Srinagar to get Rs 100 cr, Jammu Rs 200 cr for development

Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar continues to get a raw deal in funding for development works, notwithstanding the PDP-BJP government’s Common Minimum Program (CMP) that “assures” equitable and balanced development in all parts of State.

As the incumbent regime—like its predecessor NC-Congress government—is banking on obsolete methods to work-out the district-sector allocations, Srinagar is again at receiving end with the district likely to get Rs 100 crore for 2016-17. On the other hand, Jammu would get the highest funding among 22 districts of the State at Rs 200 crore.

As per tentative figure worked out by the Planning & Development department, Srinagar would get Rs 100.29 crore, including Rs 35 crore under Special Area Development Plan (SADP).

Under SADP, the government, post-2010, is addressing development-deficit in “volatile” areas of Kashmir including old Srinagar, old town Baramulla, Sopore and Palhallan.

What is surprising is that few districts having only 15-30 percent of Srinagar’s population would walk away with more funds than Srinagar itself, an official said.

For instance, he said, Leh would get Rs 108 crore even though its population is around 1.40 lakh.

Similarly, Reasi with population of 3.14 lakh would walk away with Rs 139 crore from district sector funding. As many as 12. 69 lakh souls reside in Srinagar, according to the 2011 Census.

The district-sector allocations for development works would be approved during the District Development Board (DDB) meetings to be held from May 9 to May 22.

Officials told Kashmir InFocus that Srinagar is getting least funding under the district-sector for development works, over the years.

“This (discrimination in fund allocation) has been happening over the past one decade. The government should revisit the existing fund distribution mechanism and go by the population strength while working out share of the districts,” an official, who wished not to be named, said.

“If some central schemes don’t cover Srinagar, the City should be adequately and proportionately compensated in lieu of them,” he added.

Former President of Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir, Shakeel Qalandar said Srinagar is facing “brazen discrimination” for the past 26 years.

“We have time and again demanded a white paper on central schemes and funds spent in all the districts,” he said.