Jammu, Dec 25: The decision regarding the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation for the newly elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Jammu and Kashmir will be made during the upcoming budget session in Jammu.
There is a difference in the CDF allocation for MLAs in states and Union Territories (UTs), with varying laws governing such allocations.
Despite more than two and a half months passing since the formation of the new government, the MLAs in Jammu and Kashmir have yet to receive their CDF. The development works currently underway in the UT have been approved under the Capex Budget.
When contacted by Rising Kashmir, Speaker of the J&K Assembly, A.R. Rather, stated, “The allotment of CDF to MLAs is the prerogative of the government, not the Assembly.”
Meanwhile, sources have revealed that the J&K Government has forwarded the matter of CDF allocation for the newly elected MLAs to the Planning Department.
“The Planning Department will determine the amount of CDF to be allocated to the MLAs for development works in their constituencies,” sources added, noting that the proposal will be presented during the budget session for House approval.
Previously, MLAs in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir were allotted Rs 3 crore annually for constituency development, distributed in three installments. However, with the transition from a state to a Union Territory, questions have arisen regarding how the CDF system will operate under the new administrative framework.
BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa pointed out that none of the newly elected MLAs in J&K have initiated new development works in their constituencies since the formation of the government on October 16. He further noted that the ongoing development works are being sanctioned under the Capex Budget.
