Question : Loss due to Natural Calamities

(a) the details of States affected by natural calamities including thunder storms and floods and quantum of loss of lives and property including loss of crops reported during the last one year and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has received proposals from the State Governments seeking financial assistance for the said losses;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto along with the financial assistance provided, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Government has sent a Central Team to the affected States to evaluate and ascertain the extent of losses and if so, the details and the outcome thereof, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for management of the said calamities and providing training and scientific knowledge to the farmers to minimize such crop losses in the event of thunderstorms and floods in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a): Various parts of States in the country have been affected by natural calamities including thunder storms and floods in the recent past. State-wise details of the losses of lives and property including loss of crops due to natural calamities during the last one year and current year, as reported by the State Governments/ Union Territories, are at Annexure-I.

(b) to (d): The primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Governments. The concerned State Governments undertake relief activities according to the magnitude of the ground situation, in the wake of natural disasters from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal in accordance with Government of India approved items and norms. Additional assistance is extended from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as per established procedure. The financial assistance is towards relief and not for compensation of loss as suffered/ claimed.

With regard to thunderstorms, it is mentioned that thunderstorm is not a


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notified disaster, eligible for financial assistance from the NDRF. However, State Governments may use up to 10% of the funds available under the SDRF for providing immediate relief to the victims of State-specific disasters within the local context in the State. In the instant case, the State Governments are required to meet the expenditure for providing immediate relief to the victims of thunderstorms disaster, from readily available fund under SDRF account in accordance with the approved items & norms of assistance.

Two State Governments (viz; Tripura and Kerala) have submitted preliminarily memorandum seeking assistance from NDRF. These proposals are under examination in the Ministry.

State-wise details of allocation and releases from SDRF and NDRF during the last one year and current year are given in Annexure-II.

(e): India Meteorological Department (IMD) monitors Severe Weather and alert State Meteorological Centers (SMCs)/ Regional Meteorological Centers (RMCs) about occurrence of severe weather in their region through daily Nowcast Guidance and Forecast Demonstration Project (FDP) bulletins (during FDP STORM Period). State Meteorological Centers (SMCs)


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issue three hourly Nowcast and issue warnings through SMS at district level as and when necessary. IMD maintains and upgrades the ‘Nowcast’ webpage and website to include information of severe weather events and monitor quality of various tools for nowcasting such as Radar and satellite data, and ensure interact with relevant divisions to ensure quality upkeep.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) conducted meetings on pre-monsoon dust and thunder storms with all stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of early warning, resulting reduction in mortality. Awareness campaigns on various disasters are being run through news letter ‘Aapda Samvaad’, Social media (Facebook and Twitter) and Do’s and Don’ts through digital newsletter.



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