Lok Sabha Question No. 792 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Disaster Assessment Teams
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 792

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  JULY, 2023/ SRAVANA 3, 1945 (SAKA)

DISASTER ASSESSMENT TEAMS

792.      SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the Government is aware that it takes considerable time for disaster  assessment  teams  to  be  constituted  and  plan  and  arrange logistics  for  these  teams  to  assess  the  site  of  a  disaster  after  it  has struck;

(b) if so, the measures taken by the Government to redress this alongwith the details of the time taken to constitute a disaster assessment team and deploy it to the site after a disaster has struck during the last three years;

(c) whether the Government  has  taken any steps to improve the methodology through which disaster sites are assessed which at present are primitive and do not provide an accurate picture;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the details of the sites of disaster and  the days  the disaster management team spent assessing the site including the exact area of the site?

ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): The primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Governments  concerned. The State Governments  provide financial  relief  to  the  affected  people  in  the  event  of  notified  natural disasters, from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at its disposal, in accordance  with approved items and norms  of Government  of  India (GOI).  However,  in  the event of disaster of a severe

nature,  additional  financial  assistance  is  extended  from  the  National Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF),  as  per  laid  down  procedure,  which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).

Previously, the IMCT used to be deputed after the receipt of Memorandum from the State Government affected by a disaster of 'severe' nature.  In order  to  expedite  the  assessment  and  release  of  additional  financial assistance  to  States,  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  had  taken  a  significant decision on 19.08.2019, to depute an IMCT immediately in the aftermath of any  natural  calamity  of  'severe  nature',  and  without  waiting  for  the memorandum from the State Government.

IMCT comprises of representatives of sectoral Ministries/ Departments, to assess the sectoral damages, such as agriculture, power, rural development, irrigation, road transport. IMCT visit is finalized in consultation with the State Government, and it covers those areas, which are  severely  affected,  along  with  the  officials  of  the  State  concerned. IMCT  assess  the  ground  situation  on  the  basis  of  data  provided  by  the State Government and inputs of scientific and technical agencies of the Central  Government,  such  as  India  Meteorological  Department,  Central Water Commission, National Remote Sensing Centre.

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