July 26, 2024
Sushmita Dev’s Zero Hour mention on the demand to release funds for the states of Assam and Bengal to mitigate floods
Sir, I have the privilege to represent two States. I live in Assam and I have found space in this august House because of the people of Bengal. What is common between the two States is that both these States are reeling under severe floods. Assam is one of the most impacted States. When the national average is 10.2 per cent of flood-prone areas, for Assam, it is almost 40 per cent – four times! The floods of the Brahmaputra River, of the Barak River, of the Kushiyara River, of the River Ganga in Bengal are so devastating that thousands of hectares of crop land, lakhs of houses, hospitals, schools, bridges get devastated because of flooding during the monsoon. But the irony is, this is recurring every year and what we generally see is that States like Assam, Bengal, Uttarakhand, Bihar, all these States demand money from the NDRF Funds. But such is the scheme of things that when SDRF Funds and NDRF Fund have to be coordinated, the guidelines are such that a State has discretion of spending the SDRF Fund only up to 10 per cent and 90 per cent is monitored by the Centre. So, how do the Chief Ministers of States spend this money efficaciously? Sir, last but not the least, I am pained to say that when hundred people died in Assam in this flood and when 24 lakh people are impacted, and an eight-year old boy died in Guwahati, hon. Home Minister of India said that Assam has a flood-like situation. Sir, what is a flood-like situation aap batayein. We have been fighting for decades saying to declare it as a national calamity. When Siliguri to Sikkim, NH10 breaks down, or Silchar to Shillong, NH-6 breaks down, it impacts the entire North-East. I am asking to give sufficient funds to the States. Don’t say north Bengal separate ho jao Barak Valley separate ho jao. We want funds. Solve our problem, Sir, and give us funds to mitigate these floods, prevent these floods and for rehabilitation of Assam and Bengal. Thank you, Sir.
