Lok Sabha Question No. 144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-11
Subject: Assistance for Cyclone Relief
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA, NAGARAJAN P., PARASURAMAN K., GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ, R. GOPALAKRISHNAN, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, M. UDHAYAKUMAR, P.R. SUNDARAM, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, S. RAJENDRAN, SUDHEER GUPTA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 144

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

ASSISTANCE FOR CYCLONE RELIEF

144.    SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

SHRI K. PARASURAMAN:

DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  severe  cyclonic  storm  'Gaja'  has  struck  Tamil  Nadu  coast recently;

(b) if so, the details of losses suffered and the number of districts in Tamil Nadu and other States that have been severely affected and the number of people killed;

(c) whether any central team has visited the affected areas and assess the damages and if so, the assessment made therein;

(d) the amount of relief sought by the affected States and the assistance provided/ likely to be provided by the Government; and

## L.S.US.Q.NO.144 FOR 11.12.2018

(e)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government to introduce a better mechanism  for  permanent  disaster  management  system  with  the  coordination of all the concerned departments of Central/ State Governments to minimize the losses due to such type of calamities?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): As per the information received from the State Government of Tamil Nadu and UT of Puducherry, the details of reported losses are given as under:-

(As on 30.11.2018)

| State/ UT                | Human live lost   | Houses/ huts damaged   |   Cattle death | Cropped areas affected   |
|--------------------------|-------------------|------------------------|----------------|--------------------------|
| Tamil Nadu (10 district) | 63                | 6.04 lakh              |          14239 | 1.12 lakh ha.            |
| Puducherry (01 district) | Nil               | 1117                   |             04 | 81.68 ha.                |

In  the  instant  case, based on the interim memorandum submitted by the State  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  and  UT  of  Puducherry  seeking  an assistance of Rs. 1431 crore (further it was revised to Rs. 2658.49 crore) and  Rs.  187.18  crore  respectively,  for  cyclone  'Gaja'  of  2018,  an  InterMinisterial Central Team (IMCT) was deputed for on the spot assessment of damage caused by the cyclone Gaja of 2018. Upon receipt of the IMCT report  (pending  for  want  of  specific  information  from  State),  it  will  be placed  before  the  High  Level  Committee  (HLC)  for  consideration  as  per established procedure.

Financial  assistance  is  provided  from  SDRF/  NDRF  as  per  established procedures. 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.  In order to support the affected people of the State Government of Tamil Nadu, the Government of India has released both the installments of Rs. 707.40 crore from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to the State Government.  In addition,  as  reported  by  the  State  Government,  an  amount  of  Rs.  491.62 crore is available in SDRF account as on 1 st  April 2018 for management of relief  necessitate  by  notified  natural  calamities  during  2018.    In  all  the total Rs. 1199-02 crore is available in the State in the SDRF.

(e): As per the National Disaster Management  Policy, the primary responsibility  for  disaster  management  rests  with  the  States.  There  are institutional mechanisms at the National and State level in the country to develop  appropriate  preparedness,  and  prompt  response  mechanism  for effective  management  of  natural  disasters  including  taking  necessary measures  to  educate  people  at  the  time  of  natural  calamities  which include increasing awareness/ forewarning/ mock drills on various calamities/ sensitising people involving the stake holders at the State/

District  and  local  Governments  level  including  rural  areas  and  reduce/ minimize the losses during/ impending such type of natural calamities in States of the country.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) monitors Severe Weather and alert State  Meteorological  Centers  (SMCs)/  Regional  Meteorological  Centers (RMCs) about occurrence of severe weather in their region through daily Nowcast  Guidance  and  Forecast  Demonstration  Project  (FDP).  State Meteorological  Centers  (SMCs)  issue  three  hourly  Nowcast  and  issue warnings  through  SMS  at  district  level  as  and  when  necessary.  IMD maintains  and  upgrades  the  Nowcast  webpage  and  website  to  include information of severe weather events and monitor quality of various tools for nowcasting such as Radar and satellite data, and ensure interact with relevant divisions to ensure quality upkeep.

The  measures  as  taken  by  the  Government  of  India  and  the  State Governments are expected to improve the existing disaster management practices, preparedness, prevention, & enhance the response mechanism and minimizing the effects of natural calamities in the country. Further, the strengthening  of  the  disaster  management  is  a  continuing  and  evolving process of the governance.

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