DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides for the legal and institutional framework for the effective management of disasters.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has prepared the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) in 2016 the updated and revised it in 2019. NDMP provides a framework and direction to the government agencies for all phases of disaster management cycle. It is a strategic tool in further strengthening disaster resilient development in the country.
NDMP incorporates national commitments in the domain of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) associated with the three major post-2015 Global Frameworks namely, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and Prime Minister’s 10-point Agenda.
NDMP brings together all sectors, ministries and departments at Central and State level as well as district level functionaries and defines their respective roles and responsibilities in disaster risk reduction. It recognizes the need to minimize, if not eliminate, any ambiguity in the responsibility framework.
Further, the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM) has also been prepared and approved in 2009 in tune with and in pursuance of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 with a vision to build a safe and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster oriented and technology driven strategy through a culture of prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response.
Central Government’s initiatives to strengthen local disaster management capacity and early warning systems in high-risk areas include the following:-
The primary responsibility for disaster management including disbursal of relief assistance on ground level rests with the State Governments concerned. The Central Government provides requisite logistics and financial assistance to support the efforts of the State Governments.
The State Governments provide financial relief to the affected people in the event of 12 notified natural disasters, which includes floods and landslides, 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). The financial assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is by way of relief and not for compensation.
The allocation and releases from SDRF/ NDRF to the State of Kerala during last three years i.e. 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 is as under: –
(Rs. in Crore)
Year
Allocation under SDRF
Releases of central share under SDRF
Central Share
State Share
Total
2021-22
251.20
84.00
335.20
251.20
2022-23
264.00
88.00
352.00
264.00
2023-24
277.60
92.00
369.60
277.60
An amount of Rs. 388.00 crore (Rs. 291.20 crore Central Share + Rs. 96.80 crore State share) has been allocated to State Government of Kerala for financial year 2024-25 in SDRF. The 1st instalment of Rs. 145.60 crore of
Central share was released on 31.07.2024. The 2ndinstalment of Rs. 145.60 crore of Central Share was also released on 01.10.2024 in advance to the State. In addition, the Accountant General, Kerala reported balance of Rs. 394.99 crore in its SDRF account as on 1st April, 2024. Thus sufficient fund of Rs. 782.99 crore is available in the SDRF account at the state for the relief operations.
Further, in the wake of landslide and flash flood in Wayanad, Kerala, an IMCT was constituted on 02.08.2024 to assess the damage by the Central Government without waiting for a memorandum from the State Government of Kerala. The IMCT visited the affected areas of the State from 8th August to 10th August, 2024. The instant calamity at Wayanad has been adjudged to be of ‘severe nature’ by the IMCT. The State Government submitted its memorandum on 19.08.2024 seeking an additional assistance of Rs. 214.68 crore under NDRF including Rs. 36 Crore estimated for removal of debris, which was yet to be incurred, for providing temporary relief assistance of immediate nature. Based on the report of the IMCT, the High Level Committee (HLC) in its meeting held on 16.11.2024, approved an amount of Rs. 153.47 crore (subject to the adjustment of 50% of balance available in the SDRF account), assistance for the air bills of Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters for rescue and relief, as per actual, and actual expenditure for the clearance of debris.
Further, the State has carried out Post-Disaster-Needs-Assessment (PDNA), estimating a total requirement of Rs. 2219.033 crores for Recovery & Reconstruction. The report of the State Government has been provided to the Central Government on 13.11.2024. The Central Government has constituted a Multi-Sectoral Team to examine PDNA report and further action is taken as per the established procedure under the guidelines on constitution and administration of Recovery & Reconstruction Funding Window which are available on Ministry of Home Affairs website www.ndmindia.mha.gov.in
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.