THE RELIEF MANUAL

PART- I-FLOODS

CHAPTER I -Flood Warnings

 

   Issue of flood warning: - Floods are caused by overflowing rivers or by excessive rains. As a safe guard against this calamity it is most essential that warning regarding approaching floods in rivers are issued and conveyed promptly to all concerned such as the Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil), Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners and the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, where necessary.

2.                 The Punjab Irrigation Department has already fixed the intensity of ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ floods for various rivers in cusecs as per Statement No. 1. On the basis of the intensity fixed, the flood warnings are issued and conveyed to the irrigation authorities and other civil officers as per Statement No. II. Warnings intended for the Irrigation Officers are sent by Canal Wire, where possible, and by telegrams to other Civil Officers. The Irrigation Branch Officers listed in the Statement No. III are authorised to use the priority indication ‘IMMEDIATE’ in the Fax, inland telegrams for conveying flood warnings during the period from June 15 to November 15. During October 1 to March 31, warnings are issued immediately when a river rises to the ‘low’ flood level.  For the period from April to September 30, flood warnings are issued only when a river reaches the ‘medium’ flood stage. No warnings are issued for ‘low’ floods during summer. As a river rises to each successive stage of ‘low’, ‘medium’, and ‘High’ flood, warnings are sent in the following form: -

 

“(NAME OF RIVER) AT (NAME OF SITE) LOW/ MEDIUM/ HIGH Flood--------------Cusecs---------------Hours”

(time to be stated by 24 hour clock--------------date) Rising/falling

                                                                                                       (Designation of sender)

               In case of rising floods, a peak warning is given in the following form:

“(NAME OF RIVER) at (NAME OF SITE) -------------------- Maximum cusecs---------------------Hours  (time to be stated by 24 hour clock) --------------- (date) falling.

                                                                                                        (Designation of sender)

                        The list of officers to whom warnings should be sent by telegram is given in column 5-B of Appendix ‘A’. The Commissioners and other Officers concerned with flood relief should be able to judge from figures of the discharge of water conveyed through such warnings, the extent of likely danger to different villages. No hard and fast rule can be laid down in the matter and there is also no certainty as to which areas will be affected by floods. District Officers will, of course, be guided by the past experience in this behalf. Each Deputy Commissioner should collect statistics, in collaboration with the local officers of the Irrigation Department, regarding floods that had visited the districts during the past years, the extent of damaged caused, area flooded etc. etc. This information should be compiled in the proforma shown in Appendix ‘B’. Copies of this statement should be sent to the Commissioners of Divisions and Financial Commissioner Revenue.

 

Reporting of a serious situation through Police Radio: - When the circumstances so warrant, the agency of the police should be used to report a serious situation. However, the following points may be kept in view: -

(i)   The Police Wireless should be used only when there is failure of telephone             and telegraph lines and   the flood situation is grave and emergent.

(ii)    While sending a message through the Police radio to the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), the Deputy Commissioners should also address the     same message to the Chief Secretary to Government, Punjab, Chandigarh for granting permission for the use of police radio and also requesting him to get       ex–post facto sanction of the Government of India in the concerned Ministry.

(iii)    A postal copy of the wireless message with a certificate that the radio channel was utilized on the failure of the normal telephone and telegraph lines and that the flood situation was grave and emergent should be sent by the Deputy Commissioners to the Joint Secretary, Home Department, with a copy to the Inspector General of Police, Punjab.

 

 

CHAPTER – II

Protective Measures

 

 Scheme for dealing with floods: - A comprehensive scheme should be evolved to deal with floods. Necessary protective measures should be adopted on the lines indicated below: -

           1. Every care should be taken at all levels to ensure that the launching of this scheme does not create panic or give the impression that floods are imminent.  On the other hand it should give the impression that Administration is prepared and has a sound plan to cope with the situation, should it ever arise.

                Experience has shown that a great deal of the material and psychological damage caused by floods, whether by over-flowing rivers or excessive rains, is due chiefly to the following factors: -

                    (a)         Unpreparedness.

                    (b) Failure to give timely warnings to all concerned, particularly to the people of villages exposed to floods.

                    (c)                              Lack of accurate information regarding the areas cut off by floods.

                    (d) Inability of the administrative machinery to establish immediate contact with the affected areas.

             (e) Inadequate co-ordination between various departments and between the administrative and non-official agencies.

                     (f)                     Unplanned action, and

                     (g)                     Time- lag in mobilizing resources.

 

2.        Preparation of tehsil maps: - For facility of directing flood relief operations effectively, it is desirable that the information obtained in the Control Rooms should be exhibited suitably by graphs, charts and maps.  Failure to do so can be a serious handicap.  Four copies of such maps and charts, etc. etc. in each tehsil should be prepared.  If a tehsil is absolutely immune from floods on account of its topography, it will not be necessary to prepare a map of that particular tehsil. These maps should contain all the information mentioned in the form at Appendix ‘C’.  Four copies of such maps should be prepared ;one for the tehsil Control Room, one for the District Control Room, and one each for the Commissioner and the Financial Commissioner, Revenue.

 

           3.         Setting up of Control Rooms: - Control rooms should be set up at the head quarters of Tehsils, Districts, Divisions and at the Secretariat and placed in the charge of the officers mentioned below: -

(i)                 Tehsil headquarters: - The Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) or Tehsildar or any other officer appointed by the Deputy Commissioner.

(ii)               Deputy Commissioner’s office: - The General Assistant or any other officer appointed by the Deputy Commissioner. It is desirable, perhaps essential, that the Officer placed in charge should not have touring duties.

(iii)             Commissioner’s Office: - A responsible official of the Commissioner’s Office.

(iv)              Financial Commissioners’ Office: - Secretary/ Special Secretary/ Additional Secretary/ Joint Secretary/ Deputy Secretary/ Under Secretary Revenue.

                  It is understood that as soon as the emergency arises, at least one official will always be there on duty in such a Control Room.

 

          3.(a)    Control Room at the Tehsil Headquarters: - The Control Room at the Tehsil headquarters shall:

(i)         Collect information regarding the flood situation coming from all parts of the tehsil. At 5 p.m. every day all the information received till then, shall be set down in form ‘A’ Appendix ‘D’ and conveyed immediately, either by Fax/wireless, or telegram, or where     these means of communication have failed, by such other expeditious means as are   possible, directly to the Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner and Financial Commissioner Revenue.

            Nil report need not be sent;

(ii)        Keep in touch with the evacuation of people from dangerously exposed or seriously flooded villages. Such evacuation shall, as explained later, proceed from village to an ‘Evacuation Centre’ and hence to a ‘Relief Centre’. All necessary directions and organisational details pertaining to evacuation shall also be issued from the Control Room.

 (iii)             Organise and direct relief measure throughout the tehsil through various ‘Relief             Centres’;

(iv)       Co-ordinate the participation of non-official organizations and agencies, both for             evacuation and   relief operations; and

 (v)       Guide and inform all those who may seek assistance or information regarding              situation in the tehsil

 

          3(b)   Control Room at District Headquarters: - The District Control Room shall  perform the following functions:-

(i)      Maps showing the flood situation in all tehsils in the district shall be set up in this             Control Room and kept upto-date.

  (ii)     This Control Room shall perform function for the District similar to those             performed        by the Control Room at the tehsil level.

 (iii)      By 6 P.M. each day collect situation reports received from the Tehsil Control Rooms and send a consolidated report for the whole district by Fax/Police Wireless, or telegram in Form B at Appendix ‘D’ to the Commissioner, Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Chief Secretary and other authorities concerned with evacuation and relief operations, such as the local army.            

 (iv)      Nil reports need not be sent.

          

           3 (c)   Control Room at Divisional headquarters: -

 

  (i)   Functions of this Control Room shall be similar to those of the District and Tehsil Control Rooms but the Commissioner shall not be required to issue situation reports to Govt., unless considered necessary in special circumstances.

(ii)       Maps of all Tehsils in the Division shall be set up in this control room and kept upto-date.

 (iii)      The Commissioner of a division shall normally be responsible for enlisting the aid of military authorities, when necessary. It is expected that the Deputy Commissioner shall get in touch with the Commissioner when the situation calls for assistance from the army. If such assistance can be secured locally by the Deputy Commissioner, the Commissioner should be kept informed. If military assistance on a large scale is considered necessary, the Commissioner shall contact the Chief Secretary on telephone or otherwise, and also inform the Financial Commissioner, Revenue about it.       

                 Provided that ordinarily in Flood Relief Operations help should first be sought from Police and P.A.P. personnel. Army is to be called upon only when the floods are of exceptional magnitude.

 

            3 (d)   Control Room at the Financial Commissioners’ Office: - Control Room in the Financial Commissioners’ Office, shall be set up under the overall control of one of the Joint /Deputy Secretaries (Revenue) and manned jointly by the staff deputed from the offices of the Financial Commissioners’, Punjab and the Chief Engineer (Drainage), Irrigation Department, Punjab. The officials of the Irrigation Department should obtain and handover the latest information regarding water discharge of the various rivers/ rivulets in the state, to the branch concerned in the F.C’s Office dealing with emergency relief matters. The Assistant deputed from the office of Financial Commissioners’, Punjab should receive messages from Deputy Commissioners’ and other outside agencies including Weather Office and pass it on without any delay to the Branch Officer incharge of the above-mentioned Branch for taking necessary action.

            The maps showing the flood prone areas in the districts of the State may be displayed in this Control Room and kept up-to-date.

During the rainy season, the concerned officers at all levels shall depute officials for appropriate timings/round the clock duty in the Control Room enabling them to keep a constant vigil on the impending danger of floods. In the event of a contingency they would report to their respective authorities about the danger so that timely action is taken to check the same by adopting preventive measures.

 

4.      Issue of flood warnings to relief and Evacuation Centres and to other officers

 

        Flood warnings to relief and Evacuation centres etc. etc.:-Timely warnings should be given to all concerned.

 

(i)      It may not always be possible to give timely warning to people in the exposed villages, but every endeavour should be made by the Tehsildar /Sub-Divisional Magistrate, as soon as such a warning is received by him to convey it to the villages directly through patwaris or Relief and Evacuation Centres where these are set up.  How this should be done is described later in the sub-para (iii). Warning of approaching floods should be immediately conveyed by the Irrigation authorities to the Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners, and Financial Commissioner Revenue. As soon as a warning is received by the Deputy Commissioner, it will be communicated to the sub-Divisional Magistrate/Tehsildars concerned by telephone, telegrams or wireless .The Sub-Divisional Magistrate shall immediately alert all “Relief Centres” “Evacuation Centres”, where these are set-up and villages in dangerously exposed areas in the manner indicated in sub-paragraph (iii).

(ii)        As regards floods caused by heavy rains, no warnings can be given. Every one concerned must be alert as soon as heavy rains start. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate must be particularly wide-awake and keep their Deputy Commissioners informed of the situation as it develops. A watch should be kept on all protective bunds, water –ways natural drainage channels, railway lines and roads. As soon as there are indications of any breach, steps should be taken to repair the breach and direct the water along safe channels, unless the only escape for the water is through such a breach. In order to have up-to-date information about the situation, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate concerned should remain in constant touch with all ‘Relief Centres’ in his jurisdiction .The ‘Relief Centres’ shall on their part, maintain contact with the ‘Evacuation Centres’ in their area, while the Evacuation Centres’ shall remain in touch with the villages they are expected to serve. 

(iii)        It is absolutely essential that all warnings and information emanating from the Tehsil Control Room should reach ‘Relief Centres’, Evacuation Centres’ and dangerously exposed villages as rapidly as possible and that information from these villages should be passed on to the Tehsil Control Room with all possible speed through Evacuation and Relief Centres. If the telegraphic communication is put out of action by floods or if there are no telegraph offices of places where ‘Relief Centres’ are located, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate should arrange runners, who may use bicycles, horses, boats or sometimes may walk for conveying messages. As soon as warning or a message is received from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate by a ‘Relief Centre’, the later will convey it to all ‘Evacuation Centres’ attached to it in the quickest possible manner and each ‘Evacuation Centre’ will, like wise send the information to the villages attached to it .It would be a great advantage if each village ‘Evacuation Centre’. ‘Relief Centre’ and Tehsil Control Room maintains panels of fit, dependable and active men who would be prepared to serve as messengers in such emergencies. There should be no hesitation in using tehsil peons for this purpose.

 

5.                                Information about floods to be collected and conveyed to Deputy Commissioners by Tehsildars: - All relevant information about floods should be collected. As soon as a “high flood” warning is received in a tehsil, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate should set about collecting information through his ‘Relief Centres’ regarding the situation. It is expected that ‘Relief Centres’ will get the information either direct, or through ‘Evacuation Centres’. All such information should be collected and conveyed to the Deputy Commissioners and to all concerned at the tehsil headquarters without delay. It will also be the Sub-Divisional Officer’s personal responsibility to alert all concerned with in the tehsil and ‘to clear decks for action’. The Deputy Commissioner shall at the same time ensure that the organisation at the district headquarters is ready to go into action at a short notice.

 

Evacuation and Evacuation Centres- first line of defence: - The damage caused by the floods in the past years should serve as the guide for making arrangements set forth here.

 

Classification of flood affected areas.

 

6.               Classification of area:- (i) Dangerously exposed areas. These are areas:-

              (a) Which were entirely or almost entirely under water;

              (b) Which were practically cut off from the rest of the tehsil or district by                         disruption of communications;

              (c)       In which villages were washed away, damaged or marooned;

              (d) Which could be reached only by boats, rafts or from the air.

 

Dangerously exposed villages: - Such areas should be shaded ‘red’ on the tehsil maps. Normally, every village in a dangerously exposed areas, should be placed in this category. There are quite a number of villages which though so situated are safe because they are situated on a sufficiently high ground. Such villages may run the risk of being marooned, but are, otherwise, safe so for as shelter is concerned. Thus only those villages which were either washed away in the last floods and have been wholly or partially rebuilt, or damaged should be placed in the category of “dangerously exposed areas”.

           

             (ii) Moderately exposed areas: - Such areas should be shaded “Green” on the tehsil maps.

              (iii) Safe areas are those in which communications were not disrupted and no                                  serious damage to roads etc. etc. had occurred

      

      Safe villages: - All villages which, because of adequate elevation or location, are immune from the ravages of floods (even though they may be marooned or cut off by water from certain sides) may be placed in this category.

 

           

 

 

                                           Setting up of Evacuation Centres.

 

7.  Evacuation and setting up of Evacuation Centres:- People ,animals and movables should be evacuated from “dangerously exposed” villages to “safe” villages, as soon as the warning of ‘high’ flood is received . The decision to evacuate may be left to the Panchayats of these villages. Every high flood may not necessitate this step. A great deal will depend on the intensity of the flood. If the flood is fast approaching in such villages, there should be no hesitation on the part of residents to shift to the safe villages earmarked as its “Evacuation Centre”.

 

  Evacuation Centres: - Each Deputy Commissioner will in consultation with his Sub-Divisional Magistrate determine the ‘safe’ villages which will serve as ‘Evacuation Centres’. To each centre should be attached a group of ‘dangerously exposed’ villages and the people of these villages should know before hand the name of ‘safe’ villages which will serve as their ‘Evacuation Centres’. The latter should be properly selected; it should be close to its group but safe from the ravages of floods; it should be a fairly big village so that it can, for a day or two, shelter and feed the evacuees and their cattle. In selecting and ‘Evacuation Centre’ the following considerations must be kept in view:

(i) Safety of the villages.

(ii) Distance from its satellites.

(iii) Availability of good drinking water.

(iv) Its economic resources.

(v) Proximity and accessibility to its parent ‘Relief Centre’.

(vi) Availability of open spaces, where carts, cattle etc. etc. of evacuees can be kept till they move to ‘Relief Centres’.

In each of these Evacuation Centres should be set up a strong committee of workers having organising ability and the sprit of service. There should also be a panel of messengers as mentioned earlier. It may also be necessary to select a place for use as a community kitchen and to keep a stock of foodstuffs in such villages. These Centres will not be expected to shelter and feed evacuees for more than a few days. As soon as possible, these people should, unless the ‘Evacuation Centre’ is in a position to keep them longer, be moved to the parent ‘Relief Centre’. These ‘Evacuation Centres’ may appropriately be described as the first line of defence against floods.

It is necessary to provide for rescuing people from dangerously exposed villages because they may have neither the time nor the inclination to move to their ‘Evacuation Centre’ before the floods overtake them. Such people with their belongings shall have to be rescued by boats and their animals on rafts, unless animals can swim alongside boats.

 

Setting up Relief Centres.

 

8.     Relief Centres- the second line of defence: - Suitably situated big villages or towns should be selected as ‘Relief Centre’. At the time of selection, care should be taken to ensure that communications can be maintained between these Centres and between the tehsil headquarters and these centres. As for as possible, ‘Evacuation Centres’ attached to particular ‘Relief Centres’ should not be more than 5 miles from it.

 

 

Every Relief Centre should have: -

 

(i)        A local relief committee comprising local officials, if any, and influential non-  official of all denominations and parties. These committees should be set up      forthwith and acquainted with the role they will be required to play in the event of   an emergency. The Tehsildar shall set up such a committee in consultation with             the leading residents of the place.

(ii)       A small building earmarked for use as an office.

(iii)               A place for cooking food for distribution to evacuees as they arrive and for sending it out with relief parties;

(iv)              A place for storing food, tentage etc. etc.

(v)                Selected sites for pitching tents, herding cattle, parking carts, storing chattel etc, etc. and buildings earmarked for housing evacuees.

(vi)              A panel of selfless workers of active habits and vigorous constitution who are capable of handling boat in rough or running water; can put rafts swim and endure hardships smilingly. These will be the people who will go out as relief parties to rescue stranded people, bring in people from Evacuation Centres, accompany officials relief parties etc. etc.

(vii)             Selected sites or buildings for serving as community kitchen.

(viii)           A panel of messengers for carrying messages, running errands and so on.

Should the relief centre be cut off by water from its satellite evacuation centres, it should be provided with boats and rafts by the Sub- Divisional Magistrate. For housing evacuees, the Sub- Divisional Magistrate should arrange to place tents at the disposal of the Relief Committee.

            The Sub- Divisional Magistrate should maintain the closest possible contact with “ Relief Centres” in his Tehsil and render all possible help to Relief Committees. It would be of advantage to maintain at each Tehsil headquarter a list of all non- official organizations, missions, societies, schools and colleges which are expected to contribute workers, funds, equipment etc. etc. for dealing with the emergency. A representative committee of all such bodies should be set up at each tehsil headquarter immediately and the task of collecting foodstuffs, beddings, funds etc. entrusted to them. In special circumstances, it may even be necessary to start Langars’ at tehsil headquarters for feeding evacuees, who do not report at relief centres and for those sent with relief parties. Essential medicines can also be collected through this committee, if influential members of the local business community are its members.

                              After construction of dams on Sutlej and Beas, the need for large scale evacuation during floods would now normally arise only in tehsils close to Ravi. Deputy Commissioner’s may therefore, determine the tehsils in their District in which the evacuation and relief Centres would be necessary and take steps to set up the same in these tehsils during the flood season.

 

Establishing contact with areas cut off Arrangement of Boats.

 

9.                 Communications: - Communications break down almost entirely during floods. It is a problem to devise ways and means of establishing contact with the cut- off areas. The few boats available at ferries in the districts through which rivers flow are utterly inadequate for dealing with the situation, when it is grave. More often, quite a number of these boats are washed away before the authorities can commander them. Experience has shown that loss of life in dangerously exposed villages is invariably due to lack of boats. If arrangements are to be effective, there should be a fair sized boat and a raft or two always available in each of such villages. Women, children and the infirm can be evacuated in boats, while able bodied men, animals and house-hold effects can be easily transported on rafts .It would pay people of such villages to contribute to the cost of a boat and rafts made of sleepers. It is possible that one boat may be able to serve more than one village and in that case the cost can be shared. People of bigger villages should be persuaded to undertake this expenditure. For the poorer villages, the Zila Parishads should do the needful. Besides, these boats, some boats should be kept at each relief centre and the Evacuation Centre. The Zila Parishad may finance the manufacture of these boats so far as possible. One or two well- constructed rafts should also be maintained at each centre by the Zila Parishad.

Each Deputy Commissioner will immediately ascertain the number of boats available in his district and the number required if arrangements as suggested above are to be made. He will take steps to get these boats made. Payment for these boats may be made out of the Zila Parishad funds. These boats should not be more than 15 or 20 feet in length, should be capable of being rowed by one or two persons at the most and should be of light weight. Each boat should be provided with a spare set of oars and should have, in addition, a stout and long bamboo pole for putting, where oars cannot be used and for extricating the boat should it get stuck in mud .It would also be a great advantage if each boat is provided with a large water proof tarpaulin for protecting food, clothes, medicines, etc. etc. from the rain water.

    For rapid movement in completely flooded areas, particularly by relief parties consisting of doctors and local officers who cannot afford to waste time, boats of the above size fitted with out-board motor engines will be ideal.

 

    Aerial reconnaissance by Commissioner and submission of report to Government

 

10.        Aerial reconnaissance and air–drop: - If considered necessary aerial reconnaissance of flooded areas should be carried out by the Commissioner at the earliest opportunity to enable him to asses the gravity of the situation.

                      A reconnaissance report should be compiled by the Commissioner and copies of this report sent to Deputy Commissioner concerned, Financial Commissioner Revenue and Chief Secretary. Afflicted areas, localities where people are stranded, villages that have collapsed or are on the verge of collapse, breaches of railway tracks, roads, canals, bunds etc. etc. are points of particular importance to be noted in such flights.

              Air dropping of food should not be necessary if other arrangements, as suggested above, have been made. When air-dropping is considered necessary the Commissioner should contact the Chief Secretary or the Financial Commissioner Revenue.              

 

              Relief Organisation at tehsil and district headquarters

 

11.             The organisation at the Tehsil and District Headquarters: - The organisation at the Tehsil and District headquarter should be as efficient as possible. At both the places, relief committees, comprising officials and representative non-officials, should be constituted immediately. Those with experience of tackling similar problems in the past should be preferred.                     

                 Students and other willing to go out in relief and rescue parties should be given some training in manning boats, constructions of rafts, disinfection of wells, rendering first- aid and kindred tasks with aid of local Health Officials, the Red Cross and St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Workers.

            Adequate arrangements should also be made for the collection of food and medical stores, tents and other articles that may be needed and for their speedy transport to the relief centre.

            The pattern of arrangements and organisation can be the same at both the district and tehsil headquarters. Smooth and speedy working should be the keynote of all endeavour.

 

 

                                     Use of Police wireless in emergencies.

 

12. Use of Police Wireless: - The Superintendent of Police in the districts or in the P.A.P should give information about the number and location of wireless transmitters and P.A.P pickets in the district to the Deputy Commissioners. It is expected that pickets in the dangerously exposed areas will transmit to the district headquarters information regarding the arrival of floods, damaged caused, plight of villages affected and also receive messages that may be sent from headquarters for the information of local villages and officials, if any, regarding evacuation and relief arrangements etc.etc.

           

Joint inspection of flood protection works

 

13.           Joint Inspection of flood protection works: - As a safeguard against breaches in bunds, drains, nullahs and other similar flood protection works. Direct Inspection Committees, consisting of the Deputy Commissioner, Senior Engineers of the Irrigation Department P.W.D. (B. and R.) and the Superintendent of Police should be set up in each district.

                   The District Inspection Committees should inspect flood protection works during the month of March, and send their reports to Government by the 1^st of April every year. The Deputy Commissioner should ensure that that necessary repairs are carried out by the Department concerned by the end of May. They will also report by the 1^st June, whether or not the flood protection works are in good condition and whether the Departments concerned attend to proper maintenance of such works. The second joint inspection is to be made by the committee in October, after the monsoons are over.

 

 

 

CHAPTER   III

 

       Handling of flood relief  equipment.

 

1. Handling of Boats: - To be effective in flood relief, mobility over water is essential because unless help can get to the people speedily, deaths from drowning, starvation and ailment will result. Large boats, however powerful, cannot operate effectively during floods, because they need plenty of water in depth, cannot be pushed or hauled in case they are grounded and once stuck in mud, are likely to be out of action for days, if not weeks. Smaller boats ranging from 5 to 7 meters in length, fitted with out – board motors/ out board jet motors or inboard jet engines, are ideal for this type of work. Their carrying capacity can be increased by adopting the towing technique. With a 30 or 40 H. P. outboard motor, as many as 10 to 12 haulage boats can be towed. This technique has a great advantage in that on the way out, the haulage boats can carry cooked or uncooked food, powdered milk, medical units etc. etc. and one or more boats can be detached at each village falling on the way and these boats can then be picked up on the return journey empty or with persons to be evacuated.                                          

 

2. Training of personnel and availability of flood relief equipment:-Relief operations can be conducted successfully only by trained personnel. It is, therefore, necessary that exercises, refresher courses etc. etc. are arranged at regular intervals to enable trainees to perform their duties with required efficiency and confidence, besides acquiring basic knowledge of the relief technique. The Government of India have set up a Central Training Institute for this purpose at Nagpur.

Punjab is not a maritime State and so there is practically no inland navigation within the State. However, Jeep drivers, Clerks and Assistants from offices and non-officials, particularly those hailing from the affected areas and senior officers can be put through training courses at various camps held for the purpose. Men, who operate our flood relief boats are not whole-time flood operators. It is, not possible or practicable to keep large bodies of trained men idle until the emergency arises. We have, therefore, to depend on voluntary and missionary workers and Government Officials who can, when the emergency arises, be expected to turn out for this duty.

                                                                                                                                                                                 3. Flood Relief training camps: -Flood relief camps are organised at the State and District levels from time to time. In these Training Camps, Government officials from the District/State headquarters etc.etc. are imparted training in the following subjects: -

(1) Swimming

(2) Life Saving Technique and rescuing people marooned in water-logged areas.

(3) First-aid to the drowned.

(4) Operation of Boats/Jet Boats etc etc.

(5)  Rowing of Boats

(6) Organising Relief to the marooned people and

(7) Evacuation of marooned people etc.etc.

 

4. Flood Relief equipments of the organisation - Deputy Commissioners should ensure that only those officials are deputed for training who will be available at the time of any emergency and will be willing workers for flood relief.

 

5.         Flood Relief Equipment - Every Deputy Commissioner should have the flood relief equipment in his district checked up during November each year and thereafter take steps to have the same repaired by end of May, so that it is in good working condition if required during the floods.

                                       Some equipment is also available at the Headquarters. If during floods extra equipment is required in a district, the Deputy Commissioner should immediately contact the Financial Commissioner Revenue or Joint Secretary/Deputy Secretary incharge of Emergency   Relief Branch in Revenue Department.

 

 

 

 

Chapter -IV

Reports Regarding Daily And Weekly

Flood Situation.

 

Supply of information to the Government on the occurrence of natural calamity-Whenever any natural calamity like hailstorms, floods, lighting, earthquake, Pest attack, locusts etc.etc. occurs in any district, the concerned Deputy Commissioner should at once inform the Government (in the Revenue Department) about its occurrence and intensity through wireless communications and other facilities without any loss of time so that the Government becomes aware of it before its publication in the newspapers and send his detailed report within the shortest possible time. The report should inter-alia give the magnitude of any particular natural calamity, immediate relief provided by the Deputy Commissioner and the help sought from the Government.

 

2.            Submission of daily flood situation report- During the rainy season a Daily Flood situation report is issued from the State headquarters and copies thereof are sent to various departments of the Government of India and the State Government. The despatch of the daily report regularly and punctually is possible only if the said report is received from Deputy Commissioner in time. The following instructions in this behalf should be noted for compliance: -

(a)       The daily report regarding flood situation should be sent to the Financial Commissioner Revenue as soon as the rainy season starts or 1^st July whichever event occurs earlier. These reports should be continued to be sent till 30^st September, a special daily report may be sent if there is heavy rain on any day in September. It should be sent in the following manner:

(i)  The report may be sent by ‘Recorded Delivery’ post in the proforma at Appendix ‘E’. All columns of the proforma should be filled in properly.

(ii) Anything special should be reported by Fax, ‘Express telegram’ so that it reaches by 10.00 A. M. or 11 A.M. and mentioned in the daily report to be issued by the Revenue Department. A detailed report may be sent by ‘Recorded Delivery’ ‘Post’ at once.

(iii) Grave and serious situation should be reported over the Police wireless/Fax at once. Immediate and direct threat of a breach in bunds, drains, rivers or canals or imminent damage to crops, lives and villages should be taken as a “Grave and serious situation.”

 

(b)        It may be impressed upon all officers concerned with the relief work in the district that any delay in the despatch of daily reports in manner prescribed above shall be viewed very seriously.

 

3.            Submission of weekly report regarding flood situation- A weekly progress report in the proforma prescribed at Appendix ‘F’ shall also be sent by the Deputy Commissioner on due dates .All column of the proforma shall be filled in properly.

 

 

CHAPTER -V

 

Digging of link Drains and cuts in the P.W.D Roads.

                   

 Powers given to Collectors under the Canal and Drainage Act

 

1.         Powers of the Collectors under the Canal and Drainage Act- Collectors have also been given powers under Section 57-A read with Section 30-A to 30-G of the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 by the Punjab Government Notification No. 6257-IW3-62/7589, dated 20^th May, 1964 issued by the Secretary to Government, Punjab, Irrigation Department.

 

2.            Construction of Link (fields) Drains- In the matter regarding constructions of link (field) drains it has been decided that:-

(i)               It will be the responsibility of the Irrigation Department to prepare the alignment, plans and L- Sections and to demarcate the land ( Nishan Dehi) on the spot.

(ii)             The execution of the work pertaining to the link drains will be the responsibility of the Government in Irrigation Department.

(iii)            Technical supervision will be that of the Irrigation Department.

(iv)           In cases where land is not voluntarily given by the villagers, it will have to be acquired according to the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act.

 

3.     To avoid confusion, field and link drains should always be referred to as field (drains). Field drains are defined as drains, which are upto five miles in length. All other drains are main, subsidiary, tributary and sub- tributary drain. A field drain may have its outfall into a sub-tributary, tributary, subsidiary of a main drain directly as the case may be.

4.    As regards the inter- superiority of the execution of the field drains in a district, preference should be given to the field drains which would help draining off the congestions in localised depressions.

 

Selection of test Relief works

                         

5.         Test Relief works- Instructions regarding the selection of Test Relief Works in the flood affected areas and their execution etc.etc. are as under : -

 

The Test works proposed by the Deputy Commissioners fall into the categories given below. These categories have been given in order of priority in which they may be taken up, subject to availability of funds.

 

(i)    Digging link drains and other drains to drain out standing flood water.

 

The primary responsibility for this should be that of the Drainage Department and where a provision exists for a drain which could not be dug or completed before the last flood season the department should undertake the work immediately with its own funds. Funds from the head “2245- Relief on account of Natural Calamities” (Revenue Department’s Head) should be utilized only where the work is absolutely essential and necessary funds are not available with the Department.

(ii)  The repair of ring and other abadi protection bunds.

(iii)   The repair of bunds for the protection of agricultural lands.

In both (ii) and (iii) above, if the Department concerned has any funds, the repair should be undertaken by them otherwise the required funds may be utilised from“2245- Relief on account of Natural Calamities” head.

      

  (iv)     The construction of ring and other bunds for the protection of abadis.

  

 Necessary funds may be found from the allotments made under the head “2245- Relief on Account of Natural Calamities” for the Relief Test Works or through diversion of funds by the Deputy Commissioners from the amounts placed at their disposal for subsistence grants.

(v)           The construction of bunds to protect agricultural lands.

(vi)         Constructions of new roads (only earth work and necessary culverts) in areas which are likely to be flooded.

           

       These works will facilitate future flood relief operations in the event of floods. Where floods are not likely because of flood protection works in the near future, construction of such roads may not be undertaken.

Funds for such works may be provided by diversion of the amount placed at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioners for subsistence grants, unless the funds are available with the Department or Zila Parishad concerned.

(vii)                          Repairs of damaged (a) Roads, (b) Drains and (c) Canals. Responsibility for such repairs is that of the Department concerned and they should be expected to start such works with their own funds.

(viii)                        Deepening of existing drains to eliminate possibility of future floods.    Here also the responsibility is that of Drainage Department who are expected to provide necessary funds.

(ix) Improvement of existing roads, so as to make them usable even in the event of floods, by raising their level, provision of more culverts and protective bunds etc.

 

Here again, the responsibility is that of the Department concerned and the necessary funds for such works are to be provided by them.

 

 

Priority for the selection of Test Relief Works.

 

5.             Criteria to be observed by Deputy Commissioners in the selection of test relief works to be undertaken- While observing priorities suggested above, selection should be continued to those works which: -

            (a)            have the highest potential for employment of unskilled labour;

(b)            which can be started soon and completed within the current financial year; and

(c)             where 100% or almost the entire estimated amount will be paid as wages for unskilled labour.

                                             

General Instructions regarding execution of works.

 

6.         Other suggestions for the guidance of Deputy Commissioners for the execution of works- (i) Deputy Commissioners should get the necessary plans and detailed estimates prepared by the technical Department concerned. Where the estimate exceeds the rough cost estimates already submitted, the case should be immediately referred to Government for approval.

 

(ii)        For areas and villages where the works are started, payment of subsistence grant should be discontinued to all families which have at least one able bodied male member above 18 years of age, provided that this stipulation should not prohibit the employment of females above the age of 18 years and males between the age of 15 to 18 years on these works.

 

(iii)       Works may be undertaken only in the areas affected by heavy floods involving large scale evacuation in relief camp.

 

(iv)       With a view to ensuring that an adequate number of able-bodied persons turn up regularly for work, that payments are made regularly, that fictitious muster rolls are not maintained, that proper works are executed and completed in current financial year, that proper accounts of all payments are maintained and that families whose members are offered employment on such works and refuse such employment are not paid subsistence grants, it is desirable that the following instructions are observed:-

 

(a) The area in which Test works are to be undertaken should be divided into sectors, each sector corresponding to the jurisdiction of Overseer/Sectional Officer who will be responsible for the technical part of the work. Each sector should be placed under the charge of a Sector officer not below the rank of Naib-Tehsildar and preferably the Block Development and Panchayat Officer of the Block. These Sector Officers should be appointed by the Deputy Commissioners.

(b)    A number of such sectors should be grouped into a zone and for each zone the Deputy Commissioner should depute a Zonal Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar/Block Development and Panchayat Officer. These Zones should correspond to the areas under the Sub-Divisional Officer of the Technical Department responsible for the work. Where the sector is placed under the charge of Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Zonal Sector may be placed under the charge of Tehsildar.

 

Duties of Local Officers regarding execution of works

 

7.         Duties of various officers.

(a) The Deputy Commissioner.

           

            (1)            Selection of works to be undertaken and ensuring that proper plans and                         estimates are prepared for the works selected and these works are started soon                         and completed during the current financial year.

            (2)  To divide the areas in which works are to be undertaken into zones and each                         zone into sectors.

            (3)  To appoint Zonal and Sector Officers

            (4)  To exercise general supervision over zonal and sector officers and to ensure                         that wages are paid  regularly to the persons employed and that proper                         accounts are kept.

 

(b)             The Zonal Officer.

     (1)             To supervise generally the execution of all test works in his zone.

     (2)   To supervise particularly the work of his sector officers and to ensure that every sector officer maintains the prescribed register (appendix G)

                The work of each Sector Officer should be inspected at least twice a month when the entries in the register should be checked and initialled in the appropriate column. Random checking on the spot to verify the correctness of entries made by the Sector Officer should be done on each visit to work sites and villages in the sector. At least 25% of the entries in the register should be so checked.

      (3)  To assist the Technical Officer who is his counter-part, in all matters connected with execution of works in supply of man power.

                 If there is any friction between a Sector Officer and his technical counter-part, the Zonal Officer and his technical counter-part should see that it is removed. If they cannot do it ,the Zonal Officer will bring the matter to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner.

 

(C )  The Sector Officers

 

(1)      To explain to people in the sector that all able-bodied persons will be expected to work failing which   they would cease to get subsistence grant.

(2)        To maintain properly the register prescribed in para  (2) of (b) above

(3)        To ensure adequate and regular supply of manpower from the affected villages for the execution and completion of works in the sector before the end of the financial year.

      The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, members of the Samiti in which the work is located, the Sarpanch and Panches of the villages concerned should be requested to assist in getting people to take up these works.

(4)        To give full co-operation to his technical counter-part.

(5)        To be present when weekly payments are made to labourers and to attest the Muster –Roll.

(6)        Every Sector Officer will be required to maintain a register in the proforma at Appendix ‘G

 

Cuts in P.W.D. Roads to drain out the flood Water

                                      

8.         Cuts in P.W.D. Roads: - Cut are sometimes made in the P.W.D. Roads for the draining of flood water. Sometimes these are made by the local people and some by the local authorities without consulting or associating the P.W.D. Officers in the matter. The Public Works Department resent such indiscriminate cuts. It is desired that no cut should be made in the road, except where it is absolutely necessary and that too in consultation with the local officers of the P.W.D. (B and R)

 

 

           

 

CHAPTER-VI

 

Evaluation of flood damages

  

            Flood damages to be reported to the Chief Engineer (Drainage) Irrigation Works Punjab by the Deputy Commissioners: -The Deputy Commissioners are required to supply necessary information regarding flood damages to the Chief Engineer (Drainage), Irrigation Works, Punjab, on the prescribed proformas (F.D.5 and F.D.7) as at Appendix ‘H’ every year immediately after the flood season is over. The information is to be supplied to the Chief Engineer (Drainage) along with the plan showing sites of damages under intimation to the Revenue Department.

 

                                                                   

 

CHAPTER VII

 

Flood Relief Operations

 

Different phases of tackling the flood menace: - Flood Relief operations are to be regulated in three distinct phases; namely (i) the Emergency phase (ii) the Static phase, and (iii) the post Flood phase.

 

The Emergency Phase: - In the emergency phase problems like warnings of floods to vulnerable villages, speedy intimation of arrival of floods to the authorities, speedy contact by local authorities with affected villages, establishment of the basis of the relief operations, deployment of flood relief equipment/ personnel, evacuation of people, medical aid, opening of free kitchen and chlorination of drinking water are to be tackled.

          

          The Static Phase: - In this phase, operations like the return of evacuated persons to their homes, regular flow of flood and essential goods to affected villages, provision of drinking water, opening of fair price shops, and temporary dispensaries for human beings and animals, dewatering of abadis, detailed assessment of their needs, damages and establishment of communications are undertaken.

 

The Post Floods Phase: - This phase starts when flood waters have either dried up or have been drained off. During these operations repairs to damaged houses, removal of debris, repairs of wells/ roads, disbursement of loans for seeds, fodder and implements, distribution of clothes and starting of test relief works are undertaken.

 

 

Chapter-VIII

 

Instructions regarding Central Assistance in connection with the natural calamities.

 

Scheme for Constitution and Administration of the Calamity Relief Fund and investments therefrom.

 

1.         Title of the Scheme and Period of Operation- The scheme shall be called ‘Calamity Relief Fund Scheme’.

2.         It shall come into force with effect from the financial year 2000-01 and will be operative till the end of the financial year 2004-05.

3.            Calamities covered under the Scheme- The CRF should be used for meeting the expenditure for providing immediate relief to the victims of cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood and hailstorm.

4.            Constitution of Calamity Relief Fund- A ‘Calamity Relief Fund’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Fund’) will be constituted by each State (if not already constituted) for the purpose of financing natural calamity relief assistance. The Fund would be constituted in the Public Account and classified under the head ‘8235-General and Other Reserve Funds-III Calamity Relief Fund’ in the accounts of the Government concerned. However, if for some reason it is not possible to invest the fund in a manner prescribed in para 9 of the scheme, it should be classified under the head “8121-General and Other Reserve Funds” in the interest bearing section of the Public Account, under a distinct minor head.

5.1            Contributions to the Fund- The amount of annual contribution to the Calamity Relief Fund of each State for each of the financial years 2000-01 to 2004-05 would be as indicated in Annexure-I to this scheme. Of the total contribution indicated, Government of India will contribute 75% of the total yearly allocation in the form of a non-plan grant and the balance amount will be contributed by the State Government concerned. The yearly share of the Government of India and the State Governments are shown in the Annexures-II and III respectively. In respect of successor States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal the information is as shown in Annexure-IV.

5.2       The share of the Government of India to the Fund shall be paid to the state Government as Grants-in-aid and accounted in the Government of India accounts under the head “3601-Grants-in-aid to State Governments-01 Non-Plan grants-109 Grants towards contribution to Calamity Relief Fund”. The State Governments shall take these as receipts in their budget and account under the head “1601-Grants-in-aid from Central Government-01 Non-Plan Grant-109 Grants towards contribution to Calamity Relief Fund”.

5.3       In order to enable transfer of the total amount of contribution to the Fund (including the State’s share of contribution), the State Governments would make suitable Budget provision on the expenditure side of their budget under the head “2245-Relief on Account of Natural Calamities-05 Calamity Relief Fund-101 Transfer to Reserve Fund and Deposit Accounts-Calamity Relief Fund.”

5.4       The share of the Central Government shall be remitted to the State Government in two instalments on 1 “May and 1” November in each Financial year. Likewise, the State Governments shall also transfer the total contribution (including State’s share) to the Fund in two instalments in May and November of the same year.

            The arrears of first instalment for the financial year 2000-01 will be paid/transferred by the Governments concerned immediately. Wherever the contribution has already been released/transferred by the Central/State Government, suitable accounting adjustments may be carried out in accordance with the provisions of this scheme.

6.            Release of Central Contribution to the Fund- The share of the Government of India to the Fund due in a year shall be released to the State Governments subject to the following conditions:

(i)                 A ‘Calamity Relief Fund’ has been duly constituted by the State Government in the manner prescribed in para 4 above. The creation of the Fund duly certified by the Accountant General (A&E) of the State be furnished by the State Government to the Ministry of Finance.

(ii)                Before an instalment is released, the State Government shall furnish a certificate to the Ministry of Finance indicating that the amount received earlier has been credited to the Fund along with the State’s share of contribution, accompanied by a statement giving the up-to-date expenditure and the balance amount available in the CRF. This statement itself shall be treated as utilisation certificate.

(iii)              Centre’s contribution due on 1^st  “November, shall be released only after the ‘Annual Report on Natural Calamities’ as indicated in para 11.2 of the scheme is received by the Ministry of Agriculture who in turn will communicate the same to Ministry of Finance.

(iv)              The release of both the instalments shall be made by Ministry of Finance subject to the above conditions being satisfied unless advised by Ministry of Agriculture for withholding of release to any State.

(v)               The State shall be able to draw 25% of the funds due to the State in the following year from the Centre to be adjusted against the dues of the subsequent year.

7.            Relationship of Fund with General Revenues/Public Account- The periodic contributions to the Fund as well as the other income of the Fund shall be kept outside the Public Accounts of the States and invested in the manner prescribed in the scheme. However, if for some reason it is not possible to invest in the manner prescribed in the scheme, it should be kept in the Public Account on which the State Government should pay interest to the Fund at one and half times the rate applicable to overdrafts under Overdraft Regulation Scheme of the RBI. The interest will be credited on a half yearly basis.

8.1       State Level Committee- A State-level Committee (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’) shall be constituted by the State Government to administer the Fund, by issue of a suitable notification in this behalf.

8.2            Composition of State Level Committees- The Chief Secretary of the State shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Committee. The Committee would consist of officials who are normally connected with relief work and experts in various fields in the State affected by natural calamities. The Committee will be nominated by the State government.

8.3       Sub-Committee- The State Governments and/or the State Level Committees may constitute sub-committees as may be considered necessary by them in connection with the work of the Committee.

8.4            Functions of the State Level Committee- The Committee will decide on all matters connected with the financing of the relief expenditure.

8.5       The Committee will arrange to obtain the contribution from the concerned Governments, administer the Fund and invest the accretions to the fund as per the norms approved by the Government of India from time to time. The norms of investment are indicated in para 9.3.

8.6       The Committee shall also be responsible to ensure that the money drawn from the Calamity Relief Fund is applied for the purposes for which the Fund has been set up and only on items of expenditure and as per norms contained in the guidelines issued by Ministry of Agriculture.

8.7       The accretions to the Fund together with the income earned on the investments of the Fund will be used by the Committee to meet items of expenditure covered by the norms contained in the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. No further financial assistance (beyond the Central Government’s yearly contribution to the Fund) will ordinarily be available for the purpose.

8.8            Expenditure of Committee- All administrative and miscellaneous expenses of the Committee shall be borne by the State Government under its normal budgetary provisions and not from the CRF.

9.1            Administration of the Fund- As stated in paragraph 8.1 above, the responsibility for the administration of the Fund will rest with the Committee.

9.2       On receipt of the amounts of contributions from the Government, the Committee would take action for investment of the funds as per the prescribed norms. The investment of the funds shall be carried out by the branch of the Reserve Bank of India (having Banking Department) at headquarters of the State. In the case of States in which there is no such branch of the Reserve Bank of India at the State headquarters, the investments shall be carried out by the bank designated by RBI. In the case of Government of Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim these functions shall be carried out by their bankers.

9.3            Pattern of Investment from the Fund- The accretions to the Fund together with the income earned on the investment of the Fund shall, till contrary instructions are issued by Government of India under para 8.5, be invested in one or more of the following instruments:

(a)               Central Government dated Securities;

(b)               Auctioned Treasury Bills;

(c)               Interest earning deposits and certificates of deposits with Scheduled Commercial Banks;

(d)               Interest earning deposits in Co-operative Banks;

9.4            Account of Investment Transactions- The Committee will, from time to time, issue instructions to the concerned local bankers indicated in para 9.2 above to invest specified amount (s) from the Fund in the securities specified in clauses (a) to (d) under paragraph 9.3. Such instructions will be issued by the Chairman and any one of the members of the Committee. The banks will immediately arrange to make the necessary investment locally or through their branches/correspondent banks/RBI at Bombay or other metropolitan centres. The banks would scroll to the Government the debit on account of the investment and other incidental charges like brokerage, commission etc. in the usual course. However, in order to ensure that the investment transactions of the Fund do not get mixed up with other transactions these may be indicated distinctly in separate scrolls.

            On receipt of the scrolls the investment transactions would be accounted for under the head “8235-Genral and Other Reserve Fund-112 Calamity Relief Fund Investment Account”. However, the incidental charges like brokerage, commission etc. shall be accounted for as charge on the Fund.

9.5       As far as practicable, the investment in the dated securities of the Central Government should be made in their new issues, that is to say, at the time when they are offered for subscription to the public.

9.6       The bank will arrange to collect interest on these securities/bonds and credit the same to the account of the Government on the due date. These receipts shall form a pat of the receipts of the Fund and would be accounted for as such. Further, these would require to be invested by the Committee as in the case of the contributions by the Government i.e. in accordance with the investment norms prescribed in para 9.3 above. On maturity of the securities, the proceeds will be collected and credited to the account of the Government or reinvested on the basis of instructions received from the Committee. As in the case of the debit scrolls the banks shall use separate scrolls for the receipts.

9.7       On receipt of instructions from the Committee, the concerned bank  will arrange to sell the securities at the ruling price through its branches/correspondent banks/RBI at Bombay or any other metropolitan Centre and credit the amount realised, less incidental charges, to the account of the Government.

9.8       The receipts on account of maturity or sale of the securities would be taken to the account of the “Calamity Relief Fund Investment Account”. The incidental charges on sale would be charged on the Fund.

9.9       The auctioned Treasury Bills may be purchased by the Bank either at the Treasury Bill auctions on the basis of a non-competitive bid or in the market.

9.10     The Committee will assess the requirements of assistance from the Fund for financing relief expenditure. The provision for expenditure on relief will be made in the budget of the State Government under the relevant heads. The extent of relief expenditure to be financed from the Fund as decided/authorised shall be withdrawn from the Fund by the Committee after disposal of the investment holdings in the manner prescribed in para 9.11 and credited to the CRF Investment Account. However, only the actual amount of relief expenditure shall be brought to account under the head “2245-Relief on account of Natural Calamities-05 Calamity Relief Fund-901 Deduct amount met from Calamity Relief Fund”, which will appear as a recovery below the line in the Demands for Grants of the state Government.

9.11     To meet liability on account of the claims sanctioned for relief the Committee will first dispose of its holdings of auctioned Treasury Bills to the extent required, the oldest lot of bills being sold first and so on. If the amount obtained by the sale of auctioned Treasury Bills is not sufficient to meet the liability towards relief sanctioned, the Committee may encash the deposits with the local branches of the scheduled commercial banks and the co-operative banks. The Central Government dated securities may be sold only if the amount realised by the sale of treasury bills and encashment of the deposits is not adequate.

9.12     The concerned State Government will pay to the RBI/SBI/other banks a commission at the rate determined by RBI in consultation with the concerned State Government. These charges shall also be borne by the Fund as in the case of the charges indicated in paras 9.4 and 9.8. The loss or gain on the sale of securities shall also be taken to the account of the Fund.

10.1     Items and Norms of Expenditure- The expenditure on restoration of damaged capital works should ordinarily be met from the normal budgetary heads, except when it is to be incurred as part of providing immediate relief such as restoration of drinking water sources or provision of shelters etc. or restoration of communication links for facilitating relief operations. A Committee of experts and representatives of States set up by the Ministry of Agriculture shall review the list of items of expenditure which alone will be chargeable to the Fund. A State-specific list shall also be finalised in consultation with the representatives of the concerned State Government after taking into consideration the State specific needs and practices.

10.2     The norms for the amounts to be incurred on each approved item of expenditure shall be prescribed by the State Level Committees. The norms so fixed shall be communicated to the Union Ministry of Agriculture, which may modify them only when they are significantly high. In case any State Government exceeds the amount prescribed the excess expenditure should be borne from the normal budget of the State Government and not form CRF.

10.3            Expenditure on training of the core multidisciplinary group created in the State as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture shall be met from CRF.

11.1            Monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture- The Ministry of Agriculture will be nodal Ministry for overseeing the operation of CRF. They shall monitor the scheme of CRF and may advise State Level Committee from time to time in this regard to ensure proper functioning of the Scheme. Further, Ministry of Agriculture shall recommend for adjustment/withholding of release of any instalment to the States in the event of any deficiency/shortcoming in the implementation of the scheme by the States.

11.2     The state Governments shall furnish every year an Annual Reports on Natural Calamities in the format prescribed by Ministry of Agriculture. This report shall be sent by every State Government to the Ministry of Agriculture positively by 30^th September, every year, even if the report is nil.

11.3     The National Centre for Calamity Management (NCCM) to be established by the Ministry of Agriculture shall, inter-alia, undertake evaluation of the expenditure incurred out of CRF.

12.            Unspent Balance in the Fund- The Unspent Balance in the Fund as at the end of the Financial Year 2000-05 will be available to the State Government for being used as a resource for the next plan.

13.            Accounts- The Accounts of the Fund and the investment shall be maintained by the Accountant General Incharge of accounts of the state in the normal course. The Committee will, however, maintain subsidiary accounts in such manner & details as may be considered necessary by the State Government in consultation with the Accountant General.

14.            Savings- The Central Government shall issue instructions relating to the provisions of the scheme as may be considered from time to time to enable smooth functioning of the scheme. The Central Government may also alter/ modify the scheme if considered necessary subsequently. In case of any difficulty in the operation of any provision of this scheme, the Central Government, if satisfied, may relax the provisions.

 

 

Annexure-I

Calamity Relief Fund during 2000-2005

                                                                                                                               (Rs. in lakhs)

Sr. No.	State	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	Total 2000-05
1	Andhra Pradesh	19806	20796	21836	22920	24074	109440
2	Arunachal Pradesh	1202	1262	1325	1392	1461	6643
3	Assam	10149	10657	11189	11749	12336	56081
4	Bihar*	12366	12984	13633	14315	15030	68328
5	Goa	124	130	137	144	151	685
6	Gujarat	16140	16947	17794	18684	19618	89184
7	Haryana	8130	8537	8964	9412	9883	44926
8	Himachal Pradesh	4349	4588	4794	5034	5288	24079
9	Jammu & Kashmir	3490	3665	3848	4040	4242	19285
10	Karnataka	7457	7830	8221	8632	9064	41204
11	Kerala	6724	7061	7414	7784	8173	37156
12	Madhya Pradesh*	9010	9461	9934	10430	10952	49786
13	Maharashtra	15720	16506	17332	18198	19108	86864
14	Manipur	287	301	316	332	349	1586
15	Meghalaya	394	414	434	456	479	2177
16	Mizoram	297	312	328	344	361	1642
17	Nagaland	196	206	216	227	238	1083
18	Orissa	10947	11494	12069	12672	13306	60488
19	Punjab	12272	12885	13530	14206	14917	67810
20	Rajasthan	20700	21735	22822	23963	25161	114381
21	Sikkim	691	725	782	800	840	3817
22	Tamil Nadu	10264	10777	11316	11882	12476	56714
23	Tripura	520	546	573	602	632	2873
24	Uttar Pradesh*	17864	18757	19695	20680	21714	98711
25	West Bengal	10110	10810	11147	11704	12289	55866
Total		199210	209170	219629	230610	242141	1100759

 

               *Prior to re-organisation.

In respect of successor States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal the information is as shown in Annexure-IV.

 

 

 

Annexure-II

Calamity Relief Fund during 2000-2005

(Centre’s share)

                                                                                               (Rs. in lakhs)

Sr. No.	State	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	Total 2000-05
1	Andhra Pradesh	14854	15597	16377	17196	18056	82080
2	Arunachal Pradesh	902	947	994	1044	1096	4983
3	Assam	7012	7992	8392	8812	9252	42060
4	Bihar*	9274	9738	10225	10738	11273	51246
5	Goa	93	98	103	108	113	515
6	Gujarat	12105	12710	13346	14013	14714	66888
7	Haryana	6096	6403	6723	7059	7412	33695
8	Himachal Pradesh	3261	3424	3596	3775	3964	18020
9	Jammu & Kashmir	2618	2748	2886	3030	3182	14464
10	Karnatka	5593	5872	8186	6474	6798	30903
11	Kerala	5043	5295	5560	5838	6130	27866
12	Madhya Pradesh*	6758	7095	7450	7823	8214	37340
13	Maharashtra	11790	12380	12999	13649	14331	65149
14	Manipur	215	226	237	249	262	1189
15	Meghalaya	295	310	326	342	359	1632
16	Mizoram	223	234	246	258	271	1232
17	Nagaland	147	154	162	170	179	812
18	Orissa	8210	8621	9052	9504	9979	45366
19	Punjab	9204	9664	10147	10655	11187	50857
20	Rajasthan	15526	18301	17116	17972	18871	85785
21	Sikkim	518	544	571	800	630	2863
22	Tamil Nadu	7698	8083	8487	8911	9357	42536
23	Tripura	390	410	430	451	474	2155
24	Uttar Pradesh*	13398	14068	14771	15510	16286	74033
25	West Bengal	7583	7962	8360	8778	9217	41900
Total		149407	158876	164722	172957	181607	825569

 

               *Prior to re-organisation.

In respect of successor States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal the information is as shown in Annexure-IV.

 

 

Annexure-III

Calamity Relief Fund during 2000-2005

(State’s share)

                                                                                               (Rs. in lakhs)

Sr. No.	State	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	Total 2000-05
1	Andhra Pradesh	4961	5199	5459	5732	6019	27360
2	Arunachal Pradesh	301	316	331	348	365	1661
3	Assam	2537	2664	2797	2937	3084	14020
4	Bihar*	3091	3248	3408	3579	3758	17082
5	Goa	31	33	34	36	38	171
6	Gujarat	4035	4237	4449	4671	4905	22296
7	Haryana	2033	2134	2241	2353	2471	11231
8	Himachal Pradesh	1087	1141	1199	1258	1321	6007
9	Jammu & Kashmir	873	916	962	1010	1061	4821
10	Karnatka	1864	1957	2055	2158	2266	10301
11	Kerala	1681	1765	1853	1946	2043	9289
12	Madhya Pradesh*	2253	2365	2483	2608	2738	12447
13	Maharashtra	3930	4127	4333	4550	4777	21716
14	Manipur	72	75	79	83	87	396
15	Meghalaya	98	103	109	114	120	544
16	Mizoram	74	78	82	86	90	411
17	Nagaland	49	51	54	57	60	271
18	Orissa	2737	2874	3017	3168	3326	15122
19	Punjab	3068	3221	3382	3552	3729	16952
20	Rajasthan	5175	5434	5705	5991	6290	28595
21	Sikkim	173	181	190	200	210	954
22	Tamil Nadu	2566	2694	2829	2970	3119	14179
23	Tripura	130	137	143	150	158	718
24	Uttar Pradesh*	4466	4689	4924	5170	5429	24678
25	West Bengal	2528	2654	2787	2926	3072	13967
Total		49802	52293	54907	57653	60535	275190

 

            *Prior to re-organisation.

In respect of successor States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal the information is as shown in Annexure-IV.

 

Annexure-IV

Shares of New States of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal in CRF for 2000-2005

                                                                                                                                                                                   (Rs. in Lakhs)

State		2000-2001	2001-2002	2002-2003	2003-2004	2004-2005	Total (2000-2005)
BIHAR
Erstwhile Bihar	Centre’s share (75%)	9274	9738	10225	10736	11273	51246
	State share (25%)	3091	3246	3408	3579	3758	17082
	Total	12365	12984	13633	14315	15031	68328
Successor Bihar	Centre’s share (75%)	5022	5273	5537	5814	6105	27751
	State share (25%)	1674	1758	1845	1938	2035	9250
	Total	6696	7031	7382	7752	8140	37001
Jharkhand	Centre’s share (75%)	4252	4465	4688	4922	5168	23495
	State share (25%)	1417	1488	1563	1641	1723	7832
	Total	5669	5953	6251	6563	6891	31327
MADHYA PRADESH
Erstwhile M.P.	Centre’s share (75%)	6758	7095	7450	7823	8214	37340
	State share (25%)	2253	2365	2483	2608	2738	12447
	Total	9011	9460	9933	10431	10952	49786
Successor M.P.	Centre’s share (75%)	4698	4932	5178	5439	5710	25957
	State share (25%)	1566	1644	1726	1812	1903	8651
	Total	6264	6576	6904	7251	7613	34608
Chhattisgarh	Centre’s share (75%)	2060	2163	2272	2385	2503	11383
	State share (25%)	687	721	757	795	835	3795
	Total	2747	2884	3029	3180	3338	15178
UTTAR PRADESH
Erstwhile U.P.	Centre’s share (75%)	13398	14068	14771	15510	16286	74033
	State share (25%)	4466	4689	4924	5170	5429	24678
	Total	17864	18757	19695	20680	21715	98711
U.P.	Centre’s share (75%)	10970	11519	12095	12700	13336	60620
	State share (25%)	3657	3840	4032	4233	4445	20207
	Total	14627	15359	16127	16933	17781	80827
Uttaranchal	Centre’s share (75%)	2428	2549	2676	2810	2950	13413
	State share (25%)	809	849	892	937	984	4471
	Total	3237	3398	3568	3747	3934	17884