VINOD BHAT
NEW DELHI, Nov 26: A High-Level Committee (HLC), chaired by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, has sanctioned ₹1,115.67 crore for disaster mitigation and capacity-building projects across various states. The approval is aimed at bolstering India’s disaster preparedness and mitigating risks associated with natural calamities.
The committee, which includes the Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog as members, focused on two major initiatives: the National Landslide Risk Mitigation Project (NLRMP) across 15 states and a nationwide training program for civil defense volunteers.
Major Approvals by the HLC:
1. National Landslide Risk Mitigation Project (₹1,000 crore):
The project targets landslide-prone regions in 15 states, aiming to reduce the risks associated with landslides and safeguard lives and infrastructure. The approved allocation includes:
₹378 crore for eight North-Eastern states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.
₹139 crore each for Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
₹100 crore for Maharashtra.
₹72 crore each for Karnataka and Kerala.
₹50 crore each for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The project, funded through the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), will implement preventive measures, enhance monitoring systems, and support capacity-building initiatives in landslide-prone regions.
2. Training and Capacity Building of Civil Defense Volunteers (₹115.67 crore):
To ensure effective disaster response, the HLC approved a ₹115.67 crore project for the training and skill enhancement of civil defense volunteers across all states and Union Territories. This initiative, funded through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), is designed to improve local-level disaster management capabilities and community resilience.
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Other Recent Disaster Mitigation Efforts:
This approval follows several landmark initiatives by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the leadership of Shri Amit Shah to build a disaster-resilient India. Recent projects include:
Urban Flood Risk Mitigation Projects in seven cities at a cost of ₹3,075.65 crore.
Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Risk Management in four states, sanctioned at ₹150 crore.
Additionally, in 2024 alone, over ₹21,476 crore has been allocated to states for disaster management, including:
₹14,878.40 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to 26 states.
₹4,637.66 crore from the NDRF to 15 states.
₹1,385.45 crore from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) to 11 states.
₹574.93 crore from the NDMF to six states.
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A Step Toward Disaster Resilience:
The approvals reflect the government’s commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a disaster-resilient India. Shri Amit Shah emphasized that these initiatives aim to minimize the loss of life and property during natural disasters by strengthening India’s disaster risk reduction mechanisms.
These measures also underscore the government’s proactive approach in utilizing technology, fostering community participation, and consolidating funding resources to safeguard vulnerable regions across the country.
