## India Allocates ₹1,115 Crore for Disaster Mitigation Amidst Record-Breaking Extreme Weather
India is grappling with the devastating consequences of unprecedented extreme weather events in 2024, prompting a significant financial commitment to disaster mitigation and preparedness. A high-level committee, chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, recently approved a substantial ₹1,115.67 crore for crucial projects aimed at bolstering the nation’s resilience against natural calamities. This allocation comes at a critical juncture, following a year marked by record-breaking temperatures, devastating landslides, and widespread destruction.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released a report earlier this month highlighting the alarming frequency of extreme weather in 2024. The report revealed that extreme weather events affected 93% of the days (255 out of 274), resulting in over 3,200 fatalities. The impact extended far beyond human lives, with 3.2 million hectares of crops affected, 236,000 houses and buildings destroyed, and approximately 9,500 livestock killed.
The committee, which includes the Union Finance and Agriculture Ministers and the Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, approved two key proposals. The first allocates approximately ₹1,000 crore to 15 states particularly vulnerable to landslides. These states include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The funding will be drawn from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF). Specific allocations include ₹139 crore each for Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, ₹378 crore for eight northeastern states, ₹100 crore for Maharashtra, ₹72 crore each for Karnataka and Kerala, and ₹50 crore each for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The second proposal, funded by the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), focuses on strengthening preparedness and capacity building. This project will allocate ₹115.67 crore for training and capacity building initiatives for Civil Defence volunteers across all states and Union Territories. This initiative aims to enhance the nation’s ability to respond effectively to future disasters.
These allocations build upon previous initiatives. Earlier this year, the committee approved ₹3,075.65 crore for urban flood risk mitigation projects in seven cities and ₹150 crore for glacial lake outburst flood risk management in four states, both from the NDMF. The government’s commitment to disaster management extends beyond these recent allocations. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has already released over ₹21,476 crore to states this year to address the immediate needs arising from extreme weather events. This includes funding from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF), and the NDMF.
The year 2024 shattered numerous climate records, according to the India Meteorological Department. February recorded its second-highest minimum temperature in 123 years, May saw the fourth-highest mean temperature, and July, August, and September all registered their highest minimum temperatures on record. October 2024 was the warmest October since 1901, underscoring the urgency of the government’s proactive approach to disaster mitigation and preparedness.
The significant financial investment underscores the Indian government’s recognition of the escalating threats posed by climate change and its commitment to protecting its citizens and infrastructure from the devastating impacts of extreme weather events. These initiatives are crucial steps in building a more resilient and disaster-prepared India.
