Rs 23 crore sanctioned by Centre for study of lakes and mitigation not enough; promised Special Assistance for GLOF must come separately, says Golay

SUJAL PRADHAN, EOI, GANGTOK, OCTOBER 4, 2024 : Sikkim was ravaged by devastating floods on the intervening night of October 3 and 4, triggered by the collapse of moraine at the South Lhonak Lake. 

The same flash flood led to the collapse of the Teesta Stage 3 dam in Chungthang, further increasing the magnitude of the flash flood, resulting in the death of almost 92 people, including more than 20 army personnel. Sikkim commemorated the one-year anniversary of the disaster on Friday as State Disaster Risk Reduction Day in Gangtok, with Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay in attendance. 

The government has made claims that last year's disaster was triggered by 'cloudburst' instead of 'GLOF', with the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood disaster securing only Rs. 500 crore as insurance claim for damages to the State, while a cloudburst assures 100 percent compensation, with the State declaring Rs. 3600 crores as part of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment submitted to the Centre.

The Chief Minister responded to the claims, stating: "Yes, the disaster was triggered by 'cloudburst', which the government has notified as well. We are unsure which will secure more funds for the State, but whatever is the truth, we have submitted to the Centre." On October 1, Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved Rs. 23 crore to Sikkim as Central share from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and advance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). 

The Chief Minister remarked: "Rs. 23 crore to the State is for the study of lakes and mitigation; it is not enough. Once the report is made on the vulnerability of the lakes, only then the work will begin. We have submitted a Post Disaster Needs Assessment worth Rs. 3600 crore. It remains the prerogative of the Centre to allocate these funds. This assessment was made by both the Centre and the State government."

On the State still not receiving the Special Financial Assistance for GLOF as promised by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Union Budget speech earlier this year, the Sikkim Chief Minister said: "The announcement has been made already, but it's not the Rs. 23 crore that was approved; it should come separately." 

The Chief Minister in his speech assured the victims of the disaster that they have been given the necessary settlement. "All the relief that can be provided from the State Government has been given. For Punar Awas Yojana (resettlement), we have identified and allotted the lands to the victims. We will be constructing homes for the victims as well as all the announcements that have been made. We will work on it."

The State had sent a multidisciplinary team to study the threat of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood from other vulnerable lakes in north Sikkim for two weeks since September 1. The Chief Minister said: "We are awaiting the final report. Once the report on the visit is made final, we will make it public." 

Addressing the ongoing challenges faced by families affected by recent landslides, floods, and heavy rains, Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang also assured that the government was committed to providing all necessary assistance to those who had lost their properties in the disaster. 

"We have all the necessary help and support from the government side. For families affected by the recent natural calamities, we are providing land so they can rebuild their homes," Tamang said.