Union Home Minister Amit Shah has recently approved significant projects for disaster recovery and reconstruction activities in Sikkim. The approval includes Disaster Recovery Funding worth Rs 1,604.39 crore aimed at strengthening fire services across five states, an official announced on Friday.
The high-level committee, chaired by HM Shah, allocated financial assistance of Rs 555.70 crore to Sikkim from the Recovery and Reconstruction Funding Window under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). This funding addresses the pressing disaster recovery and reconstruction needs following the devastating Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) that impacted the Teesta river basin in October 2023.
Allocation of Funds for Fire Services
To fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a disaster-resilient India, the committee approved various projects and activities totaling Rs 1,604.39 crore for five states: Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Kerala. These initiatives fall under the scheme titled ‘Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States.’
The breakdown of allocations is as follows:
- Bihar: Rs 340.90 crore
- Gujarat: Rs 339.18 crore
- Jharkhand: Rs 147.97 crore
- Kerala: Rs 162.25 crore
- Maharashtra: Rs 614.09 crore
This funding comes from the earmarked allocation for the Preparedness and Capacity Building Funding window under the NDRF.
Overall Disaster Recovery Funding Allocation
The Central Government has allocated a total of Rs 5,000 crore under the NDRF for the “Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the states.” So far, it has approved proposals from 20 states, amounting to Rs 3,373.12 crore.
Moreover, during the current financial year, the Central Government released Rs 19,074.80 crore to 28 states under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Additionally, Rs 3,229.35 crore was allocated to 16 states through the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). An amount of Rs 5,160.76 crore has also been distributed to 19 states under the NDRF, alongside Rs 719.71 crore to eight states under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund.
The high-level committee includes the Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog among its members. This collaboration emphasizes the government’s commitment to enhancing disaster recovery and resilience across the country.
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