Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Status of proposals for setting up power projects, 25/07/2016. During the last three years and the current year (since April 2013), 12 DPRs of Hydro Electric Projects (Schemes) have been received in CEA for concurrence/appraisal. The details of the Hydro Electric Schemes received are given at Annex.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Problem of fluoride contamination in drinking water in Himachal Pradesh, 25/07/2016. As reported by the States into the online Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry, as on 20/7/2016, the problem of excess fluoride in rural drinking water sources is reported by 17 States in 13,949 habitations and the State-wise number of fluoride affected habitations is annexed.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Population of wild animals, 25/07/2016. Population of tigers in tiger reserves, inter alia, including that for Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, as per Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2014 is at Annexure-I. Tiger mortality, as reported by States, during last year and current year, is at Annexure-II. The Government of India through the National Tiger Conservation Authority has taken a number of initiatives for conservation and protection of tiger and other wild animals. The same are at Annexure-III.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Population of tigers, 25/07/2016. The details of tiger population in the country for the years 2010 and 2014 are at Annexure-I. Several milestone initiatives have been taken by the Government of India through the National Tiger Conservation Authority for protection and conservation of tigers and other wild animals, and the same are at Annexure-II.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Poaching of tigers, 25/07/2016. The assessment of the status of tigers, co-predators and their prey 2014 using the refined methodology has shown a countrywide 30% increase in tiger numbers with an estimated number of 2226 (range 1945-2491) as compared to 2010 estimation of 1706 (range 1520-1909 tigers). The details of tiger estimation pertaining to tiger landscapes in the country for the years 2010 and 2014 are at Annexure-I.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Loss of prime forest, 25/07/2016. Forest Survey of India, Dehradun is carrying out the assessment of forest cover of the Country biennially and the findings are published in India State of Forest Report. The latest report in the series is India State of Forest Report 2015. As per this report, there is a net increase of 3775 square kilometers in the forest cover of the country as compared with India State of Forest Report-2013. The states/UT wise details of forest cover is given in Annexure.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Loss of forest cover, 25/07/2016. During last ten years and current year, the Central Government has accorded approvals over 2,45,288 ha of forest land in 11580 cases for public and private sector projects. State wise details of approvals granted by the Central Government for use of forest land for such activities is given at Annexure-I

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Incomplete Hydro Power Projects, 25/07/2016. Construction activities on some of the Hydro-Electric Projects (HEPs) in Private sector have been stopped by the developers of these projects. The details of such projects are given at Annex.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Electrification of Villages, 25/07/2016. 86 and 214 villages were electrified during last two years i.e. 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively in the State of Madhya Pradesh. The district-wise details are at Annex-I. As informed by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, there are 164 un-electrified villages in the State as on 18.07.2016. The district-wise details of un-electrified villages are at Annex-II.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Conservation of wetlands, 25/07/2016. As per National Wetland Atlas published by the Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad in 2011, there are a total of 7,57,060 wetlands in the country occupying 15.26 million hectare area (around 4.63% of the geographic area of the country). These include lakes/ponds, ox-bow lakes, high altitude & riverine wetlands, waterlogged areas, rivers/streams, tanks, reservoirs, lagoons, creeks, sand beaches, corals, mangroves, mud flats, salt pans, aquaculture ponds, etc.