Tamil Nadu Accuses Centre of Withholding ₹826.5 Crore for Disaster Management
Stalin slams Delhi as crucial relief money remains blocked.
The Tamil Nadu government has accused the Union government of failing to release ₹826.5 crore earmarked for disaster management in the current financial year, despite repeated requests. The pending amount comprises the second instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (₹661.2 crore) and the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (₹165.3 crore), funds critical for handling recurring cyclones and floods.
During a high-level meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority chaired by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday, officials highlighted that between 2021 and 2025, Tamil Nadu has spent an additional ₹9,170.48 crore from its own resources on disaster management — far exceeding the ₹5,351.9 crore contributed by the Centre to the SDRF during the same period. The state has executed disaster mitigation works worth ₹1,740 crore in the last four years alone.
Stalin pointed out that Tamil Nadu has consistently allocated more funds than the Centre for disaster preparedness and response, ensuring uninterrupted relief operations even when central assistance remains stalled. The meeting also approved the Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Plan 2025 and reviewed advanced systems including automated weather stations, real-time flood forecasting for Chennai, and the integrated flood monitoring centre.
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With the India Meteorological Department issuing a red alert for very heavy rainfall in several districts on November 29-30 and Cyclone Ditwah expected to intensify the northeast monsoon, the Chief Minister ordered round-the-clock preparedness. District collectors have been directed to keep relief camps ready, deploy monitoring officers in vulnerable areas, and ensure coordination among revenue, police, fire services, and health departments.
In a parallel move, the state has sought pre-positioning of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force (TNDRF) teams in 16 high-risk districts. Eight senior engineers have been deployed to coastal and delta regions until December 2 to oversee removal of water hyacinth, desilting of water bodies, and other preventive measures as the state braces for another spell of extreme weather without the promised central funds.
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