Funds for disaster mitigation
04/12/2017
After being exposed for inaction on the key decision taken by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in the last meeting of State Disaster Management Authority, the concerned authorities have released funds to the tune of Rs 14.14 crore in the favour of Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners for establishment of Disaster Mitigation Funds. However, there are little prospects of these funds being utilized effectively especially when only four months have left for the closure of the current financial year. In the 6th meeting of SDMA, the Chief Minister had approved a token amount of Rs 25 crore as State Disaster Mitigation Fund. Out of this amount, Rs 1 crore each was directed to be placed at the disposal of each Deputy Commissioner immediately for utilization under District Disaster Mitigation Fund. It was also decided that 50% of the funds will be utilized for critical rescue equipments, 20% for capacity building, 20% for innovative projects involving community based disaster
preparedness projects and 10% for IEC activities.
What to talk of immediately release of funds to the Deputy Commissioners, the then Commissioner Secretary to Government, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction vide Order No.76-DMRRR dated September 12, 2017 ordered withdrawal of funds to the extent of Rs 3.30 crore and Rs 84 lakh released in favour of Financial Commissioner Revenue vide Government Order No.54-DMRRR dated July 12, 2017 and Government Order No.65-DMRRR dated August 11, 2017 respectively for the "capacity building for disaster response" that too without assigning any reason. This indicates that concurrence for release of Rs 14.14 crore was given by the Finance Department nearly two months back and why the DMRRR delayed issuance of directions till November 17 and why the Financial Commissioner Revenue office slept over the matter till today remain the million dollar questions.
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