Approving Rs 3408 Cr for Kerala, Central Govt gives additional financial assistance to Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland

New Delhi, December 6: With Kerala witnessing the worst flood in a century, the central government assured all possible support to the flood hit state. In an additional assistance to the state, Kerala will be given Rs 3,048 crore as an additional assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

 

For the cyclone hit Andhra Pradesh, the central government decided on Rs 539 crore and Rs 131 crore to Nagaland, which was also hit by floods. A High Level Committee, headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday approved the additional assistance of Rs 3,048.39 crore to Kerala, Rs 131.16 crore to Nagaland and Rs 539.52 crore to Andhra Pradesh.

The Kerala government had sought Rs 4,700 crore as compensation from the central government for the damage caused by the floods, which was termed as the worst in a century. At least 488 people died in Kerala due to the rains and floods this monsoon, which hit 14 districts of the state.

The meeting of the Committee was held to consider the additional central assistance to Kerala, Nagaland and Andhra Pradesh, which were affected by floods, landslides and cyclone ‘Titli’.

In case of any natural calamity beyond the coping capacity of a state, the state government submits a detailed memorandum indicating sector-wise details of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature. As per the existing guidelines, the central government sends an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) for an on-the-spot assessment of damage and additional requirement of funds.

The IMCT report is considered by the Sub-Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union home secretary in conformity with the norms and then by a high-level committee, chaired by the home minister for approving the quantum of additional assistance from the NDRF.

The financial mechanism to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disaster event is governed by guidelines pertaining to State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).