Centre approves Rs 7,532-cr for States' Disaster Relief Efforts

The Centre has granted approval to release Rs 7,532 crore to 22 state governments through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to support the reconstruction and repair of infrastructure damaged by recent flash floods across the country. The Ministry of Finance announced that the guidelines have been relaxed, enabling immediate assistance without waiting for the utilization certificate from the previous financial year. The SDRF serves as the primary fund for state governments to address notified disasters, with the central government contributing 75% in general states and 90% in northeastern and Himalayan states. The funds are usually released in two equal installments, subject to certain requirements, but in light of the urgency, these conditions have been waived for this release. With this allocation, the total central share of SDRF disbursed to state governments now amounts to Rs 42,366 crore, including a previous release of Rs 34,140 crore.