Kulgam/Anantnag: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of Kulgam and Anantnag districts to assess the progress of developmental works under the District CAPEX Budget 2025–26 and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).
In Kulgam, the Chief Minister appreciated the district administration’s effective response during the recent floods and reviewed ongoing measures for infrastructure restoration and public service delivery, an official press release informed.
It said he directed officers to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply during the upcoming winter months, to expedite permanent restoration of damaged infrastructure, to intensify field inspections, and strengthen inter-departmental coordination. He further instructed the officers to prioritize the completion of all ongoing projects within set timelines to ensure visible outcomes on the ground.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana, Javid Dar, and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, DDC Chairperson Kulgam, MLAs M.Y. Tarigami and Pirzada Feroz Ahmed, Additional Chief Secretary to CM Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary R&B, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Athar Amir Ul shafi Khan, heads of departments, and all district officers attended the meeting.
While reviewing winter preparedness, the Chief Minister underscored the importance of equipping districts, particularly in snow-prone areas, with sufficient 4×4 ambulances to ensure uninterrupted emergency services. “We are working with the concerned departments to make sure that every district has an adequate number of 4×4 ambulances so that people do not face difficulties during heavy snowfall,” he said, directing officials to ensure that the ongoing arrangements include appropriate mobility and safety measures.
On the developmental front, the Chief Minister noted that while the number of new works had increased compared to the previous year, the value and scale of ongoing projects had also grown significantly. “Our achievement levels need to improve further as the working season is short. I urge the district administration to utilize the remaining two months effectively to maximize expenditure and progress,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of timely fund utilization under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Omar Abdullah directed officers to ensure that the first instalments are fully utilized by December to avoid delays in the release of subsequent funds. “Frequent reviews are essential to track the progress and utilization under schemes like SASCI to prevent work disruption and withholding of funds on account to low percentage of expenditure by the end of December,” he added.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister e-inaugurated several key urban infrastructure projects in Kulgam, including the Solid Waste Management & Material Recovery Facility at Lirrow, the Municipal Shopping Complex, and a Modern Abattoir, aimed at strengthening commerce and civic amenities in the district.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected departmental stalls showcasing various government schemes, welfare initiatives, and achievements under flagship programmes. He interacted with officials and beneficiaries, appreciating their efforts in ensuring citizen-centric governance and effective public service delivery.
During the meeting, the DDC Chairperson and local legislators raised several development related issues concerning their respective areas. The Chief Minister assured that all genuine demands would be considered on priority to accelerate Kulgam’s overall growth and development.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam gave a detailed presentation outlining the district’s developmental progress, achievements, and challenges for 2024–2026. He highlighted key focus areas like post-flood infrastructure restoration, healthcare, agriculture, education, and rural-urban development.
Significant progress was reported under CAPEX investments, with major achievements in irrigation, education, health, and urban sectors, besides ongoing works on bridges, roads, and water supply schemes. Schemes like MGNREGA and PMAY have generated substantial employment and housing support. Upgradation of health facilities, improved school retention rates, and expansion in horticulture, livestock, and fisheries sectors were also noted.
Deputy Commissioner underlined proactive winter preparedness, while identifying challenges such as transformer shortages, staff vacancies, and delays in road restoration and industrial land allotment. He said the district’s integrated departmental coordination continues to drive resilient and inclusive growth.
The Chief Minister also chaired a review meeting to assess the developmental scenario, ongoing projects and implementation of government schemes in District Anantnag.
The Chief Minister took detailed stock of the progress under District CAPEX 2025–26, Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), and other flagship programmes.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana, Javid Dar, and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, District Development Council Chairperson Anantnag, Members of the Legislative Assembly Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed (Anantnag), G.A. Mir (Dooru), Altaf Ahmad Wani (Pahalgam), Abdul Majeed Bhat (Anantnag West), Zaffar Ali Khatana (Kokernag), Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri (Srigufwara–Bijbehara) and Reyaz A. Khan (Shangus–Anantnag East).
Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Fakhruddin, heads of departments, district officers, and other concerned officials also attended the meeting.
At the outset, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Fakhruddin gave a detailed presentation highlighting the status of development works, ongoing projects, and performance of various departments in the district.
During the review, the Chief Minister underscored the need to accelerate development works with regular fortnightly monitoring, ensuring timely utilisation of funds and preventing lapsing of funds. He directed that all core infrastructure – healthcare, education, tourism, and horticulture initiatives be strengthened to enhance livelihood opportunities and economic growth.
Emphasizing inter-departmental coordination and rigorous project monitoring, the Chief Minister directed officers to ensure time-bound completion of all ongoing works and effective delivery of public services.
In his address, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called upon the district administration to expedite implementation under the CAPEX budget, noting that current expenditure levels were low. He instructed the Deputy Commissioner to conduct fortnightly reviews to ensure full utilisation of allocations by December, ensuring timely execution of works under SACSI and cautioning against any lapsing of funds.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to development, the Chief Minister assured that all significant and priority works would be taken up for implementation. He urged legislators to make optimum use of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for local projects, citing the construction of marriage halls as one such viable initiative.
Speaking on the SASCI scheme, the Chief Minister said: “There is a big responsibility on us under SASCI. We must ensure full expenditure of the funds received by December to secure the next instalment. I urge the Deputy Commissioner to monitor progress weekly, address slippages promptly, and keep my office informed of any issues. I do not want a single SASCI project to suffer due to implementation delays.”
He further directed that utilisation of available funds be prioritised and assured that all legitimate public demands raised during the meeting would receive due consideration. “As we have done in the past year, we will continue to take up and execute as many developmental works as possible in the coming year,” he added, complimenting the district team for their efforts so far.
Earlier, the public representatives presented various constituency-specific issues and developmental demands for redressal.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah e-inaugurated the Tehsil Office Building at Shangus and dedicated it for public use.
