 of the 110 allotted works had been completed, while the remaining 27 were at different stages of execution or completion.
The Finance Department also informed the Assembly that CDF guidelines have been amended to allow financial assistance in deserving cases involving life-threatening diseases, subject to prescribed conditions and ceilings.
Up to Rs 7.20 lakh per MLA per annum can be used for such medical assistance. The assistance is meant for eligible economically weaker or BPL beneficiaries and is available for the uncovered portion of treatment expenses after benefits under existing schemes, including PM-JAY SEHAT, Medical Aid Trust and CTMFFP, have been exhausted.
The prescribed maximum assistance is Rs 5 lakh for organ transplantation, Rs 2.75 lakh for cancer treatment and Rs 1 lakh for chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, besides other notified life-threatening diseases.
The government further said MLAs have been authorised under Government Order No. 279-FD of 2025 to utilise up to Rs 7.50 lakh from the CDF for housing assistance to families affected by calamities during 2025-26 and 2026-27.
Assistance to an individual family is capped at Rs 1 lakh and is to be extended to all families affected by calamities rather than being restricted to tribal or BPL households.
However, the proposal to provide CDF assistance specifically for localised calamities such as fire, windstorm, lightning, cloudburst or landslide is currently under consideration in the Finance Department.
