The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 20, 2018. It replaces an Ordinance promulgated on November 2, 2018. The Bill amends several provisions in the Companies Act, 2013 relating to penalties, among others.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on MSP of Crops, 18/12/2018. Details of number of farmers benefited from procurement of kharif crops at minimum support price (MSP) from 2015-16 to 2018-19 is given in this document.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Loss Due to Natural Disasters, 18/12/2018. Various parts of in the country have been affected by natural calamities including earthquake, cyclone and floods in the recent decades. The damage and losses due to natural disasters are primarily assessed by the concerned State Government, as they are responsible for management of natural calamities. Data regarding losses including financial losses in recent decades is not maintained by this Ministry prior to 2013. The details available with the Ministry for the last six year are at Annexure-I.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Drought Prone Areas, 18/12/2018. During 2018-19 the State Governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Rajasthan have submitted Memorandums in the wake of drought during Kharif. Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) have been consisted to visit all these drought affected States to assess the damage and recommend the financial assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Details are as under this document.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Compensation under PMFBY, 18/12/2018. State-wise Details of enrolments, estimated claims and claims paid under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) during 2016-17 and 2017-18 are given in Annexure-I. Inspite of overall good monsoon during first two years of implementation of PMFBY, the claim ratio during 2016-17 is about 73% and during Kharif 2017, it is about 86%. Moreover, high claims are paid by insurance companies in the areas/States hit by the natural calamity/adverse weather conditions.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Pollution free Delhi and other cities, 17/12/2018. The Central Government has notified a Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) and Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)for prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR. The Central Government has also finalized National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) under the Central Sector “Control of Pollution” Scheme as a long-term time bound national level strategy to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Cases of death of tigers, 17/12/2018. The incidents of tiger deaths due to poaching (including seizures) during the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 are 21, 41 and 28 respectively, while due to road and rail accidents during the same period are 3, 5 and 2 respectively. Details of tiger deaths from 2015 to 2017, including Maharashtra and Odisha, as reported by States, are included in this document.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Abatement of pollution in rivers, 17/12/2018. Pollution load in rivers has increased over the years due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. Rivers in the country are mainly polluted due to discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from cities/towns and industrial effluents. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with the State Pollution Control Boards monitors the water quality of rivers across the country through a network of monitoring stations under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Sanitation in Rural Areas, 13/12/2018. The status of rural sanitation coverage in the country at the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) [SBM(G)] was 38.70%.Since the launch of the SBM in October 2014, rural sanitation coverage has crossed 97%. State/UT-wise and year-wise number of Individual household latrines (IHHLs) constructed under SBM(G)since its launch with effect from 02.10.2014 are given at Annexure-1.State/UT-wise status of coverage of household toilets under SBM(G) as on 10.12.2018 is given at Annexure-2.

Taking note of adverse consequences of retreating of Himalayan glaciers, a Parliamentary panel has recommended the Centre to make adequate financial allocation and infrastructure available for an extensive study of the ecosystem to measure the extent of glacial retreat and the ways to mitigate its effects.

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