Stresses on funds’ utilization, expenditure management & optimum revenue generation

Srinagar, Oct 7 (KNS) : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting here to review the utilization of CAPEX budget and execution of works under Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for the financial year 2025–26 across various sectors and progress achieved by departments in execution of works under UT capital outlay.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmed Dar, and Satish Sharma. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretaries of Higher Education, Jal Shakti, Tourism, Agriculture Production, ACS to the Chief Minister, all Administrative Secretaries, Director General Budget, DG Expenditure Division-I, DG Accounts & Treasuries, DG Codes/Resources, and other senior officers were also present. Officers from other districts participated in the meeting through virtual mode.

The Chief Minister reviewed department and district-wise progress under the CAPEX and CDF. He stressed the need for accelerated execution of projects and timely utilization of funds. He directed departments to ensure 100% uploading of works on the BEAMS portal and expedite administrative approvals & tendering process, particularly in view of the limited working season in the Kashmir division.

Chief Minister asked Finance Department to prepare constituency-wise data of works incorporated in the budget which were prioritized by MLAs and directed Districts to immediately upload CDF works on BEAMS, accord administrative approvals and begin early execution of works.

The Chief Minister emphasized close coordination with MLAs to expedite CDF works and ensure visible development outcomes on the ground. He also underlined the importance of enhancing revenue realization and curtailing avoidable expenditure. “Wherever possible we have to boost our revenues, we have to cut down on all unnecessary expenditure, but at the same time, the money that has been allocated must be spent efficiently in various schemes,” he observed. He directed the concerned ministers to conduct fortnightly reviews to push expenditure and improve funds utilization in their respective departments.

Earlier, Principal Secretary, Finance, Santosh D. Vaidya gave a detailed presentation providing a comprehensive financial and developmental overview of Jammu and Kashmir as of October 7, 2025.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe presented an evaluation of expenditure progress under the Union Territory (UT) and District CAPEX Budgets, sectoral allocations, revenue trends, fiscal challenges, and ongoing reform initiatives under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and the guidelines for execution of works and funds to be expended under Special Assistance for Capital Investment (SASCI) programme.

CM gave directions to ensure that the mandatory percentage of expenditure to be made under the SASCI scheme by the end of December 2025 and March 2026 is incurred so that the benefits under the scheme are not squandered. He asked the Ministers to review progress of projects under SASCI every two weeks.

District-wise progress was assessed and it was found that districts need to pay attention towards early execution of works on ground.

Chief Minister gave directions for ensuring visible impact on ground and complete the macadamization & black-topping of roads planned during the current financial year. He exhorted the departments to fill up the vacant posts in engineering departments immediately so that the execution of projects is not affected.

Chief Minister underlined the need to finalize reforms such as revision of mining royalties, establishment of scrapping facility for old vehicles, operationalizing electronic enforcement devices for road safety, modernization & digitization of land records, reforms linked to agriculture such as farmers registry linked to land records & digital crop survey, urban land reforms, fiscal reforms so that J&K Government is able avail funds to be allocated for achieving these milestones from the central government.

Chief Minister directed departments to ensure that funds available in Single Nodal Accounts are utilized well before the deadline as departments shift to SNA-Sparsh financial management system.

Concluding the review, the Chief Minister called for strict monitoring, accountability, and coordinated action among departments to ensure that developmental works translate into tangible improvements on the ground. He reiterated that timely execution, financial prudence, and effective reform implementation remain central to the government’s developmental agenda.(KNS)