Jammu: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday emphasised that reforms under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) are crucial for driving capital growth and ensuring fiscal efficiency in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Finance Department, attended by Administrative Secretaries, Dulloo stressed the need for timely and efficient utilisation of capital expenditure (Capex) funds from the beginning of the financial year.
He cautioned departments against last-minute spending, noting that such practices often compromise efficiency and project outcomes. “Capex must be prioritised from the start to ensure meaningful and timely execution of projects,” he said.
The Chief Secretary directed all departments to promptly upload works on the BEAMS portal to facilitate early tendering and smooth implementation. He also underscored the importance of equitable distribution of projects across districts in line with ground-level requirements to ensure balanced regional development.
Highlighting the significance of SASCI reforms, Dulloo said these initiatives have the potential to bring substantial economic benefits to the Union Territory through incentive-based funding worth hundreds of crores. He urged departments to implement the reforms in both letter and spirit to achieve tangible outcomes.
Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Shailendra Kumar called for strict adherence to timelines and accountability, directing departments to finalise and upload their action plans on the BEAMS portal by April 21, 2026. He noted that further financial releases, including the second instalment of Capex funds, would depend on progress in meeting reform conditions.
The meeting reviewed key reforms under SASCI, including adoption of end-to-end digital tendering and contract management systems. Departments such as Power Development, Jal Shakti, Housing & Urban Development, and Youth Services & Sports were asked to onboard the PWD-OMAS platform to enhance transparency and monitoring.
Progress in sectoral reforms such as mining, implementation of Right of Way Rules 2024, rollout of AgriStack, and livestock sector improvements was also assessed, with officials stressing that advancements in these areas are essential for unlocking additional funding.
Departments were further directed to establish separate Single Nodal Agency (SNA) accounts to streamline financial management and ensure efficient monitoring of funds.
A financial outlay of ₹4,023.5 crore under SASCI for 2026–27 was presented during the meeting, including ₹2,617.5 crore linked to incentive-based reforms and performance milestones.
Reviewing past performance, the Chief Secretary noted that ₹946 crore had been spent during April–September last year and stressed that expenditure must reach at least ₹1,040 crore this year to qualify for incentive-based funding.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and reform-driven growth, Dulloo called upon all departments to maintain momentum, ensure transparency, and deliver measurable outcomes under the SASCI framework.
