Centre allocates Rs 5.89 crore to Manipur under CRF for 2007-08

New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) The Centre has allocated Rs 5.89 crore to Manipur under the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) for 2007-08 comprising Rs 4.42 crore as Central contribution and Rs 1.47 crore as State contribution.

This was communicated in a letter to Dr Thokchom Meinya, Lok Sabha Member of Parliament by Ms V Radhika Selvi, Minister of State for Home Affairs regarding provision of assistance to deal with the situation caused by floods in some districts of Manipur.

The letter pointed out that the first instalment of Central share of CRF amounting to Rs 2.21 crore was released on June 21, 2007. In addition, both the instalments of Central share of CRF for 2005-06 (Rs 4.17 crore and 2006-07 Rs 4.29 crore) amounting to Rs 8.46 crore, which were not released due to non-submission of utilisation certificate by the State Government, were also released on the same date as requested by the State Government.

Ms Selvi has also assured that the Centre would extend all possible assistance to the State for meeting the situation caused by heavy rains and floods in Manipur.

She said the execution of rescue and relief operations in the wake of natural calamities was primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government. The Centre would supplement the efforts of the concerned State Government by providing requisite logistic and financial support to meet the situation effectively.

For the purpose, a Calamity Relief Fund was constituted with contributions of Central Government and State Government in the ratio 3:1.

The State Level Committee headed by the Chief Secretary of the concerned State was fully empowered under the Scheme of CRF to operate the Fund in accordance with the approved items and norms of assistance. The additional central assistance was also provided in the wake of natural calamity of a severe nature from National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) after following the laid down procedure, said a Manipur Government release here today.

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