Assam Floods: Centre releases Rs 251 crore as grant-in-aid for Flood Relief Fund

Guwahati: The Central Government on Tuesday released an amount of Rs 251 crore as a grant-in-aid to State Government towards Central Share of SDRF during 2019-20 on the basis of the recommendation of the 14^th Finance Commission for relief necessitated by natural calamities.

The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance directed the state government to get this amount along with earlier releases of Central share and entire state share for this year, credited into the account of SDRF in the current year itself, and utilize as per the provision of the scheme for constitution and administration of the SDRF issued vide Ministry of Home Affairs.

It may also be mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and took stock of the ongoing flood situation in the State, while Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat will be visiting the State on Tuesday to review the flood situation which has so far killed 15 people and affected over 42.86 lakh others. Of the 15 killed, 13 died in floods while two lost their lives in landslides. The Brahmaputra and all the important rivers are flowing above the danger level.

Sonowal spoke to the Prime Minister on the phone and apprised him of the steps taken by the State government to help the affected people across 28 districts of Assam.

A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Prime Minister had assured of all help to the Assam government to deal with the situation. The Chief Minister on Monday visited the flood-affected areas of Nalbari and Barpeta districts and took stock of the conditions of the people taking shelter in the relief camps.

Altogether 42,86,421 people of 4,157 villages across 113 revenue circles in the 30 districts have been affected due to the floods as on Monday afternoon, stated a release issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). A total of 183 relief camps are in operation with 83, 180 inmates.

The government has pressed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to help the marooned people in different districts even as Army has been called in to assist the civil administration in relief and rescue operations in different parts of the State.

Over 10 lakh animals have also been affected.

Meanwhile, demanding immediately Central intervention, the Congress and AGP on Monday raised the flood problem of Assam in the Parliament.

Also Read: Prime Minister Modi calls Sonowal; takes stock of State Flood Situation