Jammu, March 29: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has affirmed that funds allocated under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) are non-lapsable, with accumulated savings from completed projects exceeding Rs 25 crore. The Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, provided this information in response to a legislative question.
CDF Scheme Reintroduced, Allocation Details
The CDF scheme has been reintroduced for the financial year 2024-25, following a decision by the Council of Ministers on March 3 of the previous year. For the current financial year, 2025-26, a total of Rs 427.50 crore has been earmarked for the CDF Scheme. This allocation translates to Rs 4.75 crore per Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), comprising Rs 75.00 lakh as the due share for 2024-25 and Rs 4 crore for 2025-26.
Project Savings and District-wise Breakdown
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that savings amounting to over Rs 25.43 crore have been reported from tender processes related to the completion of 3684 projects under the Constituency Development Scheme across various districts. Srinagar district recorded the highest savings at Rs 4.22 crore. Poonch district followed with Rs 3.72 crore, and Samba district reported savings of Rs 3.37 crore. Other districts that noted significant savings include Kulgam (Rs 2.16 crore), Kathua (Rs 1.85 crore), Pulwama (Rs 1.41 crore), and Anantnag (Rs 1.01 crore).
Non-Lapsable Fund Mechanism
According to the provisions outlined in the Scheme guidelines issued on March 10, 2025, and October 30, 2025, funds designated for the CDF Scheme are explicitly non-lapsable. This means that any savings realised from tender processes or any unspent balance remaining at the conclusion of a financial year are deposited into the government treasury. These funds are then carried forward and made available for utilisation in subsequent financial years, adhering to the guidelines of the CDF scheme.
Ensuring Continuous Fund Availability
Circular instructions detailing this process have also been issued by the Finance Department on March 13. The Chief Minister emphasised that this arrangement ensures the continuity of fund availability under the CDF Scheme. This perpetual availability allows legislators and district development commissioners to undertake necessary development works in accordance with the prescribed guidelines of the scheme, without the constraint of annual fund expiration.
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