Union Minister Nityanand Rai: There is no provision to declare a disaster as a “national disaster” under the existing guidelines

New Delhi: KV Thomas, Kerala’s Special Representative in New Delhi, was advised by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai that there is no clause in the current SDRF/NDRF rules that would allow any incident to be declared a “national disaster.”

“Refer to your DO letter dated August 2, 2024, addressed to the Prime Minister, inter alia, requesting to declare disaster of landslide/flash flood during July 2024 in Wayanad as a ‘National Disaster,'” MoS Rai said in a letter to KV Thomas. In this regard, I would like to state that the state governments in question have the major duty for disaster management. The state governments’ efforts are supported financially and logistically by the central government.

“The state governments provide financial relief to the affected people in the event of 12 notified natural disasters, which include floods and landslides, from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at its disposal, by approved items and norms of the Government of India (GOI),” he stated.

According to the MoS, financial aid under the SDRF and NDRF is intended for relief purposes rather than restitution.

However, in the case of a major catastrophe, the National Catastrophe Response Fund (NDRF) provides further financial support in accordance with established protocol, which includes an evaluation based on an Inter-Ministerial Central Team’s (IMCT) visit. Under the SDRF and NDRF, financial aid is given as a kind of relief rather than payment. Furthermore, there is no provision to designate any disaster a “national disaster” under the SDRF/NDRF rules now in effect,” he said.

Additionally, MoS Home Nityanand Rai emphasized that the Kerala government has been given Rs 388 crore, of which the first installment was made available on July 31 of this year.

Additionally, I would like to mention that the State Government of Kerala has been given Rs 388.00 crore (Rs 291.20 crore Central Share + Rs 96.80 crore State Share) under the SDRF for the fiscal year 2024-2025. On July 31, 2024, the first payment of Rs 145.60 crore for Central shares was made available. On October 1, 2024, the Central Share’s second installment, worth Rs 145.60 crore, was also made available to the State beforehand. Furthermore, as of April 1, 2024, the Accountant General of Kerala revealed that the balance in the SDRF account was Rs. 394.99 crore. Therefore, there are enough monies in the state’s SDRF account to support the relief efforts,” the letter said.

Rai further emphasized that in July, Wayanad, Kerala, had flash floods and landslides. In 2024, Prime Minister Modi visited the landslide-affected districts and conducted an airborne reconnaissance in the Wayanad hamlets of Chooral Mala, Mundakki, and Punchirimatoom with the Chief Minister and Governor of Kerala.

Along with attending the Administrative Committee meeting at the Collectorate, the Hon. Prime Minister spoke with top officials and ministers from the Kerala government on the response and relief efforts. From August 7, 2024, to August 10, 2024, the DG of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also traveled to the impacted area.

In addition, three Indian Coast Guard (ICG) teams and four NDRF teams, equipped with the required gear, were sent to Wayanad to conduct relief efforts and search and rescue missions. Four Indian Air Force helicopters, two Indian Navy helicopters, and fourteen Indian Army columns were also sent to the state to assist in rescue and relief efforts. Up to August 11, 2024, he said, “The NDRF has rescued 30 people alive, evacuated 520 people, 11 livestock, and recovered 112 dead bodies.”

Rai said, “An IMCT was established on August 2, 2024, to evaluate the urgent nature of the losses in light of the landslide and flash flood incidents, without receiving any official memorandum from the state government. From August 8–10, 2024, the IMCT traveled to the impacted regions of the state. The Central Government takes action in accordance with the established protocol based on the team’s findings.

MoS Home Rai promised that the state government will continue to receive all assistance available from the Center in their endeavor.