Lok Sabha Question No. 13 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-11
Subject: Rain and Flood in Kerala
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: C. N. JAYADEVAN, K. C. VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *13

TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  THE  11 th   DECEMBER,  2018  /  AGRAHAYANA  20,  1940 (SAKA)

## RAIN AND FLOOD IN KERALA

*13. SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN: SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of assessment made in respect of loss of lives and damage to property by unprecedented torrential rain and flood in Kerala during the month of August 2018;
- (b)  the  details  of  financial  assistance  sought  by  the  State  Government  of Kerala for relief and rehabilitation measures along with the amount of financial assistance sanctioned and disbursed to the State in this regard;
- (c) whether the State Government  of Kerala has been given financial assistance as per the laid down norms, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the details of such norms;
- (d) whether the Government denied permission to Kerala for obtaining financial assistance  from  foreign  countries,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons therefor  including  the  stand  of  the  Government  in  the  matter  along  with  the steps  being  taken  by  the  Union  Government  to  compensate  the  State  for disallowing such aid; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  relax  the  existing  provisions  of disaster management  for  giving  more  financial  assistance  to the State Government  of  Kerala  for  compensating  the  loss  sustained  due  to  the  said flood?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *13 dated 11 th  December, 2018

(a)   to (c):     Based on the memorandum submitted by the State Government of Kerala  seeking  an  assistance  of  Rs.  4796.35  crore  for  floods  &  landslides  in August  2018,  an  Inter-Ministerial  Central  Team  (IMCT)  had  assessed  the damages in conformity with the norms of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF/ National  Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF).  As  per  the  assessment  made  by IMCT, 339 human lives lost, 75,857 cattle lost and 6.42 lakh houses damaged and  82660.29  ha.  cropped  areas  have  been  reported  affected  due  to  flood/ landslides in Kerala during August 2018.  Based on the report of IMCT, the High Level  Committee  (HLC),  in  its  meeting  held  on  06.12.2018  has  approved  the assistance of Rs. 3048.39 crore (including Rs. 584.61 crore for floods of JuneJuly) from NDRF for floods and landslides of 2018.

The  primary  responsibility  for  disaster  management  rests  with  the  State Government. The concerned State Governments undertake relief measurers according to the magnitude of the ground situation, in the wake of natural disasters  including  floods  from  the  State  Disaster  Response  Fund  (SDRF) already  placed  at  their  disposal  in  accordance  with  Government  of  India approved items and norms without any discrimination. Additional assistance is  extended  from  the  National  Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF)  as  per established procedure.

## L.S.S.Q NO. *13 FOR 11.12.2018

In order to support the affected people of the State Government of Kerala, the  Government  of  India  has  released  both  the    installments  of  Central Share  of  SDRF  amounting  to  Rs.  192.60  crore    and    Rs.  600.00  crore, released  on  account,  basis  from  NDRF  to  Government  of  Kerala  for immediate relief measures.

(d):      In  the  wake  of  Kerala  floods,  several  countries  expressed  their sympathies  and  their  willingness  to  assist  in  the  relief  and  rehabilitation efforts.  In  response,  Government  expressed  deep  appreciation  for  such offers  and  conveyed  that  in  line  with  existing  policy,  it  is  committed  to meeting requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts. It  was  further  conveyed  that  contributions  to  the  Prime  Minister's  Relief Fund and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as Foundations would however, be welcome.

(e):    No  Madam.  Government  of  India  approved  norms  of  SDRF/  NDRF schemes  always  have  PAN  (Presence  Across  National)  India  implication, which  is  not  advisable  to  amend  on  case-to-case  basis.  With  regard  to compensation,  it  is  stated  that  financial  assistance  under  SDRF/  NDRF  in the  wake  of  natural  calamities  is  towards  relief  and  not  compensation  of loss as suffered/ claimed.

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