NEW DELHI: An inter-ministerial central team will visit Kerala starting Thursday to make an on-the-spot assessment of damages on account of recent floods in the state and recommend the additional requirements of funds from the National Disaster Relief Fund ( NDRF ).Kerala had last week sent a memorandum to the Centre seeking Rs 4,700 crore as further assistance from the NDRF.The team, to be headed by additional secretary in the home ministry BR Sharma, will be in Kerala between September 20 and 24. Its findings and recommendations will be examined by a sub-committee of the national executive committee (NEC) headed by home secretary, in conformity with the norms.The NEC panel’s recommendation will go to a high-level committee headed by home minister Rajnath Singh for final approval of the quantum of additional assistance to be extended to Kerala from the NDRF.At least 488 people have died in Kerala due to the rains and floods this monsoon, which hit 14 districts of the state.The Kerala government's memorandum summarises the loss of human lives, property, infrastructure and crops.In case of any natural calamity beyond the coping capacity of a state, the state government submits a detailed memorandum indicating sector-wise details of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature.The financial mechanism to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disaster event is governed by guidelines on State Disaster Response Fund ( SDRF ) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), another official said.The State Disaster Response Fund has been constituted in each state in which the Centre contributes 75% for general category states and 90% for special category states of hilly regions every year according to the award of the successive Finance Commissions.According to the guidelines, the Centre provides its allocation to SDRF of each state in advance in two installments.In case of any natural calamity, the state meets the expenditure of relief and rescue from the State Disaster Response Fund already available at its disposal.On August 21, the central government had released Rs 600 crore to flood-hit Kerala as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Rs 500 crore) and home minister Rajnath Singh (Rs 100 crore) during their visits to the state.This was in addition to Rs 562.45 crore already made available in State Disaster Relief Fund of the state.

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