Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 1: Expressing gratitude to Modi Government for Rs 1,430 crore Special Central Assistance for the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, BJP MLAs have warned the National Conference Government against any misuse of disaster relief funds.
While addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, here today, MLA Sham Lal Sharma, accompanied by MLAs Dr Narinder Singh, Surjit Singh Salathia, Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal, Ch. Vikram Randhawa and Arvind Gupta, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government for approving Special Central Assistance package of Rs 1,430 crore for the J&K to restore public infrastructure damaged during the devastating flash floods and incessant rains that struck the Jammu region on 24 August, and thereafter.
He informed that this assistance is separate from the regular Union Budget and disaster routine funds, and is a targeted capital investment for recovery and disaster mitigation. He further said that 222 major damaged projects across 27 Government departments have been approved, with clear timelines for completion between January and August 2026, and the entire process is being centrally monitored with daily oversight by the Finance Department to ensure transparency and timely utilisation.
Issuing a strong and unequivocal warning, Sham Lal Sharma cautioned the NC-led Government against any attempt to misuse, divert or redistribute these funds meant exclusively for disaster-hit areas of Jammu.
He reminded that earlier, out of Rs 209 crore released under SDRF, the NC Government arbitrarily distributed Rs 10 crore each to all districts, including those not affected by the disaster, blatantly ignoring the severely impacted districts of Jammu region. He termed this as gross misappropriation, administrative failure and discriminatory conduct against worst affected disaster-hit areas of Jammu, such as Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Kishtwar (Chasoti), Ramban, Reasi, and some parts of Rajouri especially Kalakote-Sunderbani-Nowhera.
Sham Lal Sharma squarely held Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Finance and Relief & Rehabilitation portfolios, responsible for this injustice and warned that BJP will not tolerate any repetition of such malpractice.
“Every rupee of this Rs 1,430 crore belongs to the disaster-hit people of Jammu. BJP will ensure that it is spent judiciously, transparently and strictly as earmarked. Any attempt by the NC government to divert these funds will be strongly opposed, exposed and fought at every level,” he asserted.
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