Jammu, 16 August (H.S.): Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, reviewed the implementation of the Recovery & Reconstruction (R&R) Plan–2025 and utilization of the disaster recovery assistance sanctioned for Jammu & Kashmir by GoI directing departments to accelerate project formulation and execution while ensuring that every reconstructed asset is made more resilient to future disasters.

The Chief Secretary took detailed stock of the ₹1,579.09 crore recovery package approved by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the NDRF/SDRF R&R Funding Window. The same was approved through MHA for Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) for damages caused by floods, cloudbursts, landslides and other disasters to the tune of ₹1,534.58 crore, besides ₹44.52 crore for the dedicated Ramban District recovery plan following the April 2025 cloudburst and flash floods.

Reviewing the progress, the Chief Secretary noted that departments have so far prepared costed action plans amounting to ₹1,225.78 crore, leaving a balance of ₹353.31 crore to be operationalized by the Jal Shakti and Agriculture sectors.

Emphasizing that disaster recovery should not merely restore damaged infrastructure to its pre-disaster condition, the Chief Secretary directed all executing agencies to strictly follow the ‘Build Back Better’ (BBB) approach.

Dulloo also called for strict cross-verification of beneficiary lists and project proposals with major ongoing schemes, including PMAY-G, Jal Jeevan Mission, AMRUT, SASCI, NABARD, PMGSY and Samagra Shiksha, to eliminate any possibility of duplication and ensure optimal use of public resources.

He called for reconstructed assets to incorporate appropriate disaster-resilient features, including compliance with Seismic Zone IV/V requirements, elevated plinths and slope stabilization measures, wherever applicable. The departments were also asked to optimally utilize both norm-based and flexible assistance available under the approved recovery framework to meet incremental resilience requirements.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar