New Delhi: A High-Level Committee (HLC), led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has approved £291.5 million for disaster mitigation projects across various states today. The committee, which includes the Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, considered projects to reduce lightning risks in 50 high-risk districts across 10 states and provided assistance to 49 districts in 12 drought-prone states. These projects will be funded by the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).
The committee approved £194.6 million to support 12 drought-prone states, with £115.5 million coming from the central government. These states are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
It also approved a £18 million Mitigation Project on Lightning Safety for 10 states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Additionally, the Home Minister approved £78.7 million for a Forest Fire Risk Management Scheme in 144 high-priority districts across 19 states. The central government will contribute £66.4 million. This scheme aims to improve forest fire prevention and response. The states involved include Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.
To strengthen disaster preparedness, the Ministry of Home Affairs, under Amit Shah’s leadership, has taken several steps to improve disaster management and reduce loss of life and property.
Earlier, the HLC had approved funding for other disaster-related projects, including £296.2 million for Urban Flood Risk Mitigation in seven major cities, £14.4 million for GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) Risk Management in four states, and £96.4 million for Landslide Risk Mitigation in 15 states.
So far, over £2.4 billion has been given to states this financial year for disaster relief and mitigation. This includes £1.68 billion for State Disaster Response, £462 million for the National Disaster Response, £189.7 million for State Disaster Mitigation, and £69 million for National Disaster Mitigation.