Amit Shah Greenlights ₹1,604 Crore for Fire Service Enhancement in Bihar and Four Other States
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Synopsis
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has sanctioned ₹1,604.39 crore for the improvement of fire services across five states, including Bihar, as part of disaster recovery efforts, alongside additional support for Sikkim's reconstruction needs.
Key Takeaways
- Amit Shah approves ₹1,604 crore for fire services.
- Financial aid allocated for Sikkim recovery.
- Major funds earmarked for five states.
- Focus on strengthening disaster resilience.
- High-Level Committee oversees the initiatives.
New Delhi, March 28 (NationPress) The Union Home Minister Amit Shah has given his approval for initiatives aimed at disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts for Sikkim. Additionally, he has sanctioned a total of Rs 1,604.39 crore to enhance fire services across five states, as confirmed by an official statement on Friday.
During the high-level committee meeting chaired by HM Shah, financial support of Rs 555.70 crore was allocated to Sikkim from the Recovery and Reconstruction Funding Window under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to address disaster recovery and reconstruction requirements.
The allocated funds are anticipated to aid various sectors that were impacted by the catastrophic Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) that occurred downstream along the Teesta river basin in October 2023, as outlined in a statement.
In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a disaster-resilient India, the High-Level Committee has endorsed projects worth Rs 1,604.39 crore for five states—Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Kerala—under the initiative titled ‘Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States’.
Funding was approved as follows: Rs 340.90 crore for Bihar, Rs 339.18 crore for Gujarat, Rs 147.97 crore for Jharkhand, Rs 162.25 crore for Kerala, and Rs 614.09 crore for Maharashtra from the designated allocation of the Preparedness and Capacity Building Funding window under the NDRF.
The Central Government has set aside a total of Rs 5,000 crore under the NDRF for the “Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the states,” having already approved proposals from 20 states totaling Rs 3,373.12 crore.
The High-Level Committee also includes the Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, and the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog as members.
In this financial year, the Central Government has allocated Rs 19,074.80 crore to 28 states via the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs 3,229.35 crore to 16 states through the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF).
Furthermore, a total of Rs 5,160.76 crore has been distributed to 19 states under the NDRF and Rs 719.71 crore to eight states through the National Disaster Mitigation Fund.
