Lok Sabha Question No. 1274 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: Rehabilitation of Erosion hit Communities
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Joyanta Basumatary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1274

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025/ MAGHA 22, 1946 (SAKA)

REHABILITATION OF EROSION HIT COMMUNITIES

1274. SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether it is a fact that the 15th Finance Commission accorded river erosion as a natural calamity and recommended for adequate compensation including rehabilitation under SDRF and NDRF and if so, the details thereof along with the subsequent action taken in response to the 15th Finance Commission recommendations;
- (b) the status of implementation of 15th Finance Commission's recommendations  on  allocation  of  funds  for  resettlement  of  displaced people affected by erosion under NDRF along with the details of mitigation measures to prevent erosion;
- (c) the details of funds allocated to Assam so far for relief and rehabilitation for erosion-hit communities under SDRF and NDRF respectively; and
- (d)  whether  the  Union  Government  has  received  the  report  from  the Government of Assam regarding the details of victims in the State, who have become landless and homeless due to erosion and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC) had noted that coastal and river erosion can have serious adverse socio-economic consequences. It had considered two aspects related to erosion i.e. mitigation measures to

prevent  erosion  [(under  National  Disaster  Mitigation  Fund  (NDMF)]  and resettlement  of  displaced  people  affected  by  erosion  [under  National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)].

Given the magnitude of the problem XV-FC has recommended that both the Union and State Government develop a policy to deal with the extensive displacement of people caused by coastal and river erosion.

Further, to mitigate the risk of erosion, XV-FC had also recommended an allocation of Rs. 1,500 crore from NDMF for the award period 2021-22 to 2025-26 and Rs. 1000 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for resettlement of displaced people affected by erosion.

Further,  based  on  the  recommendations  of  the  XV-FC,  the  Central Government has allocated an amount of Rs.3793.60 crore under SDRF for relief and an amount of 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.

## L.S.US.Q.NO.1274 FOR 11.02.2025

In view of recommendations of XV-FC, the Central Government has issued guidelines titled 'Guidelines for approval and release of Funds for Coastal and River Erosion under National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF)' and a policy titled 'Policy on Resettlement of people Affected by Erosion under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)' both dated 20.06.2024.

The NDMF guidelines dated 28.02.2022, SDMF guidelines dated 14.01.2022, guidelines for coastal and river erosion dated 20.06.2024 as well  as  the  policy  on  resettlement  of  people  affected  by  erosion  dated 20.06.2024, are available on the MHA website www.ndmindia.mha.gov.in.

The State Governments including the State of Assam can avail funds on cost sharing basis, contributing 10 percent of the cost of resettlement. The State Government of Assam is yet to submit their proposal.

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