Assam Floods: Centre releases Rs 324.40-crore SDRF instalment

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Central Government has released its second instalment of the SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) amounting to Rs 324.40 crore in advance to let the State government tackle the situation arising out of floods and landslides in the state.

The amount will give the State Government relief when it needs funds the most. SDRF allocation, including the SDRMF (State Disaster Response Mitigation Fund), for Assam in this financial year, is Rs 901 crore in the 90:10 funding pattern. Twenty per cent of the total amount is for SDRMF, and the remaining 80 per cent is for SDRF. The Ministry of Home Affairs usually releases the SDRF amount in two instalments – the first instalment in September-October and the second instalment in February-March. However, the Centre set an example this year by releasing the SDRF instalments in advance – the first instalment in May and the second instalment in July.

The State Government can use the SDRF money for gratuitous relief (GR), rehabilitation grants (RG) and repair and restoration of infrastructure damaged by disasters.

Ministry of Home Affairs said in an office memorandum that "the state of Assam is experiencing floods/landslides in many parts during the current monsoon of 2022. The Government of Assam has requested the release of the second instalment of the Central share of SDRF in advance for the year 2022-23 for undertaking relief measures in the calamity-affected areas. The request of the State government has been considered in this Ministry, and it has been decided with the approval of the Union Home Minister to recommend the release of the second instalment of the Central share of SDRF in advance".

Meanwhile, after the gesture from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma twitted, "We're immensely grateful to Hon PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for the generous act of the Central Government for release of Rs 324.40 cr as an advance share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). It will help combat the current floods & as also in making provisions for flood victims."

Meanwhile, the flood situation in the state continued to improve gradually, and no river was flowing above the danger level on Thursday.

However, one more flood-affected person died in the Cachar district in the last 24 hours, taking the overall death toll due to the floods and landslides this time to 187.

To date, 32 revenue circles under 14 districts and as many as 9,06,000 inhabitants of 707 villages continued to be affected by floods.

A total of 91,594 inmates are still taking shelter in 207 relief camps in various districts, out of whom over 82,000 people belong to the Cachar district alone.

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