Lok Sabha Question No. 54 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Damage by Cyclone Fani
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *54

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  JUNE, 2019/ ASHADHA 4, 1941 (SAKA ) DAMAGE BY CYCLONE FANI

*54.

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' has struck several parts of the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  impact  of  the  cyclone  on  farmers/fishermen  and  the details  of  losses  suffered  and  the  names  of  States  that  have been severely affected along with the report of damage to property, crops, fishing  equipments  and  the  number  of  people  killed,  injured  and missing, State-wise;
- (c)  the  number  of  NDRF  and  ODRAF  personnel  deployed  and  the number of persons rescued;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  sent  Central  teams  to  assess  the damage and if so, the  outcome  thereof,  State-wise  including  Odisha and West Bengal and recommended allocation of funds to farmers for the  crop  losses  and  damages,  the  amount  of  relief  sought  by  the affected States and the assistance provided/likely to be provided and compensation to the farmers and fishermen by the Government, Statewise;
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for co-ordination of all  the  concerned  departments  of  Central/State  Governments  to minimize the losses due to such type of calamities in future; and
- (f) whether the Government has taken/ proposes to take any concrete steps  to  provide  a  permanent  solution  with  the  latest  technological support  and  financial  support  to  farmers  to  combat  the  wrath  of cyclones which affects the States every year?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (f):       A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *54 FOR 25.06.2019

(a) & (b):   Yes Sir.  Cyclone Fani affected three States namely Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. As per the information received from the affected State Governments, details of reported losses/ damages are given as under:-

| State          | Human lives lost   | Houses/ huts damaged   | Cattle lost   | Cropped area affected(in ha.)   | Fishermen's Boats & nets damaged   |
|----------------|--------------------|------------------------|---------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Odisha         | 64                 | 5,56,761               | 6,281         | 1,48,663                        | 6,416 boats & 8,828 nets           |
| Andhra Pradesh | Nil                | 222                    | 28            | 1,365                           | Nil                                |
| West Bengal    | Nil                | 29,260                 | Nil           | 1,12,000                        | Nil                                |

In addition, infrastructure like roads, power, railway, telecommunications etc. were also damaged in Odisha.

- (c)        Central  Government  extended  full  logistics  support  including deployment of 71 Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) (50 Teams  in  Odisha,  12  Teams  in  Andhra  Pradesh,  09  Teams  in  West Bengal) along with necessary rescue equipments for immediate rescue, evacuation   and   relief   measures  during cyclone  Fani.  Similarly,

## L.S.S.Q.NO. 54 FOR  25.06.2019

State Government of Odisha deployed 20 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF).  To prevent loss of human lives, a record number of  15,57,170  persons  in  Odisha,  17,460  persons  in Andhra  Pradesh and 2,34,801 persons in West Bengal were evacuated to safer places.

(d)    There are institutional mechanisms at the National and State level for  effective  management  of  natural  disasters.  Though  the  primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Governments,  Central  Government  extends  all  possible  logistics  and financial supports to the States to supplement their efforts to meet the situation effectively. The concerned State Governments  undertake assessment of damage and provide financial relief in the wake of natural disasters  including  cyclone,  from  the  State  Disaster  Response  Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal. Additional financial assistance is extended from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) by following the  laid  down  procedure,  which  includes  an  assessment  based  on  the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).   Financial assistance under SDRF/ NDRF in the wake of natural disasters is by way of relief and not for compensation of loss suffered/ claimed.

In order to support the affected people of the States, Central Government has released in  advance  an  assistance  of  Rs. 1086 crore

## L.S.S.Q.NO. 54 FOR  25.06.2019

(Rs. 340.875  crore  to Odisha,  Rs. 200.25 crore to  Andhra  Pradesh,  Rs. 235.50 crore to West Bengal and Rs. 309.375 crore to Tamil Nadu) from SDRF on 29 th  April 2019. In pursuance to the visit made by Hon'ble Prime Minister to Odisha after the cyclone 'Fani', Central Government released additional Rs. 1000 crore to Government of Odisha on 7 th  May 2019.

In the instant case, even before the receipt of memorandum from State Government of Odisha, IMCT visited the affected areas of the State from 12 th  to 15 th  May 2019 for rapid assessment of damages. Odisha State was severely  affected  by  the  cyclone  and  has  submitted  a  memorandum seeking an assistance of Rs. 5227.68 crore.  IMCT visited the affected areas of the State from 20 th  to 22 nd  June 2019 again for an on-the-spot assessment of  damages  caused  by  the  cyclone  'Fani'.  Upon  receipt  of report  from  the  IMCT,  further  financial  assistance  under  NDRF  will  be considered as per laid down procedure.

(e):    The  National  Crisis  Management  Committee  (NCMC),  headed  by Cabinet  Secretary,  is  the  nodal  body  at  national  level to monitor and coordinate during major disasters.  During  Cyclone  'FANI',  NCMC,  under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary held 11 meetings on daily basis from 29 th   April  to 10 th  May  and  monitored and coordinated the situation

## L.S.S.Q.NO. 54 FOR  25.06.2019

with  the  affected  states  and  Central  Ministries/Agencies  concerned. Indian Metrological Department (IMD)  issued  regular accurate forecasts & warning bulletins to all the affected States.

(f): India  with  its  continuous  efforts  has  significantly  improved  its preparedness to deal with natural calamities. Our Disaster Management Act 2005 articulates the need for mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into development planning. The National Policy and National Plan on  Disaster  Management  seeks  to  build  a  safe  and  disaster  resilient India.

There are institutional mechanisms at the National, State & district level in the country to develop appropriate preparedness and prompt response mechanism  for  effective  management  of  natural  disasters.  Central Government  has  established  a  robust  early  warning  system  and  has significantly enhanced  accuracy  of weather  forecasts. Forecasting agencies are continuing their efforts for the improvement of warning and dissemination systems vigorously. Mock  exercises and  community awareness  programmes  are  being  regularly conducted  to  educate people/ farmers at the time of natural calamities.

## L.S.S.Q.NO. 54 FOR 25.06.2019

The National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) is under implementation in 8 coastal states with a total outlay of Rs 4903 crore to mitigate the sufferings of the coastal community who are generally poor and vulnerable to various types of disasters. Cyclone shelters and early warning  system  created  under  this  project  proved  to  be  of  great  help during  cyclones  'Phailin'  in  2013,  'Hud-Hud'  in  2014,  'Titli'  in  2018  and recent cyclone 'Fani'.

The  measures  taken  by  the  Central  and  State  Governments  have significantly  improved  disaster  management  practices,  preparedness, prevention and response mechanism resulting in significant reduction in casualties during natural calamities, including cyclones, in the country. Further, strengthening of the disaster management is a continuing and evolving process of the governance.

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