New Delhi: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on April 9 assured Rajya Sabha that development work in Jammu and Kashmir will not be stopped under any condition and a sum of Rs 346 crore has been released so far this fiscal for implementing the Prime Minister's special package for the state.

"The development work in Jammu and Kashmir will not be stopped under any condition," Advani said replying to supplementaries during Question Hour.

The Deputy Prime Minister said consultations between the Centre and the state government had increased after the formation of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed government in the state.

In reply to the main question, he said as per concerned ministries/departments, a sum of Rs 346.75 crore has been released so far during 2002-03 towards implementation of the PM's special package for Jammu and Kashmir.

This includes Rs 236.45 crore for Railways and Rs 100 crore for border development programme, he said.

In reply to a query, Minister of State for Home Harin Pathak said the government is committed to completing pending projects in the state.

PTI