J&K Chief Secretary Dulloo Accelerates ₹1,579 Cr Disaster Recovery, Prioritizing Resilience

Jammu & Kashmir's Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, is pushing for the urgent execution of a substantial ₹1,579 crore disaster recovery package, emphasizing that all reconstructed assets must be more resilient to future calamities. This directive, issued during a high-level review on August 16, 2026, signals a critical pivot from mere restoration to a 'Build-Back-Better' approach, aiming to fortify the Union Territory against recurring natural disasters. The massive package, sanctioned by the Government of India, is crucial for addressing widespread damage from floods, cloudbursts, and landslides, including a dedicated ₹44.52 crore for Ramban district following a severe cloudburst in April 2025. While action plans for ₹1,225.78 crore have been formulated, a significant balance of ₹353.31 crore still awaits operationalization by the Jal Shakti and Agriculture sectors. Dulloo has mandated geo-tagging of all projects and uploading them on the BEAMS digital platform to ensure transparent monitoring and efficient fund utilization, explicitly calling for cross-verification with other ongoing central schemes to prevent any duplication. Looking ahead, departments face strict deadlines to finalize and execute remaining projects, with the Chief Secretary urging timely completion of mitigation works by August 2026. This aggressive push underscores the administration's commitment to not only rebuild but also to fundamentally transform J&K's infrastructure for enhanced disaster preparedness, ensuring every rupee translates into durable public assets and tangible relief for affected communities, with household assistance disbursed via a progress-linked Direct Benefit Transfer.