 "Maharashtra, MP get Rs 5,000-cr drought relief")
The Centre on Tuesday announced a drought relief assistance of Rs 3,050 crore for Maharashtra and Rs 2,033 crore for Madhya Pradesh from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), saying it’s higher than that given by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.
The two states had declared drought in 48 districts owing to below-normal monsoon in 2015. Madhya Pradesh had sought an assistance of Rs 4,800 crore, while Maharashtra had sought Rs 4,330 crore.
“During the previous UPA regime, Maharashtra had sought Rs 10,500 crore for drought relief from the NDRF in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, but was allocated only Rs 2,642 crore, while after the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government came to power, the state had sought Rs 8,000 crore in drought relief in 2014-15 and 2015-16, and got Rs 5,000 crore,” said agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, who is part of a high-level committee on disaster relief headed by home minister Rajnath Singh.
He said some states such as Chhattisgarh never got any assistance from NDRF under the UPA, but under the NDA government, it received an assistance of Rs 1,600 crore. Chhattisgarh had claimed a relief of around Rs 6,000 crore for drought.
The Centre has also enhanced its contribution to the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) since 2014-15, which can also be availed by state governments to provide drought relief, Radha Mohan Singh added.
In 2014-15, states received Rs 7,800 crore as contribution from the Centre for SDRF, while the same was enhanced to Rs 11,080 crore in 2015-16.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said it was the “biggest-ever” to the state for any natural disaster. “I am grateful to the Government of India and Rajnath Singhji for approving financial assistance towards Maharashtra drought relief.” On the last day of the session held in Nagpur, the Opposition had made stinging attacks on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government after Maharashtra was not included in the four states that received financial aid to deal with natural calamities.
For Uttar Pradesh, Radha Mohan Singh said the NDA government would ensure that the state get adequate drought relief. “The state had sought an assistance of over Rs 2,000 crore for providing drought relief in 2015-16 and will be given good support,” the minister said.
A total of 280 districts spread across 10 states have declared drought in this year because of a 14 per cent deficit in the southwest monsoon .
The Centre has already approved relief packages of Rs 1,540 crore for Karnataka and Rs 1,275 crore for Chhattisgarh.
