hp-cm-sukhu-meets-amit-shah-urges-to-release-disaster-funds

Himachal Pradesh’s chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Wednesday, called upon the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hasten release of pending funds for effective disaster management. The CM urged Shah to release Rs 9,042 crore as financial assistance, the amount which a central team in a post-disaster assessment recommended, a statement issued said.

 

Last year's monsoon brought devastating natural disasters to the hilly state, including flash floods and landslides. A central team assessed the damage and recommended Rs 9,042 crore in financial assistance, which is still pending with the ministry. This funding becomes crucial at the point when the monsoon season is already here. 

 

Additionally, the state is due Rs 61.07 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund for the 2019-20 financial year, as recommended by the 14th Finance Commission, CM informed Shah. 

 

Furthermore,he requested the ministry to approve a Rs 125.84 crore project under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund to support the state's disaster response efforts.

 

It is also essential to establish National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) campuses in Mandi, Rampur, and Nalagarh to enhance our response capabilities, stated the CM. 

 

He also demanded appropriate action against unauthorised possession and encroachment on state government's land in the inter-state boundary between Lahaul Spiti and Ladakh at Sarchu and Shinkula.