GUWAHATI, April 23 - The Government of India is yet to finalise the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for Assam for the current financial year, but there should not be any problem in tiding over the immediate crisis created by early floods in some parts of the State following incessant rains for the last few days.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the SDRF amount for each State is provided by the Government of India and the State governments only have to release an amount as its own share. The Centre is yet to release the first instalment of the SDRF for the current financial year, but there should not be any shortage of funds to provide help to the affected people in the immediate future.
The SDRF amount for the last financial year was fixed at Rs 460 crore and the State Government is expecting a hike this year.
�We are confident that at least the same amount will be given this year, too,� sources said.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority has already started preparations to deal with floods, but the early floods in some districts have created some problems. The situation in the Sonari area in Sivasagar district is still critical. The area witnessed flash floods after a sluice gate was broken in Mon district of Nagaland and the Sivasagar district administration had very little time to react. Jorhat and Lakhimpur districts also experienced floods, but the situation is now improving.
Sources revealed that all the Deputy Commissioners are provided some funds in advance so that they can immediately start rescue and relief measures whenever required. As floods started early this year, the process of sending money to the districts has already been initiated. The DCs have also been directed to hire boats from local people whenever necessary, while the State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force have their own boats, which can be used for rescuing people marooned in floods.
Moreover, the Army also has boats which can be used whenever required, sources added.
