A high-level committee (HLC), chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has approved Rs 4,645.60 crore for various disaster mitigation, recovery, and reconstruction projects across nine states. The committee, which includes the Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, considered proposals for financial assistance from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).
The approved projects span across Assam, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Approvals and Project Details:
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Assam Wetland Restoration: A significant portion of the approved funds, Rs 692.05 crore, is allocated for the restoration and rejuvenation of 24 wetlands in Assam. The central government will contribute Rs 519.04 crore (75%), with the state covering the remaining Rs 173.01 crore (25%). This initiative aims to enhance wetland capacity for flood storage, increase flood resilience, protect the aquatic environment, and stimulate economic growth through improved fisheries infrastructure. These wetlands are spread across nine districts within the Brahmaputra river system. The project will employ structural and other measures to enhance water retention, mitigating flood and erosion risks. The long-term goal is to establish a flood-proof Brahmaputra valley, with this project serving as a pilot.
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Urban Flood Risk Management Programme (UFRMP) Phase-2: The HLC approved Rs 2,444.42 crore for the Urban Flood Risk Management Programme (UFRMP) Phase-2, covering eleven cities: Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Jaipur, Kanpur, Patna, Raipur, Trivandrum, Vishakhapatnam, Indore, and Lucknow. Funding will be sourced from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).
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Guwahati Flood Mitigation: A dedicated package of Rs 200 crore has been approved for flood mitigation in Guwahati, with the central government providing Rs 180 crore.
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Additional Recovery Grants: The committee also approved recovery grants of Rs 1,270.79 crore for Assam and Rs 260.56 crore for Kerala.
This approval aligns with the Home Minister's vision for developing wetlands for conservation and flood mitigation in Assam.
