Lok Sabha Question No. 932 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Inter-Ministerial Team visit to Assam
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 932

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH  DECEMBER, 2022/ AGRAHAYANA 22, 1944 (SAKA)

INTER-MINISTERIAL TEAM VISIT TO ASSAM

932.      SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  State  Government  of  Assam  has  made  a  request  for  an inter-Ministerial team to visit the State to assess damage caused due to flood  and  erosion  in  October,  2021  and  to  consider  erosion  as  an  item admissible under State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)/National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to consider the request as erosion is an annual disaster in the State of Assam and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): As per the National Policy on Disaster Management, the primary responsibility for disaster management, including disbursal of relief to the affected  people  on  the  ground  level,  rests  with  the  State  Governments concerned.  The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural disasters including flood from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at their disposal, in accordance with the Government  of  India's  approved  items  and  norms.   Additional  financial

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 932 FOR 13.12.2022

assistance is provided from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure in case of disaster of 'severe nature', which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).

During the south-west monsoon of 2021, flood and landslides reported to have caused extensive damages in various districts in the State of Assam. The  Central  Government,  without  waiting  for  the  Memorandum  from  the State Government of Assam, has constituted an IMCT on 10 th  September, 2021, for on-the-spot assessment of damages.  IMCT has visited the State of Assam from 19.10.2021 to 20.10.2021.  Based on the report of IMCT the Central  Government  had  approved  an  amount  of  Rs.  51.53  crore  from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), subject to the adjustment of 50% of balance available in State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) account.

Besides,  during  the  financial  year  2021-22,  the  State  Government was  allocated  Rs.  686.40  crore  under  SDRF,  which  includes  Rs.  617.60 crore as Central  share and Rs. 68.80 crore as State share.  The Central share of Rs. 617.60 crore was released, in advance, to the Government of Assam in two installments of Rs. 308.80 crore each.

Further, the erosion is not a notified disaster as per the guidelines for constitution and administration of the SDRF and NDRF.  Further, the issue of  inclusion  of  more  calamities  in  the  existing  notified  list  of  calamities was considered by the 15 th  Finance Commission and the Commission, in its report  at  para  8.143,  had inter-alia  observed  that  the  list  of  notified disaster eligible for funding from SDRF and NDRF covers the needs of the State to a large extent and thus did not find merit in the request to expand its  scope.    However,  based  on  the  recommendations of  the  15 th   Finance Commission, the Central Government has allocated Rs. 948.40 crore under the  State  Disaster  Mitigation  Fund  (SDMF)  to  the  State  Government  of Assam  for  the  period  2021-22  to  2025-26.    The  State  Government  can undertake  mitigation  activities  for  various  disasters,  including  flood  and erosion,  as  per  the  guidelines  on  SDMF  issued  by  the  Ministry  of  Home Affairs (MHA) on 14.01.2022.

Besides  above,  in  order  to  mitigate  the  risk  of  erosion,  15th  Finance Commission had made a separate allocation  of  Rs.  1500  crore  from  the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) for the award period of 2021-22 to 2025-26, which can be availed by the States affected by erosion.  NDMF guidelines has also been issued on 28.02.2022, and both the guidelines of SDMF and NDMF are available on the MHA website www.ndmindia.mha.gov.in.

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