New Delhi, Mar 25 (Reporter) The Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday claimed that the Disaster Management Amendment Bill was introduced in the House without thorough discussion and demanded that it be referred to the Home Ministry's relevant committee for a comprehensive review. The ruling party, however, criticised state governments for failing to establish National Disaster Response Force battalions at the state level. Ritabrata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, during the discussion, stated that the government was presenting the bill without adequate deliberation. He pointed out that the bill lacks an in-depth discussion on addressing natural disasters and finding solutions to the challenges they pose. He stated that the Bill impacts the lives of millions of people and should therefore be referred to the Home Ministry's relevant committee for review. He claimed that the Bill overlooks the financial rights of the states, leaving them dependent on the Centre. He also accused the Central government of failing to allocate sufficient funds to state governments for relief and rescue operations following disasters. He asserted that the centre discriminates against non- BJP ruled state, citing West Bengal as an example, where only seven percent of the allocated disaster management funds have been released. R Girirajan of the DMK also criticised the Bill for lacking clarity on federal matters and suggested that it be withdrawn and reintroduced in the House after broader discussions. He also alleged that states are not given adequate funds to deal with post-disaster situation. Congress leader Neeraj Dangi stated that the Bill's provisions emphasise centralisation of power while lacking accountability. He also argued that the establishment of a new Urban Disaster Management Authority has led to unnecessary bureaucratic interference. He claimed that there was a lack of coordination between government agencies and departments during relief and rescue operations in disaster situations. He also pointed out that despite the amendment, the bill does not include provisions for the involvement of subject matter experts. BJP's Brajlal stated that disaster management primarily falls under the jurisdiction of the states, while the central government provides them with the necessary resources to handle it. He stated that there are 16 battalions of the National Disaster Response Force across the country, strategically deployed in disaster-prone states to manage emergencies. Sanjay Singh of the AAP stated that whenever a natural disaster strikes anywhere in the country, the responsibilities of the central government, state governments and the local bodies increase significantly. he urged the government to prioritize providing maximum assistance to those affected by national or other disasters, rather than engaging in mutual blame over disaster management. Manas Ranjan Mangaraj of the Biju Janata Dal stated that Odisha frequently experiences natural disasters and must manage relief and rescue efforts, yet the state is consistently overlooked in central assistance. Sanjay Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal stated that the central government is incorporating provisions in all its laws that expand its own powers while diminishing those of the states...////...