'Centre yet to release fund to tackle flood situation'

GUWAHATI, September 3: Reacting to Union minister Sarbanda Sonowal’s claim that the Centre had released Rs 207 crore for flood relief in the State, the State government on Thursday said that the Central funds of Rs 207 crore released to the State government by the Centre this year, is merely the first instalment of the current year’s central allocation of Rs 414 crore available under State Disaster Response Funds.

In a press release, issued by the Chief Minister’s Office said, “After the first instalment of SDRF released in May 2015, no funds either under SDRF or under the Special package, have been released to the State Government to mitigate the impact of severe floods in Assam during the current fincial year till now.”

The statement further said that this funds under SDRF has not only been released to Assam but also, by to all 26 States. Rs 207 crore received by Assam in May this year is merely the first instalment of the central share of SDRF receivable by the State along with all other states in normal course. This amount is entitlement of the State as per provision of the Act and is not any additiol special assistance from the Central Government.

Stating that during the year 2014, State had submitted a Memorandum to the Central government for providing special central assistance to the tune of Rs 2485.13 Crore for taking up repair and restoration works of damaged infrastructures caused by floods that year, it said, “The government of India though had sanctioned Rs. 387.20 crore  under tiol Disaster Response Funds against the aforementioned demand of the State Government , unfortutely, even the said sanctioned funds has not also been released so far.”

Chief Minister Gogoi also criticised the role of Union Minister Sarbanda Sonowal on various issues concerning the State. Gogoi opined that Sonowal did not pressurise the Union Government for continuation of Special Category Status to the NE States, stated the release.