Rs 98.47 cr for development projects in Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir government today approved Rs 98.47 crore for developmental projects in Srinagar district during the current fiscal.
The plan allocation for Srinagar was cleared at District Development Board meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here, an official spokesman said.
Omar announced Rs 35 crore under Special Area Development Programme for Srinagar besides giving nod to Rs 63.47 crore Annual Plan 2013-14 making the total funds of Rs 98.47 crore available to the district for the current fiscal, he said.
Responding to the concern shown by the Members of Srinagar District Development Board regarding comparably smaller plan allocations for the district, Omar said he has asked the Planning Department to revisit the system of allocating funds under district plans and take corrective measures to remove the distortion if observed.

"It is also a fact that Srinagar district is not receiving funds under NABARD, MGNREGA and other Centrally sponsored schemes in various sectors for being highly urban in its characteristic.
"However, the distort in allocation of funds has to be examined and removed once for all so that district does not rely on additionalities and special grants which sometimes are not available at the end of the year and mar development process in the district," Omar said.

The Chief Minister said the situation would have been better had the Centre released about Rs 1,300 crore out of the sanctioned Rs 7,300 crore approved Annual Plan for the state for the year 2012-13.

Due to financial constraints, the Centre was not in a position to release the plan allocations last year despite sanctioning full funded budget. However, the Planning Commission has maintained Rs 7,300 crore Annual Plan for the state for the current financial year, he said.
Omar said the state government is expecting about Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,200 crore under JNNURM this year which would help to give fillip to providing better civic facilities to the people in Srinagar and Jammu.