Uttar Pradesh to get Rs 14,246 crores as state disaster response fund in 5 years

New Delhi: Ever since Yogi Adityanath took over the reins of the Uttar Pradesh, the state has changed and implemented policies that hugely improved upon their disaster management system.

In appreciation of the readiness in disaster situation shown by Yogi Government on many occasions, the 15th Finance Commission has made a proposal to provide a total of Rs 14,246 crore to Uttar Pradesh for disaster management in the next five years.

With this amount, the state government will now be able to make finer arrangements to deal with all types of natural calamities including extreme precipitation and floods, famines and droughts, fire outbreaks, earthquakes, unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms.

Under the able guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh, as a state has evolved into a ‘self-sufficient’ and ‘capable’ state and has set an example for others by taking a lead on every sphere of development. The state’s continuous efforts in developing their manpower, skill and infrastructure has played a major role in making Uttar Pradesh, disaster-ready.

Uttar Pradesh’s effectiveness and preparedness in dealing with severe disasters has been acknowledged after years as the centre’s allocation of the State Disaster Response Management Fund has significantly increased.

According to the information received from the officials of the Department of Revenue, on the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission, the state had received a total of Rs 3,729 crore in five years between the financial years 2015-16 to 2019-20. Now, the 15th Finance Commission has recommended funds four times more than the previous allocated amount.

The 15th Finance Commission has recommended an allocation of a total of Rs 2578 crore which comes to more per year to UP for the years 2021-22 to 2025-26. In its decision, the 15th Finance Commission has approved a sum of Rs 2578 crore for FY 2021-22, Rs 2707 crore for the FY 2022-23, Rs 2842 crore for FY 2023-24, Rs 2985 crore for FY 2024-25 and Rs 3134 crores have been allocated for the FY 2025-26. As informed by the Officials, the 15th Finance Commission has decided the allocation of funds for UP by assessing the risk from natural disasters, such as, floods, droughts, cyclones and earthquakes, etc.

Uttar Pradesh will be provided the maximum amount as the Disaster Response Fund after Maharashtra which will get a total of Rs 23737 crore in five years, whereas, UP will be getting a total of Rs 14246 crore. Apart from this, Rs 13,411 crore will be given to Madhya Pradesh, Rs 11,819 crore to Orissa, Rs 10,913 crore to Rajasthan and a total of Rs 10432 crore will be given to Bihar.

According to the officials of the Department of Revenue, the Centre and State’s share in disaster risk management will remain the same as before in the ratio of 75:25. The Central government will give Rs 10,685 crore to UP in the next five years, while the UP government will contribute an amount of Rs 3561 crore to it.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has always been serious about initiating flood control measures across the state. The government has worked in a phased manner to get rid of the flood menace permanently, with this, continuous efforts have also been made to increase the irrigation potential of the fields. In this sequence, it has also been decided to deploy disaster management experts in all the districts of the state. Apart from this, the government has built several embankments to prevent the damage by floods. At the same time, instructions have also been given to the officials to fill the ponds with canal water to deal with the drought situation in areas like Bundelkhand.