Rs 500 crore for flood relief in Assam is not enough

Simantik Dowerah

Since the enactment of Flood Control Act in 1954, Assam has spent Rs 33,000 crore for flood control measures. Despite these measures, Assam suffers every year. Thus the Centre's kneejerk reaction by dolling out a meager Rs 500 crore is insufficient. The Economic Survey (2011-12) says that flood prevention structure in the state needs an overhaul. When the call is for more funds from NEC, NLCPR, Additional Central Assistance, NABARD and ADB for mega anti-flood and anti-erosion projects, the Rs 500 crore is just a token amount. The state has sought Rs 11,316 crore from the Centre. Money is needed to save the state. Another 77 people need not die in the next wave of floods like this year.read less read more

Akshaya Mishra

Rs 500 crore against a demand of Rs 11,316 crore. On the face of it this appears grave injustice to the people of the flood-ravaged Assam. However, the outrage over the meager grant is misplaced. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that this is an ad hoc grant. It means more funds would follow. Moreover, state governments facing natural disasters have a habit of overestimating the loss and making highly inflated claims. In states where floods are an annual phenomenon, the central funds are grossly misused. Bureaucrats and NGOs end up as the real beneficiaries rather than the disaster victims. Lesser funds – the central allocation is not a random decision, it is made on the basis of competent estimation -- mean the money is used in a more precise and effective ways.read less read more