Sitharaman mentions Himachal’s rain devastation, but doesn’t allocate funds; Bihar gets Rs 11,000 crore flood relief
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CM Sukhu had sought Rs 9,905 crore from Centre for rain disaster-induced losses in 2023
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Tuesday (July 23, 2024) that financial assistance would be provided to several states, including Himachal Pradesh, which suffered extensive losses due to last year’s floods and heavy rain.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha while presenting the Union Budget, Sitharaman outlined the government’s commitment to aiding states like Bihar, Assam, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
But there appeared to be a stark difference in dealing with the cases of Bihar and Himachal, the states sending 40 MPs and four MPs, respectively, to the Lok Sabha. While Sitharaman earmarked a financial support of Rs 11,500 crore to tackle floods in Bihar, the announcement for Himachal was minus the money.
Interestingly, Bihar’s ruling party JD(U) is a crucial kingmaker in the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
“Frequently plagued by floods, with many rivers originating from Nepal, Bihar will see progress in building flood control structures in Nepal. Financial support of Rs 11,500 crore will be provided for projects like the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link and 20 other ongoing and new schemes, including barrages, river pollution abatement and irrigation projects. The survey and investigation of Kosi-related flood mitigation and irrigation projects will also be undertaken,” said the minister.
For Himachal Pradesh, Sitharaman said, “Himachal Pradesh suffered extensive losses due to floods last year. Our government will provide assistance to the state for reconstruction and rehabilitation through multilateral development assistance.”
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has over the past year expressed disappointment over the “meagre” financial assistance received from the Centre for disaster relief following the last year’s devastation in the state.
During his address in the Vidhan Sabha during the winter session in Dharamshala, CM Sukhu had said that the state government had submitted a memorandum seeking Rs 9,905 crore in compensation for the rain disaster-induced losses. However, only Rs 633.73 crore had been disbursed (by then) by the Centre, amounting to a mere 6.4 per cent of the requested funds, he said.
According to CM Sukhu, as per the disaster relief regulations, Himachal Pradesh was entitled to a minimum of Rs 1,605 crore. Nonetheless, the Centre released only Rs 633.73 crore, including Rs 200 crore already provided under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) on September 16, he had said.
