CM Omar Abdullah directs departments to accelerate CAPEX spending, ensure timely utilization of funds
Blazing Tales News Service
SRINAGAR, JULY 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday directed all government departments to significantly accelerate Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) spending, emphasizing that timely utilization of available funds is crucial for infrastructure development, efficient public service delivery and sustained economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) at the Civil Secretariat here, the Chief Minister stressed the need for focused implementation of development projects and optimum utilization of financial resources. He also called for fortnightly monitoring of reform targets under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme and directed departments to prepare a strong pipeline of projects for the next financial year.
Expressing concern over the slow pace of expenditure in some departments, Omar Abdullah cautioned against the practice of delaying spending until the closing months of the financial year.
He said the review meeting had deliberately been convened at the beginning of the financial cycle to enable departments to take timely corrective measures and fully utilize the remaining working season.
“There is still ample working season available in both the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu plains. There should be no reason why funds already released are not spent appropriately. Every department must give this focused attention,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmed Dar and Satish Sharma.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Additional Chief Secretaries of the Power Development, Tourism, Public Works and Finance Departments, all Administrative Secretaries, Director General Budget, Director General Codes, Heads of Departments and other senior officers were also present. Officers stationed outside Srinagar joined the meeting through video conferencing.
Reviewing the implementation of the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), the Chief Minister directed departments to ensure complete utilization of allocations under the scheme. He warned that any unspent funds during the current financial year could result in a reduced allocation for Jammu and Kashmir in the next fiscal.
He instructed departments to identify eligible projects without delay and ensure that every rupee available under SASCI Part-I is effectively utilized.
The Chief Minister also directed ministers to personally review reform-linked targets under SASCI every fortnight so that the Union Territory qualifies for additional financial assistance under the reform component of the scheme.
“The earlier we implement the specified reforms, the sooner we receive additional funds and the more time we will have to utilize them productively,” he observed.
Omar Abdullah further instructed departments to immediately begin work on projects where administrative approvals and tendering had already been completed. Such projects, he said, could initially be financed through the CAPEX budget and later shifted to the reform-linked component of SASCI once additional funds become available.
Calling for better planning, the Chief Minister asked departments to prepare a robust pipeline of projects for the next financial year instead of waiting for funding before identifying development works.
Expressing concern over the inability of some departments to identify projects despite the availability of financial resources, he remarked that the government’s challenge had shifted from a shortage of funds to inadequate project preparedness. He urged all departments to improve planning, expedite implementation and ensure optimum utilization of available resources for timely completion of development works.
