Centre Clears ₹2,006-Cr Aid for HP to Tide Over 2023 Flood Fury

A high-level committee, headed by Union home minister Amit Shah, has approved ₹2,006.40 crore in central assistance for Himachal Pradesh for the recovery and reconstruction efforts following the devastating floods, landslides, and cloudburst of 2023.

- HTC & Agencies

NEW DELHI/SHIMLA:

Heavy rains had triggered floods and landslides in the state in July and August 2023, and about 550 people died during the monsoon season.

The Himachal Pradesh Congress government has been requesting the Union government to expedite the release of Rs 9,042 crore under post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) for the year 2023-24.

The committee, comprising Union finance and agriculture ministers and the vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog as members, considered the proposal for financial assistance to the state from the recovery and reconstruction funding window under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), an official statement said. BJP leaders, including party chief JP Nadda, who is also from Himachal, expressed gratitude to the Union government for the ₹2,000 crore aid to Himachal, while Congress termed it "too little".