Jammu and Kashmir Budget 2019-20: Key allocations - Highlights

Jammu and Kashmir Governor administration Saturday approved Rs 88,911 crore state budget for the fiscal 2019-20, which is expected to give a massive push to public infrastructure in the state. The budget was approved by the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik at a specially convened meeting here this evening, state chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam said.

Principal secretary finance Navin K Choudhary gave a detailed presentation to the SAC on the revised estimates for 2018-19, budget estimates for 2019-20 and other key features of the budget. Following are the highlights of the Rs 88,911 crore budget approved by Jammu and Kashmir state administrative council (SAC) for FY 2019-20.

Infrastructure:
* Rs 30,469 crore earmarked for investment in development sector; ? Rs 3,631 crore additional investment in 1,643 languishing projects; ??To build spending capacity, line departments to be provided funds for hiring consultants, creating DPR preparation cells, project implementation agencies, IT consultants etc; Local governance:

* Rs 2,573 crore for Panchayati Raj Institutions and Rs 1,030 crore for Urban Local Bodies in next 15 months; ??Every Panchayat to get Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1 crore depending upon area, population; ??2,000 posts of Accounts Assistants proposed to be created for Panchayati Raj;
Institutions

* MGNREGA funds proposed to be supplemented by 10 per cent capital infusion from the state exchequer to create quality assets; Rural Development:

* State allocation for rural development department proposed to be doubled to undertake works of urgent public need; ? Rs 7 crore state share proposed to be provided to rural development department for solid Waste management; ? Rs 1 crore additional funds proposed to be allocated to rural development department for construction of quality pathways in mountainous villages; Agriculture /Horticulture:

* Annual allocation to agriculture sector proposed to be enhanced by Rs 20 crore; ??50 per cent subsidy proposed for all new controlled atmospheric stores to be established next fiscal; ??50 per cent subsidy for refrigerated vans for transportation of perishable vegetables/fruits; ??Provision of Rs 9.18 crore to meet freight subsidy for transportation of cut-flowers to promote commercial flower cultivation Education:

* Rs 250 crore proposed for upgradation of infra in existing, New Degree Colleges; ? Rs 100 crore to be allocated for providing benches and desks for students in primary and middle schools; ? Rs 45 crore for providing assured electricity, drinking water supply to schools; ??Rs 5.5 crore for reactivating EDUSAT, setting up additional smart classrooms; ??Rs 3.50 crore proposed to be provided to help prepare students for competitive exams like IAS/KAS/JEE/NEET/Banking; ? Rs 1,000 crore for regularisation of Rahbar-e-taleem and SSA teachers; Healthcare:

* Rs 350 crore for completion of under-construction buildings of Medical Colleges, district and sub-district Hospitals, public health centres etc;? ? Rs 100 crore for onetime augmentation of equipment in hospitals; ? Rs 87.09 crore state share proposed for AIIMS Vijapur in Jammu region and AIIMS Awantipora in Kashmir valley; ? Rs 32 crore additional State share for five New Medical Colleges; ? Rs 1.50 crore for purchase of five critical care ambulances for hilly districts; ? Rs 1 crore for drug-de-addiction centre at SKIMS Medical College Bemina; ? Sonam Narbo Hospital, Leh proposed to be upgraded to 300 bedded hospital for which a provision of Rs 3 crore has been made; Power Sector:

* Rs 5,000 crore earmarked for power purchase; ? Rs 300 crore proposed over and above normal outlay, PMDP and centrally sponsored schemes for upgradation of power distribution network; ? Rs 55 crore proposed for promotion of solar power; 
PHE/Irrigation & Flood Control:
* Rs 1,500 crore allocation proposed to augment drinking water supply; ? Mega drinking water supply project on Chenab River to be taken up for execution to augment potable water supply in Jammu; ? Rs 150 crore for upgradation of irrigation facilities; ??State share provided for Shahpur Kandi Dam project and Ujh multipurpose project; ??Rs 12 crore provided for purchase of dredgers for Irrigation and Flood Control Dept; Roads and Buildings:

* Additional Rs 1,000 crore for completion of languishing connectivity projects; ? Annual allocation for macadamisation proposed to be enhanced from Rs 100 crore to Rs 400 crore for 2019-20; ? Rs 100 crore proposed for land acquisition of PMGSY roads; ? Rs 20 crore for beautification of bridges and flyovers in Srinagar and Jammu; Industries and Commerce:

* Rs 400 crore for augmentation of infrastructure including waste disposal in existing and upcoming industrial estates; ? Pending issues of amnesty on interest and penalty of power arrears of industries resolved; Tourism:

* Rs 130 crore for tourism promotion in addition to Rs 2,000 crore under PMDP for infrastructure upgradation; Culture:

* Rs 50 lakh for nomination preparation process for "World Heritage Licensing of Mughal Gardens by UNESCO" ? Rs 1 crore each proposed for establishing dedicated Art Galleries in Srinagar and Jammu ? Rs 1 crore provided for construction of Planetarium near Kala Kendra Jammu ? Rs 25 crore to be provided for establishment of Art and Culture Centres at district level Youth Services and Sports:

* Rs 350 crore proposed for massive upgradation of sports infrastructure; ??Rs 5 crore for promotion of youth exchange programmes; Transport:

* Rs 25 crore for subsidy for purchase of 500 new buses in private sector; ? Rs 36 crore for revival of SRTC;

* Rs 25 crore for purchase of low floor buses; Housing and Urban Development:

*Metropolitan Authorities to be created for Srinagar and Jammu with an initial outlay of Rs 100 crore; ??Rs 500 crore for construction of drainage and sewerage network, STPs; ??Rs 10 crore for installing high mask lights in Srinagar and Jammu; ??Rs 10 crore proposed for riverfront development in Jammu city and connecting Vikram Chowk with Gujjar Nagar bridge along river Tawi; IT Infrastructure

*Rs 15 crore for providing dedicated IT infrastructure at Civil Secretariat, Jammu to avoid relocating of computers and other paraphernalia during Durbar Move; ??Rs 5 crore for digitisation of office records of Civil Secretariat; ??Rs 3 crore for installation of robust LAN Network in Civil Secretariat.