The Central Government has approved the release of Rs 944.8 crore to the Tamil Nadu government as two installments of the budget from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to help provide relief to the people affected by Cyclone Fengal, the Home Department said in its office. statement.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the government has joined hands with disaster-hit districts to ease the hardships faced by the people, the statement said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the release of Rs 944.8 crore to the Tamil Nadu government as installments of the bulk allocation from the SDRF to assist the state in providing relief to the people affected by Cyclone Fengal on November 30, it said.
An Inter Ministerial Team (IMCT) has been sent to the affected Fengal in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to immediately assess the damage caused.
After receipt of assessment reports of IMCTs, additional financial assistance from NDRF will be sanctioned to the disaster-affected countries as per established procedure, the release said.
More than Rs 21,718.716 crore has already been released by the central government in 28 states this year.
This includes Rs 14,878.40 crore from SDRF to 26 states, Rs 4,808.32 crore from NDRF to 18 states, Rs 1,385.45 crore from State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) to states 11, and Rs 646,546 from National Disaster Mitigation Fund (Rs 646.546) seven districts.
In addition to financial assistance, the central government has also provided all logistical assistance, including the deployment of necessary NDRF teams, military teams, and Air Force support to all flood- and cyclone-affected states.
In a letter to the agency on Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said Cyclone Fengal had caused “unprecedented” damage in the state and urged PM Modi to release an interim relief of Rs 2,000 crore to the NDRF as a one-time payment.
Stalin said that more than 69 lakh families and 1.5 crore people were badly affected by the disaster in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu like Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Kallakurichi.
A preliminary assessment by the state government has revealed that an estimated Rs 2,475 crore is needed for temporary restoration efforts.
“Despite our best efforts, the extent of this disaster has overwhelmed the resources of the state, and the state needs urgent financial assistance to manage the fallout of this natural disaster,” Stalin said in the letter.
