Tougher Central relief fund norms coupled with the delay in the release of the same funds has not just added to the financial burden of the cash-starved Uttarakhand but it also adversely impacted the disaster management measures undertaken by the State Government to mitigate the hardships of the victims in the Himalayan State, post 2013 natural calamities.
The fact of the matter is that earlier the Government of India used to grant Central relief funds on the 90:10 ratio to the States like Uttarakhand. Now under the new guidelines enacted by the previous UPA Government, the same fund will be available for Uttarakhand on 70:30 ratio.
More so, out of about Rs 500 crore central relief fund meant for carrying out repair works, including the flood protection works and construction of embankments in Uttarakhand, no amount has so far been released by the Centre since the Himalayan Tsunami hit Uttarakhand in 2013.
Though, out of the aforesaid Rs 500 crore, the State Government of Uttarakhand has released its share i.e. 10 percent to the departments concerned, the Government of India that had to release the rest of the amount i.e. 90 percent of the aforesaid fund to Uttarakhand (as per the then central relief norms), has not yet done so.
Therefore, it has become difficult to carry out the repair works, including the flood protection and embankment works, without adequate funds, maintained the officials concerned.
Out of the Rs 500 crore Central relief fund, an amount of Rs 188 crore had been sanctioned for carrying out the same works in the Kumaon division. But out of the said Rs 188 crore allocated for the Kumaon division, the State Government has already released its share of about 10 percent, but the Centre has not released any amount of the said fund, said the officials of the state irrigation department (north), Kumaon division.
Yet about 30 percent repair works have been completed in the disaster- hit areas across the Kumaon division, they added. It may be recalled that be it the Garhwal division's Kedarnath Valley or adjacent parts or Dharchula, Munsyari, Kapkot, to name a few areas of the Kumaon division, flooded rivers inflicted huge damage into the Himalayan State.
Keeping in view the rivers' fury that wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand in 2013, the then Vijay Bahuguna led State Government stressed the need to construct embankments and do necessary flood protection works. But the same repairs have not yet been completed.
None other than Chief Minster Harish Rawat himself has urged the Government of India to grant Central relief funds on 90:10 ratio. But things are still uncertain, keeping thus the State Government on the tenterhooks.