NEW DELHI, Sept 3 - With the floods wreaking havoc in Assam, the Centre is willing to release the second instalment amount of Rs 207 crore out of the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to the State Government.
According to sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), though the first instalment of Rs 207 crore was released to the State on May 27 on 90:10 sharing basis, the second instalment was not due until December. However, if the Government of Assam requests the MHA then the Centre is willing to release it on a priority basis, the sources added.
The Centre�s offer came after Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi sought Rs 500 crore from the Centre for flood relief work.
Urging the Prime Minister for immediate release of Rs 387 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), Gogoi had said that he was given to understand that the sanctioned amount for Rs 387 crore under NDRF is to be adjusted against the unspent balance of SDRF, which will be a grave injustice, because the unspent balance of SDRF is committed against projects already sanctioned and the State Government, in fact, needs more funds to meet the committed liabilities.
Gogoi also requested Modi to release the Central share of Rs 257 crore against the Flood Management Programme (FMP) schemes taken up under the 11th Plan for which the State Government has already released its share. Gogoi further pleaded for release of the Central share for Rs 1,016 crore for FMP schemes under the 12th Plan.
The Centre is, meanwhile, closely monitoring the flood situation in the State and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal has been tasked to tour the flood-affected areas and submit a report.
