New Delhi (NVI): The high level committee (HLC), led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, today approved additional assistance of Rs 4,381.88 crore to six states, which were affected by cyclone, floods and landslides this year.
The committee will release fund to Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
“For cyclone ‘Amphan’, Rs 2,707.77 crore has been approved for West Bengal and Rs 128.23 crore for Odisha and for cyclone ‘Nisarga’ Rs 268.59 crore has been approved for Maharashtra,” said a statement by Ministry of Home Affairs.
“For floods and landslides during the monsoon, Rs 577.84 crore has also been approved for Karnataka, Rs 611.61 crore for Madhya Pradesh, and Rs 87.84 crore for Sikkim, “it added.
In addition to this, the government said that it has released Rs 15,524.43 crore to 28 states from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) till date this financial year.
Earlier on May 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the affected states of West Bengal and Odisha, in the aftermath of cyclone ‘Amphan’.
As announced by PM Modi financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to West Bengal and Rs 500 crore to Odisha were released in advance on May 23, for immediate relief activities in these states.
“In addition, the Prime Minister had also announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured, which was over and above the ex-gratia provided through the SDRF and the NDRF,” the statement further said.
Meanwhile, the central government had deputed Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) immediately after the calamities, without waiting for the receipt of memorandum from the affected State governments.
-RJV