Question raised in Lok Sabha on Environmental/Forest Clearance for Major Projects, 21/07/2015. The offshore and on-shore oil and gas exploration, development & production activity listed at item no. 1(b) in the Schedule of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Notification 2006 requires prior Environmental Clearance (EC). While granting EC,4 stage processes namely Screening, Scoping, Public Consultation and Appraisal of project are involved. Total 24 Ecs have been granted to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) since May 2014 till 17.07.2015.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on pollution in Lakes/Rivers, 21/07/2015. The water quality of rivers, lakes & other water bodies is regularly monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) through a network of 2500 monitoring stations in 28 States and 6 Union Territories. This includes 1275 monitoring stations on rivers and 281 monitoring stations on lakes, tanks & ponds, which cover 445 rivers as well as 244 lakes, tanks & ponds.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Protection of Tigers, 21/07/2015. The details of tiger mortality due to natural and other causes including poaching and seizure, as reported by States, tiger reserve-wise and State-wise is at Annexure-I (a) & I (b) respectively. Several milestone initiatives have been taken by the Government of India for conservation and protection of tigers and other wild animals and is at Annexure-II. The details of funds allocated and utilised for the protection of tigers during the last three years and the current year are at Annexure-III.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Tiger/Elephant Reserves, 21/07/2015. The details of Tiger Reserves under Project Tiger and Elephant Reserves under Project Elephant in the country, State-wise, are at Annexure-I (a) & (b) respectively. In-principle approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for creation of three new tiger reserves: (i) Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh), (ii) Sunabeda (Odisha) and (iii) Guru Ghasidas (Chhattisgarh).

Question raised in Lok Sabha on drought assistance, 21/07/2015. The details of financial assistance approved State-wise by the Government of India from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the last three years and the current year are Annexure-I. Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities has prepared contingency plans for 580 districts for implementing location specific interventions to sustain agriculture production in the eventuality of any extreme climatic events.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on crop insurance scheme, 21/07/2015. In order to protect farmers against crop failure due to natural calamities, pests & diseases, weather conditions, Government of India is implementing National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP) with component schemes of Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS), Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) and Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS).

Question raised in Lok Sabha on compensation for damage to crops, 21/07/2015. Also includes statement indicating assistance approved from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for drought of hail storm during 2014-15.