Lok Sabha Question No. 383 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Relief Fund For Tamil Nadu
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, T. R. Paarivendhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.383

Answered on Monday, February 5, 2024/Magha 16, 1945 (Saka)

## Relief Fund For Tamil Nadu

## 383. SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

## DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  about  the  damage  caused  in  the  Southern  States, especially Tamil Nadu, following the landfall of Cyclone Michaung and rain/flood;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  about  the  temporary  and  permanent  restoration work underway in these States, especially in Tuticorin and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu;
- (c)  whether  the  Government is aware about  the funds demanded by  the  State of Tamil Nadu for the relief and restoration purposes;
- (d) if so, the amount of funds allocated to the States for the relief; and
- (e) whether the Government is planning to allocate the demanded fund?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e):  Yes Sir. As informed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the instant cases, even before the receipt of memoranda from the State Government of Tamil Nadu, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visited the State to assess the damages. IMCT visited cyclonic storm 'Michaung' affected areas of the State from 11th to 14th December 2023. In case of floods caused by heavy rainfall in the southern district of Tamil Nadu, IMCT visited the affected areas of the southern part of Tamil Nadu from 19th to 22nd December 2023.  IMCT visited the affected areas of the southern Tamil Nadu from 11th to  14th  January  2024  again  for  an  on-the-spot  assessment  of  damages  caused  by  the floods.  The  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  has  submitted  two  memoranda  seeking  an assistance of Rs. 7033.45 crore for cyclonic storm 'Michaung' and Rs. 8612.14 crore for floods.

In order to undertake relief and response measures for the affected people of the State, the Central Government has released an amount of Rs. 900 crore as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). In addition, as reported by the State Government, an amount of Rs. 813.15 crore was available in the SDRF account of the State as on 1st April 2023 for management of relief necessitated by notified natural disasters.

As per the National Policy on Disaster Management, the primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Governments concerned. The Central Government  extends  all possible logistics and  financial support to the States to supplement their efforts to meet the situation effectively. The concerned State Governments undertake an assessment of damage and provide financial relief in the wake of natural disasters including cyclones, and floods from the State Disaster Response Fund already  placed  at  their  disposal.  Additional  financial  assistance  is  extended  from  the National Disaster Response Fund after following the notified procedure, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an IMCT.

*****