Even as Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy declared that his government had written to the Centre seeking immediate assistance of Rs 2,000 crore for flood relief efforts in the state, the Centre has stated that the state government is yet to submit even a situation report on the flooding.
In a letter to Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari, Ashish V. Gawai, Director of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ Disaster Management Division, noted that the state government had also not submitted the necessary documents for the release of the Centre’s share to the State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF).
Gawai requested the state government to provide the details according to the established procedure. Since August 31, some districts have been facing flood-like situations and are reported to have been adversely affected by heavy rains. However, as per the established procedure, no formal situation report has been received so far in the MHA Control Room, he said.
As reported by the State Accountant General, Rs 1,345.15 crore was available in the SDRF account as of April 1, 2024, for the management of relief in the affected areas during 2024-25.
“It has been observed from our records that the state government has not submitted the requisite information for the release of the Central share under the SDRF for the current financial year,” Gawai stated.
The MHA official pointed out that the second instalment of the Central share of the SDRF, amounting to Rs 188.80 crore for 2022-23, was released to the state government on July 10, 2023. Additionally, both instalments of the Central share of the SDRF, each amounting to Rs 198 crore for 2023-24, were released to the state government on March 13, 2024, and March 28, 2024, respectively.
The first instalment of the Central share of the SDRF, amounting to Rs 208.40 crore for 2024-25, was due for release on June 1. However, the state government had not made any request for the release nor submitted information relating to the crediting of earlier released funds, interest earned, utilization certificates, etc.
The MHA Disaster Management Director also requested that the state government direct the officers concerned in the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) to provide a daily situation report on natural disasters regularly.
The MHA official further stated that the Central government had deployed seven teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with boats and life-saving equipment in the state for rescue and relief operations. Additionally, two IAF helicopters were deployed in the state and were on standby at Hakimpet.