Kerala to get ₹162.25 cr for fire services upgrade as Centre approves ₹1,604 cr for 5 states

New Delhi: Kerala will receive ₹162.25 crore for the expansion and modernization of fire services as part of a ₹1,604.39 crore allocation approved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah for five states. The high-level committee chaired by Shah sanctioned funds under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Kerala to strengthen fire services and disaster preparedness. Kerala’s share will contribute to enhancing fire safety infrastructure across the state.

The approved funds include ₹340.90 crore for Bihar, ₹339.18 crore for Gujarat, ₹147.97 crore for Jharkhand, ₹162.25 crore for Kerala, and ₹614.09 crore for Maharashtra. This funding comes under the Preparedness and Capacity Building window of the NDRF and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a disaster-resilient India.

Additionally, the committee approved ₹555.70 crore for disaster recovery and reconstruction in Sikkim, following the Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in October 2023 along the Teesta river basin. The Centre has earmarked ₹5,000 crore under the NDRF for the modernization of fire services nationwide, with ₹3,373.12 crore already allocated to 20 states.

The High-Level Committee, which includes the Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, has ensured that during the current financial year, the Central Government has released ₹19,074.80 crore to 28 states under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and ₹3,229.35 crore to 16 states under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). Additionally, ₹5,160.76 crore has been released to 19 states under the NDRF, while ₹719.71 crore has been allocated to eight states under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund. These measures aim to enhance disaster preparedness, response mechanisms, and fire safety infrastructure across India. IANS