JAMMU, Jan 20: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) of NABARD to review the progress and achievements under various tranches of the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and to assess new projects proposed under RIDF XXXI (2025–26) across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department; Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B); Principal Secretary, Finance; Director General, Resources; Chief General Manager, NABARD; and senior officers from the Health, Jal Shakti and other concerned departments.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary carried out a department-wise appraisal of ongoing RIDF projects and emphasized the need for timely completion of works sanctioned under RIDF XXVI and XXVII, which are nearing their final phase of implementation. He impressed upon all executing agencies to strictly adhere to stipulated timelines and give priority to projects showing satisfactory progress.
Highlighting the importance of seamless fund flow, the Chief Secretary directed departments to expeditiously secure the remaining tranches from NABARD to ensure successful completion of ongoing programmes. He cautioned against delays and the carrying over of liabilities, noting that such lapses could place an additional burden on the normal Capex budgets of departments.
The Chief Secretary also advised departments to upload RIDF projects on the PM Gati Shakti portal to facilitate effective monitoring and utility analysis. He further directed the concerned departments to identify and finalize new projects proposed under RIDF XXXI well before the end of February 2026.
Principal Secretary, Finance, Santosh D. Vaidya, briefed the Committee on the overall expenditure and physical progress of projects under various RIDF tranches. He highlighted the need to further enhance expenditure efficiency to maximize developmental outcomes, pointing out that every department has scope for improvement.
Presenting expenditure trends since 2022–23, the Principal Secretary noted a steady increase in utilization, with overall expenditure rising from about 56% in 2022–23 to 76% in 2024–25. He urged departments to maintain and further improve this momentum during the current financial year. He informed that against an expenditure of Rs 1,024 crore in 2024–25, an allocation of Rs 1,816 crore has been made this year for completion of ongoing projects.
Giving a detailed overview, Director General, Resources, M.Y. Itoo, informed the Committee that a total of 1,426 projects worth Rs 6,981 crore had been sanctioned under RIDF XXVI to XXX. Of these, about 35% of the loan amount has been expended so far, with 333 projects already completed across the Union Territory.
The sanctioned projects include 1,145 projects of the Public Works Department (R&B) worth Rs 5,249 crore; 90 projects of the Jal Shakti Department worth Rs 740 crore; 104 projects of the Agriculture Department worth Rs 517 crore; 22 projects of the Horticulture Department worth Rs 145 crore; 45 projects of the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department worth Rs 203 crore; and 20 projects of the Health Department worth Rs 127 crore.
Regarding RIDF XXXI, it was informed that 139 projects amounting to Rs 381 crore have already been sanctioned, while another 40 projects worth Rs 227 crore are under process for sanction at NABARD.
The Chief Secretary also underscored the importance of timely submission of Project Completion Certificates (PCCs) and Project Completion Reports (PCRs) for completed works to facilitate the release of additional funds and enable approval of new projects.
Concluding the meeting, the Chief Secretary reiterated that strict adherence to timelines and optimal utilization of funds must remain the hallmark of all NABARD-funded projects to ensure maximum developmental impact at the grassroots level. (Agencies)
