Responding to the Punjab government’s plea for revision in State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has said that SDRF norms are meant for the entire country and cannot be changed for one state alone.
Talking to mediapersons on Friday, Kataria said the state government should utilise SDRF to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore available with it for relief and compensation. He said any revision in norms can only be done on the basis of a collective decision and not at the demand of a state.
The Punjab government had requested that SDRF norms should be revised to allow the state to offer higher compensation to the flood victims. While the Centre insists that Punjab has enough funds at its disposal in SDRF, the state government has maintained that it has just about Rs 6,000 crore.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also conveyed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann when they had met earlier this week that Punjab has Rs 12,000 crore in its SDRF kitty. Mann had sought a flood relief package of Rs 20,000 crore from Shah, citing losses to the extent of Rs 13,800 crore.
Also read: CM Mann to meet Shah, press for hike in SDRF allocation
Follow us
