Lok Sabha Question No. 378 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 378

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  JULY, 2025/ /ASHADHA 31, 1947 (SAKA)

NATIONAL CYCLONE RISK MITIGATION PROJECT

378.  SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  specific  components  and  objectives  of  the  National  Cyclone  Risk Mitigation  Project  (NCRMP)  Phase-II  as  implemented  in  West  Bengal, including the types of infrastructure developed and the total funds allocated and utilized for these purposes so far;
- (b)  the  current  status  and  outcomes  of  the  Early  Warning  Dissemination System (EWDS) established under NCRMP Phase II in West Bengal, detailing its operational effectiveness and coverage;
- (c) the role and contributions of the 2nd Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) stationed at Haringhata, Nadia district, in disaster preparedness and response within West Bengal, including information on their  manpower,  specialized  training,  equipment,  and  notable  operations conducted during recent years; and
- (d) the coordination mechanisms between the NCRMP initiatives and the 2nd Battalion NDRF at Haringhata to enhance disaster resilience and response capabilities in the State?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) The  objective of National  Cyclone  Risk  Mitigation Project (NCRMP) was to minimize vulnerability to cyclones and making people and infrastructure  disaster  resilient  in  harmony  with  the conservation of the

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 378 FOR 22.07.2025

coastal eco-system in the cyclone hazard prone States.  It was implemented in the 8 coastal States, including West Bengal in two phases.   Under PhaseI, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were covered and under Phase-II, six States viz.  Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal were covered.

NCRMP was having following components:

Component A: Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) - ensuring last mile connectivity

Component B: Cyclone Risk Mitigation Infrastructure (CRMI) - Multi-Purpose Cyclone Shelters, Evacuation/approach Roads/Bridges, Saline Embankment & Underground Cabling

Component C: Technical Assistance for Capacity Building on Disaster Risk Management

Component D: Project Management and Monitoring

So far as State of West Bengal is concerned, the components including the types  of  infrastructure  developed  under  NCRMP,  implemented  in  West Bengal under Phase-II are given below:-

| Cyclone Risk Mitigation Infrastructures (CRMIs) (Sub-components / Unit) Multi-Purpose Cyclone Shelters (No.) Under Ground Cabling (Km)   | 146 Nos. 472.46(Kms)   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|

Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) was not one of the components of NCRMP Phase II for the State of West Bengal. A total of Rs. 745.78 Crore was allocated for West Bengal, out of which Rs. 730.54 was utilized by the State under the NCRMP Phase II.

The NCRMP project has been closed in March, 2023.

(c) & (d): The 2 nd   Battalion  of  National  Disaster  Response  Force  (NDRF) stationed at Haringhata has West Bengal and Sikkim as its primary area of responsibility.  It is having a sanctioned strength of 1149 personnel with 18 Self-contained specialized Search & Rescue (SAR) teams. All teams are well equipped  with  Flood  Water  Rescue  equipment.  2 nd   Battalion,  NDRF  has conducted  56  familiarization  exercises  during  last  three  years  in  West Bengal.  The  notable  operations  conducted  by  them  includes  operation during Cyclone Yass, 2021, Cyclone Jawad, 2021, Cyclone Sitrang, 2022, Cyclone,  Asani,  2022,  Sikkim  Flash  flood,  2023,  Cyclone  Mocha,  2023, Cyclone Dana, 2024, Cyclone Re-mal, 2024 and West Bengal Floods, 2024.

The responsibility for maintenance and sustainability of physical infrastructure  created  under  NCRMP  rests   with  the  State  Government

concerned.  2 nd   Battalion  NDRF  maintains  close  coordination  with  West Bengal and Sikkim State Disaster Management  Authorities  for prepositioning and deployment during disasters and emergent situations.

The Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters developed under NCRMP, coupled with timely  intervention  of  NDRF  in  assisting  the  State  Government  during cyclone  and  other  disasters  have  proved  to  be  effective  for  disaster resilience and response capabilities of the State.

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