Sikkim to get Rs 87.84 crore as calamity assistance from Centre

A High-Level Committee (HLC) Under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved an additional assistance of ₹4,381.88 crore to Sikkim and five other states who were affected by cyclone, floods and landslides this year.

The central government released the grant under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). For floods and landslides during the South-West monsoon, Sikkim will receive around Rs 87.84 crore, which is about 5% of the total grant approved. The central government had deputed Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) immediately after the calamities without waiting for the receipt of memorandum from the affected state.

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Sikkim’s average number of rainy days ranges from 100-184 days a year. This year’s monsoon, like most years, has caused numerous landslides and floods. Areas such as Legshep, Reshi, Rohtak, Baiguney, Pippaley, Sikkip and Jorethang in Sikkim were affected by flash floods. Upper Djongu region of North Sikkim district was hit by flash flood this year leading to damage of 19 buildings and affected 35 families.

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In addition to Sikkim, Rs 2,707.77 crore has been approved for West Bengal for cyclone Amphan, and Rs.128.23 crore for Odisha. For cyclone Nisarga, Rs 268.59 crore has been approved for Maharashtra and Rs.577.84 crore has been approved for Karnataka, Rs 611.61 crore for Madhya Pradesh.

In addition, the prime minister had also announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of the dead and ₹50,000 for the injured, which was over and above the ex-gratia provided through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the NDRF.

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