The National Crisis Management Committee which looks into the matters concerning relief in the wake of natural calamity and takes steps for effective implementation of its directions had recently got together to decide on the scale of assistance for the Kerela floods. The state has been badly affected by the floods. Almost 75 lives have been reported to have been lost while the property of several people has been severely damaged.
The NCMC has decided in consultation with the centre to deploy more manpower and equipment and in general ‘scale up assistance’ in the state. The situation has been described as ‘very grim’ by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, even with the rescue operations and relief efforts are going on as what the operations are lacking is more manpower and assistance. The NCMC is currently under the chairmanship of cabinet secretary PK Sinha, who also has to incorporate instructions of the Prime Minister. In the last NCMC meeting, the Cabinet Secretary tasked all the forces – Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, NDRF and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) ‘to provide all possible assistance with the state for relief and rescue operations’.
The Central government has allocated Rs 100 crore for relief purposes. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also started a distress relief fund. Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund is an emergency assistance release mechanism granting ‘immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases’. The state has invited donations to this fund, which will help the victims recover from the natural calamity which has struck them. The Kerala CM has again called up Modi requesting him for ‘more assistance’ to overcome the crisis. The NCMC will meet again on Friday to review the situation and further assess the steps that need to be undertaken.
For proper reservoir management in Mullaperiyar Dam, the NCMC chief constituted a committee to look into the crisis. Once those reports are ready only then further action regarding this crisis can be initiated.