JAMMU, September 9, 2026 – A staggering disparity has emerged between the funds released and the actual expenditure recorded for developmental works across Jammu and Kashmir during the 2026-27 financial year. Despite the release of ₹10,875.11 crore for 85,765 sanctioned works, cumulative expenditure currently stands at a mere ₹2,984.19 crore.
The glaring shortfall underscores a slow pace of execution on the ground, raising concerns over the timely completion of critical infrastructure and public welfare projects across the Union Territory.
1.Massive Underutilization of Funds:
According to official figures available on the Government’s Janbhagidari Empowerment platform, only about 27.44 percent of the total released funds have been utilized so far this fiscal year. This leaves an overwhelming ₹7,890.92 crore—nearly 72.56 percent of the allocated budget—lying unutilized. In total, ₹15,682.87 crore was approved for 85,765 works, out of which ₹10,875.11 crore has been released to date.
2.Sharpest Shortfalls in Local Sectors:
The most severe mismatches are visible at the grassroots funding levels. Under the Area Development Grants (DDC/BCC/PRI), 44,050 works were funded with ₹421.52 crore released, yet the expenditure reported is an abysmal ₹5.23 crore. Similarly, the District Sector, which encompasses 7,589 works, has seen only ₹13.85 crore spent out of the ₹174.59 crore released—a utilization rate of just 7.94 percent. Meanwhile, the UT Sector accounts for 34,126 works with ₹10,278.99 crore released, but only ₹2,965.10 crore (around 28.85 percent) has been spent.
3.Ignoring Chief Minister’s Directives:
The sluggish spending directly contradicts recent instructions issued by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Finance portfolio. During a high-level CAPEX review meeting in July, the Chief Minister explicitly cautioned all departments against delaying capital expenditure until the closing months of the financial year. He directed officials to ensure that available funds are utilized efficiently during the active working season. The current Janbhagidari figures indicate that these directives have yet to translate into accelerated execution on the ground.
While administrative delays, pending bills, and staged execution can account for some of the lag, the sheer scale of the unspent ₹7,890.92 crore raises pertinent questions about bureaucratic efficiency and the actual conversion of released funds into tangible public assets.
Published by True Roots Media Network