Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, 22 July declared that there would be no shortage of funds for flood relief and rehabilitation across the state, asserting that the Centre bears nearly the entire financial burden of disaster management and that additional allocations would be sought if needed. Sarma made the remarks while addressing reporters at Sonari in Charaideo district.

Centre Covers Almost All Relief Costs

Chief Minister Sarma explained that flood relief and erosion management expenditures are reimbursed almost entirely by the Central government under established disaster management frameworks. 'The issue is not about fund. Whatever expenditure is incurred on flood relief and erosion management is almost entirely reimbursed by the Central government. We only have to spend the money and submit the required details,' he said.

He further noted that relief funds are disbursed in advance by the Centre, and the state retains the option to seek additional allocations if existing provisions prove inadequate.

Direct PM-Level Support an Option, Says Sarma

'If an extraordinary situation arises that goes beyond the existing guidelines, we can approach the Central government for additional assistance. If necessary, we can even seek support directly from the Prime Minister. There will be no shortage of funds for helping the affected people,' Sarma said.

The Chief Minister assured that the state would compensate losses to the extent possible, covering damage to houses, educational certificates, cattle, and other essential assets destroyed in the floods.

Rescue Operations Ongoing, Villages Still Submerged

Sarma confirmed that the state government's immediate priority remains rescue and relief, with the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and civil administration working round-the-clock in severely affected areas. He acknowledged, however, that rescue efforts continue to face significant challenges as several villages remain submerged and inaccessible.

Scale of Destruction Still Unfolding

The Chief Minister cautioned that the actual scale of losses is likely to be far higher than initial official assessments suggest, as floodwaters have yet to fully recede across affected districts. He said the state government would continue assessing damage and updating relief measures accordingly.

Notably, Assam has faced recurring and severe flooding every monsoon season, straining state resources and displacing hundreds of thousands of residents annually. This year's floods have reportedly caused widespread destruction of homes, livestock, and documents across multiple districts. Sarma reiterated that the government would remain committed to supporting flood-hit families until full rehabilitation and restoration of normalcy is achieved.