Assam floods: Centre releases Rs 324 crore allocation from SDRF

• Image Credit: Internet

• May 27, 2022 | Dhupali Das

A total of 47,139.12 hectares of cropland have been affected, and in all affected areas, 295 relief camps and 70 relief distribution centres have been established.

Digital Desk: As Assam is grappling with pre-monsoon floods, the Centre has released Rs 324 crore allocation from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to the flood-hit state.

An order from the Finance Ministry’s dated May 25 stated, “Keeping in view of the damage caused by floods and landslides in many parts of the State during first of 2022, the amount is being released to the state government in advance on the recommendation received from Ministry of Home Affairs.”

Following this, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his gratitude on Twitter. “Grateful to Adarniya Pradhan Mantri Shri @narendramodi ji & Adarniya Griha Mantri Shri @amitshah ji for releasing an advance of Rs 324 cr from SDRF to help Assam deal with the ongoing flood situation. The funds will ensure timely relief & rehabilitation of affected citizens,” wrote CM Sarma.

On Thursday, a delegation from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) arrived in Guwahati and met with officials from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) to examine the damage caused by recent floods and landslides in the state.

Notably,  floods created havoc throughout Assam this year, affecting around 3.46 lakh people and 247 villages. According to ASDMA reports, IMCT members would be divided into two groups to visit the main devastating districts to expedite an effective damage assessment.

The first group included the team leader Ravinesh Kumar, FA, NDMA, Anjali Maurya, Assistant Director, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Adelbert Sungi, Regional Officer, Ministry of Road Transport and accompanied by P. Vijay Bhaskar Reddy, IAS, Jt. Secretary and Jt. CEO, ASDMA will visit the Cachar and Dima Hasao districts on May 27 and May 28, 2022.

On May 27 and 28, 2022, the second group of IMCT will visit the Darrang, Nagaon, and Hojai districts with Jintu Das, Jt. Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Ajay Kumar Sinha, Superintending Engineer, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Kailash Shankla, Under Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

Flood reports stated that two individuals died in the flood in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of people lives lost in the first phase of the flood to 30 (25 in floods and 5 in landslides), with 5,61,149 people living in 956 villages throughout 12 districts.

A total of 47,139.12 hectares of cropland have been affected, and in all affected areas, 295 relief camps and 70 relief distribution centres have been established. These camps house a total of 66,836 inmates.