‘No rule to tag natural calamity nat’l disaster, UPA govt said in 2013’

New Delhi: Govt on Saturday revealed an admission made by the UPA govt in 2013 that there’s no provision in the country to officially call a natural calamity as a national disaster, a demand put forth by Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and other opposition politicians.

“As per a 2013 Lok Sabha reply by then junior home minister Mullappally Ramachandran, there is no provision to classify a natural disaster as a national disaster,” a govt source said. “The cacophony of the demand is led by Gandhi, the (former) MP from the region. However, no one in the opposition has bothered to check facts about the veracity of the demand. The concept does not exist under central govt rules.”

The functionary added, the UPA minister in his reply had stated that, “Govt of India adjudges a calamity of severe nature on case-to-case basis taking into account inter alia intensity and magnitude of the calamity, level of relief assistance, capacity of state govt to tackle the problem, the alternatives and flexibility available within the plan to provide succour and relief etc. The priority is immediate relief and response assistance in the context of a natural calamity. As such there is no fixed prescribed norms. However, for calamity of a ‘severe nature’, additional assistance is considered from NDRF, after following the established procedure.”

No rule to tag natural calamity national disaster, UPA govt said in 2013The government disclosed on Saturday that the UPA administration in 2013 acknowledged the absence of provisions to officially declare a natural calamity as a national disaster. This revelation counters demands by opposition figures, including Rahul Gandhi. The focus remains on case-by-case evaluation for severe calamities, providing immediate relief and additional assistance through established procedures.112433322

Can Wayanad tragedy be declared a national disaster? ‘No provision’, says govtCongress leader Rahul Gandhi urged the Central government to declare the Wayanad landslide a national disaster. Although government sources stated there’s no provision for such a declaration, Gandhi stressed comprehensive rehabilitation and increased compensation for victims. The disaster claimed over 400 lives and caused significant devastation in the region on July 30.112418991

BJP cites UPA-era rule to reject ‘national disaster’ status for Wayanad landslidesThe BJP responded to demands from various quarters, including Rahul Gandhi, to declare the Wayanad landslides a national disaster, stating that such a concept doesn’t exist under Central guidelines. BJP leader V Muraleedharan highlighted a 2013 Parliament document confirming the absence of this provision and noted the ongoing Central assistance and relief efforts in the affected areas.112261693

Courtesy : TOI

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