By   Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati: At a time when the state of Assam is reeling under heavy flood with more than 32 deaths and 57 lakhs people affected in almost all the districts, the Central Government has wrapped up their responsibility by announcing Rs. 251 Crore out of the 559 crores as grants-in-aid towards the central share of SDRF for 2019-20. Union Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Sekhawat while reviewing the Assam flood situation on Tuesday has released Rs. 251.55 crore to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for management of the disaster. At a time when Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appreciated the Central government for releasing Rs. 251 crore to the SDRF, at the same time the Centre has released several thousands of crore rupees for Kerala, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir and other states for the flood. It may be mentioned that the Centre has released Rs. 3048 crores for Kerala flood in 2018 and Rs. 500crores for Bihar flood while in 2017; the Narendra Modi-led government had sanctioned an additional amount of Rs. 2,307crores for Bihar flood but for Assam, the Centre has released only Rs. 251.55crores and that too from the sanctioned amount of Rs. 559crores for 2019-20 to SDRF. Meanwhile, the central government has not provided even a single penny of additional fund for Assam flood although the Assam Government has sought an additional Rs. 2929 crores in 2017 after the state government had submitted a report mentioning about the damages of properties due to flood. During the discussion with the union Jal Shakti Minister, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority has made him aware that a total 9,157 villages in 113 revenue circles of all 33 districts of Assam have been affected in the flood.Nearly 17,000 Taking Refuge in Camps Nearly 56,000 people are taking refuge in 627 relief camps and distribution centres in 33 districts. In a rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force,56,833 people were rescued till today.