New Delhi: Central Government had released an amount of Rs 1255.27 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to Government of Bihar for flood relief measures during the year 2020-21, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, stated in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.
Rai informed that an amount of Rs 1416 crore was also released as Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2020-21 to the state government. In addition, the first instalment of Central share of SDRF amounting to Rs. 566.40 crore was released on April 29, 2021 in advance to state government, he said.
The Minister said that during the year 2020-21, 15 Inter Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) were deputed to visit floods affected areas of different States including Bihar for the assessment of damages caused by any notified disaster including flood. However, during the current year, 2021-22, no request had so far been received from any State including Bihar for deputing an IMCT for flood affected areas.
It may be mentioned that the primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Government. The State Government concerned undertakes relief measures in the wake of natural disasters including flood from the SDRF already placed at their disposal in accordance with Government of India’s approved items and norms. Additional assistance is provided from the NDRF as per established procedure in case the disaster is of ‘severe nature’, which includes deputation of IMCT for the assessment of damages caused by any notified disaster including flood.
– global bihari bureau
