Build Back Better: Every Reconstructed Asset Must Be More Resilient

The review of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rs 1,579 crore disaster recovery package is a welcome step, but it also raises a fundamental question: are we finally learning from our disasters, or are we simply rebuilding what was lost? Departments have prepared costed action plans worth Rs 1,225.78 crore, with the housing sector achieving 100 per cent commitment of its Rs 193.19 crore allocation, covering over 9,000 households. The Roads & Bridges component has planned its entire Rs 461.64 crore allocation for restoring nearly 1,231 kilometres of roads and over 4,400 metres of bridges. These are significant achievements. However, the true test of this recovery programme lies not in how much money is spent, but in how wisely it is spent. The government’s emphasis on the ‘Build Back Better’ approach is the most important takeaway from the meeting. For too long, we have treated disaster recovery as a mechanical exercise—restoring roads, bridges, and houses to their pre-disaster condition, only to watch them crumble again in the next flood or cloudburst. This cycle must end. The directive to incorporate disaster-resilient features—compliance with Seismic Zone IV/V requirements, elevated plinths, and slope stabilisation measures—is long overdue. Similarly, the insistence on geo-tagging all projects and uploading them on the BEAMS digital platform will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the recovery process. The cross-verification of beneficiary lists with major ongoing schemes to avoid duplication is another sensible step. Public money is scarce, and every rupee must count. What is particularly encouraging is the focus on grievance redressal, with a clear 15-day timeline for resolving E-Samadhan and CPGRAMS complaints. This shows that the administration is serious about ensuring that relief reaches those who need it most. The recovery programme must deliver more than just rebuilt infrastructure. It must deliver a more resilient Jammu and Kashmir—one that can withstand the next disaster with greater strength and less suffering. The government has set the right tone. Now it is up to the executing agencies to translate this vision into reality. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve nothing less.