New Delhi: Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today said there was no ”political discrimination” between states in releasing of funds from the Centre during the time of flood in different parts of the country.
Replying to the discussion on a Calling Attention Motion on the flood situation in different parts of the country, he said the present Government had released more funds for the North Eastern states in comparison to the previous Government.
His response came while responding to the demand made by Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress for providing more funds for Northeastern states which were affected by the floods.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced Rs 2,000-crore flood-relief package for the Northeast.
Elaborating more about the steps being taken by the government, Mr Rijju said a high-level committee which includes experts will be constituted to study the problem of flood in the North eastern part of the country and for this, an amount of Rs 100-crore has been allocated.
He said out of Rs 2,000-crore, Rs 1,200-crore is being given to Assam for rebuilding damaged infrastructure, and Rs 400-crore has been given for Brahmaputra flood control.
” Good work done by the Centre should also be appreciated,” the Minister said.
Responding to AITC member Saugata Roy’s charges that West Bengal was not provided flood-relief package and the state has been ”politically discriminated”, Mr Rijju said, ” There is no question of political discrimination at the time of floods.”
He said West Bengal is not being neglected. The Minister said Rs 130-crore has been already given to the State Government for desilting of dams and barrages under Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).
He said as per information, 203 districts in the country have been affected due to flood and 962 people have lost their lives, 206 people were injured and 23 people are missing.
The Minister said the Government has taken important steps for prevention and response against natural disasters, including floods.
”We have reduced the response time,” he said, adding that NDRF teams had conducted mock drills in the country for raising awareness on what should be done at the time of floods and earthquake.
”Government has already released Rs 4,308.125-crore to 23 states. In addition financial assistance from NDRF amounting to Rs 1,580.09-crore has been provided during the current year, so far, to different states which were affected by calamities of severe nature,” the Minister said. (UNI)