Jehlum Post News/Srinagar/July 29, 2015/The State Level Screening Committee on BADP (Border Area Development Programme) headed by Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey Wednesday reviewed the implementation of the Programme in the State. The Committee besides approving Annual Action Plan of 147.20 Crore for 2015-16 also reviewed the physical and financial progress under Annual Action Plan 2014-15 including submission of UCs of previous years. While Chief Secretary underscored the need to respect the timelines, he said any new project taken up under BADP should be completed within three years.

He said BADP is an important programme that addresses the needs of the people living in border areas and Deputy Commissioners must review its progress every two months.He said to develop infrastructure in border areas, DCs should also look into the issue of convergence of BADP funds with other Central/State Government schemes and complete the works in time. Chief Secretary received brief from DCs regarding the completed and ongoing works under BADP, which primarily focus on raising social infrastructure such as schools, computer rooms, library, separate toilets for girls students, health services, water supply, drainage, electricity, Anganwari, community and skill development centres etc in the border districts of the State including Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Leh, Kargil, Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Samba and Kathua.Chief Secretary said that inspection, verification of schemes and 3rd party monitoring should continue under BADP and institutional mechanism in this regard needs special attention by the Deputy Commissioners. He said all DCs should ensure that JK Pulse introduced to monitor the BADP works in real time and remains functional round the year. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary also asked Planning Department to release funds for completing key works taken up in various border blocks under BADP that are in the final stage of completion, so that these are thrown open for the benefit of the general public within next few months. Earlier, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, Mr. B. R Sharma gave a presentation on the physical and financial progress achieved under BADP during the year 2014-15. He said that total expenditure of 75 Crore was registered in the State last fiscal with Kathua, Bandipora and Budgam being among the better performing border districts in terms of allocated fund utilization.

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