Telangana Floods | Union Home Ministry says Telangana not submitted info for release of central share under SDRF

Union Home Ministry pointed out Telangana government did not submit requisite information to release funds for State Disaster Response Funds

As the Telangana government made a strong pitch for immediate central assistance for taking up relief and rehabilitation of people affected by recent floods in the State, the Union Home Ministry has pointed out that the state government did not complete the formalities for speedy release of funds. 

The Union Home Ministry has expressed concern that the Telangana Government has not submitted requisite information for release of Central share under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the current financial year.

In a letter addressed to Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari, Home Ministry’s Disaster Management division director Ashish Gawai said as per information received telephonically, due to heavy to very heavy rainfall, rise in water level in rivers and discharge of water from dams, the State has been facing a flood like situation since August 31. Some districts (Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahbubnagar, Suryapet, Warangal and Mahbubabad) were reported to have been adversely affected due to heavy rainfall and flood water.

“However, as per the established procedure, no formal situation report has been received so far in the MHA control room,” he said adding an amount of ₹1,345.15 crore was available in the State SDRF account as on April 1 this year for management of relief necessitated by notified natural disasters including flood in the affected areas during 2024-25.

As per the schemes of SDRF “the State Government shall furnish a certificate to this (Home) Ministry and Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) in the month of April and October every year indicating thatthe amount received by the State from the Centrehas been credited to the SDRF account along with the State’s share”. This should be accompanied by a statement giving the up-to-date expenditure and the balance amount available in the SDRF.

The State would have been able to utilise the ₹1,345.15 crore had it submitted the certificate. Incidentally, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recently requested Centre to release ₹2000 crore immediately as the losses incurred on account of floods and rains are estimated to be over ₹5000 crore.

The Centre’s share of SDRF is released in two instalments every year. Explaining that the second instalment of the Central share of SDRF amounting to ₹188.8 crore for 2022-23 was released to the State Government on July 10 last year, he said the two instalments of Central share of SDRF amounting to ₹198 crore each for the year 2023-24 were also released.