Jammu, Mar 01: Lieutenant Governor Manoj SinhaFriday chaired a comprehensive review meeting on Budgetary Expenditure in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at the Civil Secretariat.
The meeting saw the attendance of key officials including AtalDulloo, Chief Secretary; Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Forests; Santosh D Vaidya, Principal Secretary, Finance Department, along with Administrative Secretaries and other senior officials.
During the meeting, Lt Governor Sinha assessed the department-wise progress achieved in the Financial Year 2023-24, emphasizing the imperative of utilizing funds available under Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Capex to their fullest extent. Notably, he highlighted a remarkable 102 percent growth in capital expenditure in 2023-24 compared to 2018-19, alongside significant increases in Excise and other Tax & non-tax Revenue, indicating the effective management of financial resources within the Union Territory.
In his address, Lt Governor Sinha expressed optimism about Jammu and Kashmir’s trajectory, attributing it to a concerted focus on massive infrastructure development to meet the aspirations of the populace and foster self-reliance. He urged Administrative Secretaries and senior officials to ensure the timely submission of Utilization Certificates, while also emphasizing adherence to austerity measures to curtail expenditure.
Furthermore, Lt Governor Sinha directed departments to explore avenues for enhancing revenue realization and instructed the adoption of an integrated procurement system from Self Help Groups and MSMEs. In a proactive move, he directed the Administrative Secretaries and senior officials of the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Department and PWD (R&B) to closely monitor progress on Transit accommodations for PM Package employees.
The meeting concluded with a call for concerted efforts towards achieving fiscal prudence and fostering inclusive growth across Jammu and Kashmir, aligning with the overarching vision of building a prosperous and self-reliant Union Territory.
