Question raised in Lok Sabha on Open Defecation Free Districts, 17/11/2016. State-wise, number of districts that have been declared open defecation free is at Annexure-1. Since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) on 2nd October, 2014, 239.15 lakh toilets have been constructed under SBM(G) as on 30.09.2016. In addition to these, 15.30 lakh toilets have been constructed under MGNREGA since 2.10.2014. Government has set the target to make country open defecation free by 2nd October, 2019.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Inter-linking of Rivers, 17/11/2016. Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for water resources development through inter basin transfer of water prepared by this Ministry, NWDA has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports. After survey and investigations feasibility Reports of 14 links under Peninsular Component and 2 links in the Himalayan component have been prepared.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Depletion in Ground Water Level, 17/11/2016. Ground water is primarily being used for irrigation, drinking and industrial purposes. Due to growing urbanization, industrialization and population, ground water levels in various parts of the Country are declining. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR carries out ground water monitoring, four times a year, on regional scale through a network of observation wells in the Country including Chhattisgarh.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Demand and Supply of Power, 17/11/2016. The details of All India and state-wise annual electricity demand and supply during peaking period and the energy requirement and availability which covers peaking as well as non peaking period in each of the last three years and the current year is given at Annex-I. Government of India has launched a scheme by providing support from Power System Development Fund (PSDF) for stranded gas based generation.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Safe Drinking Water, 11/08/2016. As per information provided by States / UTs on online portal Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry, there are total 17,14,528 rural habitations in the country. Out of them; 13,09,567 rural habitations are fully covered (getting 40 litres per capita per day (lpcd) or more potable drinking water);

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Prevention of Floods, 11/08/2016. Floods are a natural calamity that India faces almost every year, in varying degrees of magnitude. The frequent occurrence of floods can be attributed to various factors, including wide variations in rainfall both in time and space with frequent departures from the normal pattern, inadequate carrying capacities of rivers, river bank erosion and silting of river beds, landslides, poor natural drainage in flood prone areas, snowmelt and glacial lake out bursts.