Lok Sabha Question No. 1972 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Functional Battalions of NDRF
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1972

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  MARCH, 2020/PHALGUNA 13, 1941 (SAKA)

FUNCTIONAL BATTALIONS OF NDRF

†1972. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  total  number  of  functional  Battalions  of  the  National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at present;
- (b) whether the NDRF proposes to include two more battalions in its workforce;
- (c) whether  the  amount  spent  on  equipment  used  in  disaster  relief  and upgradation of the existing/purchased equipment is increasing every year;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether any review has been done regarding complete preparedness of the NDRF in view of unexpected disasters and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  At  present,  there  are  twelve  functional  battalions  of  National  Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in the country. Details are at Annexure -A.
- (b) Central Government has sanctioned raising of four additional battalions in NDRF.

## L.S.US.Q. NO.1972 FOR 03.03.2020.

(c) and (d):  Upgradation  of  equipment  in  NDRF  and  resultant  increase  in  budget allocation is a continuous process. Details of financial expenditure on procurement of equipment by NDRF during the last three years are given below: (Rs. in Crores)

| Financial year   |   Expenditure |
|------------------|---------------|
| 2016-17          |         31.97 |
| 2017-18          |         33.7  |
| 2018-19          |         39.97 |

## (e) Operational  preparedness  and  training  of  all  the  NDRF  Battalions  are regularly monitored, and it includes:

- (i) Capacity Building programmes  of  various stakeholders including school safety programmes.
- (ii) Mock  Drills  with  various  stakeholders  such  as  Indian  Railways, National Disaster Management  Authority  (NDMA),  State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and Multi Accidental Hazardous Industries (MAH).
- (iii) Response  time  measurement  of  actual  deployment  during  disasters; and
- (iv) Training  to  State  Disaster  Response  Force  (SDRF)  and  other  state personnel.

*****

Annexure-A. L.S.US Q.NO.1972 FOR 03.03.2020

12 Battalion HQ Locations

| Name of NDRF Battalions   | Locations                   |
|---------------------------|-----------------------------|
| 01 BN NDRF                | Guwahati (Assam)            |
| 02 BN NDRF                | Haringhata (West Bengal)    |
| 03 BN NDRF                | Mundali (Odisha)            |
| 04 BN NDRF                | Arakkonam (Tamil Nadu)      |
| 05 BN NDRF                | Pune (Maharashtra)          |
| 06 BN NDRF                | Vadodara (Gujrat)           |
| 07 BN NDRF                | Bhatinda (Punjab)           |
| 08 BN NDRF                | Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)   |
| 09 BN NDRF                | Bihta (Bihar)               |
| 10 BN NDRF                | Vijayawada (A.P.)           |
| 11 BN NDRF                | Varanasi (U.P.)             |
| 12 BN NDRF                | Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh) |

****