DDCs Finalise District Capex Plans for Finance Department Approval
JAMMU, May 13:(KNC)All 20 District Development Commissioners (DDCs) across Jammu and Kashmir are giving final touches to the District Capex plans for 2026-27, which are likely to be submitted to the Finance Department within the next few days for approval.
According to official sources, the plans are expected to reach the Finance Department headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by May 15, which has virtually been fixed as the deadline for submission.
Sources said that factors such as area, population and developmental requirements of each district have been taken into account while preparing the annual budget plans. The allocations vary significantly as some districts have larger populations and geographical areas, while several newly-created districts have comparatively smaller populations and territories.
The report said Deputy Commissioners-cum-DDCs have prepared the District Capex Budget after consultations with MLAs. Jammu and Kashmir currently has five Lok Sabha MPs and four Rajya Sabha MPs, while institutions including District Development Councils, Block Development Councils, Panchayats and Municipal bodies have become defunct after completion of their terms.
Officials stated that the elected DDCs, whose five-year term ended on February 24 this year, earlier used to finalise the district plans independently. However, with fresh elections yet to be held, the responsibility of preparing the plans has now shifted to Deputy Commissioners.
The Finance Department has reportedly directed that at least 70 percent of the Capex allocation should be spent on completion of ongoing works, while only 30 percent may be earmarked for new projects to avoid delays and underfunded works.
Sources further said that the timeline for completion of new projects has been fixed between one and two years, extendable up to three years only in exceptional cases involving mega projects.(KNC)
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