Question : Losses due to Natural Calamities

(a) whether the various parts of the country including North-Eastern States and Assam have been affected by landslides, heavy rains and floods recently, if so, the details of loss of lives and damage to property and crops reported during the last one year and the current year;

(b) the details of assistance/compensation for loss of crops sought by the States in this regard and the amount of relief provided by the Government, State-wise;

(c) the efforts made by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams for rescue and relief operations along with the number of people rescued, boats mobilised, relief centres opened etc., State-wise;

(d) the status of relief and rehabilitation works in the affected areas; and

(e) whether the Government is considering to have a permanent mechanism to deal with such calamities and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) to (e) Various parts of the country have been affected by natural calamities including heavy rains and floods in the recent past. The details of the losses due to natural calamities during the last one year and current year, as reported by the State Governments/ Union Territories, are at Annexure-I.

The primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Government. 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)/ National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) in accordance with the established procedure. Financial assistance under SDRF/ NDRF in the wake of natural disasters is by way of relief and not for compensation of loss as suffered/ claimed. In addition to regular schemes of crops damage, the farmers are also entitled for compensation under the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) of the Ministry of Agriculture, which is being implemented by the State Government.
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L.S.US.Q.NO.402 FOR 18.7.2017

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

Based on vulnerability profile of different regions of the country, NDRF teams have been presently stationed/ deployed at 12 Bn HQ viz; Guwahati (Assam), Haringhata (West Bengal), Mundali (Odisha), Arakkonam (Tamil Nadu), Pune (Maharashtra), Vadodra (Gujarat), Bhatinda (Punjab), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), Bihta (Bihar), Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh). Besides, based on the monsoon forecast and flood vulnerability profile of different regions of the country, 31 specialist teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) alongwith necessary equipment were prepositioned in different flood prone areas of the country before commencement of monsoon and 27 additional Teams were deployed on the request of the State Governments on need basis. In addition, NDRF teams also assist to the State administration in distribution of essential relief material and provide medical support to affected people at the time of emergency. The State-wise details of deployment of NDRF Team for rescue and relief operations alongwith number of people rescued/ evacuated during 2017, are at Annexure-III.
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With regard to permanent mechanism to deal with calamities, it is stated that there are well established institutional mechanisms at the National, State and district levels in the country to develop appropriate preparedness, response, prevention and mitigation mechanism in disaster situation. In order to strengthen the existing disaster management system, the Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides for institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring the implementation of the disaster management plans, which includes coordinated and prompt response to any disaster situation in the country and requires holistic measures by various wings of Government for preparedness, prevention, mitigation and for minimizing the effects of calamities. The measures as taken by the Government of India and the State Governments are expected to improve the existing disaster management practices including the preparedness, prevention and minimizing the effects of natural calamities in the country. Further, the strengthening of the disaster management is a continuing and evolving process of the governance.




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