No plan to shift Capex control from Finance Department: Government

Srinagar, Oct 31: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that there is no proposal to transfer the mandate of CAPEX budget allocation from the Finance Department to the Planning and Monitoring Department, adding that the existing financial system has brought transparency, accountability, and efficiency in fund utilization across the Union Territory.

In a written reply to an un-starred question by MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone during the ongoing 4th Session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, the government said the Finance Department ensures timely authorization of budgets as per departmental work plans uploaded on the Budget Estimation Allocation & Monitoring System (BEAMS) portal, as per KNS.

The department said regular reviews are being held at various levels to monitor expenditure and ensure full utilization of funds under the Annual District Plan (ADP), State Capex, and District Capex budgets.

“There is no such proposal to transfer the CAPEX mandate. The Finance Department allocates funds for both revenue and capital expenditure as per business rules and statutory norms. The BEAMS system has proven to be the most efficient mechanism for real-time allocation and monitoring,” the reply stated.

It added that systems like BEAMS, PAYSYS, PROOF, and TreasuryNet created under the Integrated Financial Management System have strengthened transparency and accountability in public finance. “These reforms have eliminated unauthorized fund diversion and allowed 24x7 public oversight on the distribution and utilization of public money,” it said.

The government warned that “any deviation from this fool-proof and transparent system could disrupt the entire financial management framework built over the last decade.”

According to official data, total expenditure under the Capex Budget during the current financial year 2025–26 stands at Rs 3,35,285.41 lakh. Among districts, Srinagar recorded the highest expenditure in the Kashmir Division with Rs 48,226.62 lakh (40% of funds utilized), while Ganderbal achieved the highest percentage utilization at 87%. In Jammu Division, Jammu district reported Rs 57,492.58 lakh expenditure (39% utilization), while Udhampur utilized 51% of its released funds, KNS reported.

The Finance Department said the budget formulation and distribution process remains “streamlined and well-defined” under SO-334 of October 28, 2020, with the CAPEX plans finalized by departments and District Development Commissioners (DDCs) under the supervision of planning officers before uploading them on the BEAMS portal.