Question : Assistance for Disaster Management

(a) whether Rs. 1,200 crore was sanctioned to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh under National Disaster Management to improve transport, information systems, establishment of shelters in the areas affected by cyclones including Phani, Titli and Vayu;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the amount spent by the Government so far;

(c) whether NDMA has signed MoU with Facebook to help the victims and their families by responding immediately and in carrying other help and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the number of representations given by the State to the Union Government and the action taken against each representation along with funds sanctioned/spent, item/work-wise; and

(e) whether there is lukewarm response from the Union Government despite large scale damage in the State due to many cyclones in assessing and finalising the compensation to the victims and States need interim relief in such cases, if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps being taken in this regard in future?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) & (b): Under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project, an amount of Rs. 1339.44 crore (Rs. 1039.77 cr. – Central share + Rs. 299.67 cr. – State share) was released to Andhra Pradesh. Of this a sum of Rs. 1237.48 crore has been spent by the State as on 30.11.2019 and 219 multi-purpose cyclone shelters, 698.02 km of roads, 34 bridges, 29.9 km of saline embankments and early warning dissemination system have been created in the coastal districts of State.



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LS.US.Q.NO. 1849 FOR 03.03.2020
(c): No MoU has been signed by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) with Facebook in this regard.

(d) & (e): With regard to cyclone Phani, Titli and Vayu, it is stated that State Government of Andhra Pradesh had submitted a memorandum for seeking financial assistance in respect to cyclone ‘Titli’ of 2018. Based on the report of Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), Government of India approved the assistance of (i) Rs. 539.52 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for cyclone ‘Titli’ of 2018 and (ii) Air bills, as per actuals. This is in addition to Rs. 458.10 crore released by the Government of India to Government of Andhra Pradesh as Central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for management of relief necessitated by natural disasters during 2018.

Financial assistance under SDRF/ NDRF in the wake of notified natural disasters is given by way of relief and not for compensation of loss as suffered/ claimed.

There are institutional mechanisms at the National, State & district level in the country to develop appropriate preparedness and prompt response mechanism for effective management of natural disasters. The measures taken by the Central and State Governments have significantly improved disaster management, preparedness, prevention and response mechanism resulting in significant reduction in casualties during natural calamities. Further, strengthening of the disaster management is a continuing and evolving process of the governance.
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