The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: The primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the state government concerned in case any state is hit by a natural calamity, the central government has told Mandi MP Pratibha Singh in reply to a question she asked in Parliament.
Pratibha, the wife of six-term late Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and also the Himachal Pradesh Congress, had sought to know from the Union Home Minister replies to her four following questions in the Lok Sabha:
(a) Whether the Union Government has received a request for special relief package from the government of Himachal Pradesh for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the state from one of the worst disasters witnessed so far during this monsoon.
(b) If so, the details of assistance/relief provided so far by the union government after the disaster and if not, the reasons therefor.
(c) Whether the union government is having any time-bound plan to provide special package to the state; and
(d) If so, the details thereof?
In its reply to the unstarred question number 1493 that was answered in the Lok Sabha on December 12 (2023), the Union Home Ministry said: “As per the National Disaster Management Policy, the primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the state governments concerned. The state governments provide relief assistance to the affected people in the event of notified natural disasters, from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at its disposal, in accordance with approved items and norms of Government of India. However, in the event of disaster of a severe nature, additional financial assistance is extended from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).
“A request has been received from the state government seeking a special relief package. In order to support the affected people of the state, the central government has released both the installments of central share of SDRF, amounting to Rs 180.40 crore each to the state for immediate relief operations. In addition, an amount of Rs 200 crore has also been released on an ‘on account’ basis from NDRF to the state government on August 21 (2023). Besides, as reported by State Accountant General, an amount of Rs 71.51 crore is available in the SDRF account of Himachal Pradesh as on April 1, 2023, for management of relief necessitated by notified natural disasters, including flashfloods, floods, cloudbursts or landslides, in the affected areas during 2023,” it said.
Primary onus for disaster relief lies with state, Centre tells Pratibha Singh in Parliament when asked if Himachal will get special package
