Question raised in Lok Sabha on Protection of Environment, 19/07/2016. The Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun assesses the forest cover of the country at the interval of two years. As per India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2013 & 2015, there is a net increase of 5871 sq. km. in the forest cover as compared to the previous assessment of 2011 and a net increase of 3775 sq. km. over 2013 assessment. The increase in forest cover can be attributed to afforestation, conservation measures, management interventions etc. in the forest area. An amount of Rs. 60 crore under NAP, Rs.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, 19/07/2016. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been approved for implementation in place of erstwhile National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified NAIS (MNAIS) from current Kharif 2016 season. Details of Government share in respect of premium subsidy and claims (under NAIS) and number of beneficiaries during the last three years under erstwhile schemes of NAIS/MNAIS/WBCIS are at Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Pollution in Rivers/Lakes, 19/07/2016. The programmes of NRCP & NGRBA (till 31/07/2014) have so far covered polluted stretches of 43 rivers in 200 towns spread over 21 States at a sanctioned cost of `12202.59 crore and sewage treatment capacity of 5169 million litres per day (mld) has been created so far under these two programmes. The details of funds released to various State Governments for implementation of pollution abatement schemes during the last three years under the NRCP/NGRBA, State-wise are at Annexure-I.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Pollution in Rivers/Lakes, 19/07/2016. The programmes of NRCP & NGRBA (till 31/07/2014) have so far covered polluted stretches of 43 rivers in 200 towns spread over 21 States at a sanctioned cost of `12202.59 crore and sewage treatment capacity of 5169 million litres per day (mld) has been created so far under these two programmes. The details of funds released to various State Governments for implementation of pollution abatement schemes during the last three years under the NRCP/NGRBA, State-wise are at Annexure-I.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on National Crop Insurance Scheme, 19/07/2016. The National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified NAIS have been withdrawn from Kharif 2016 season and new scheme namely, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been introduced in place of these scheme. State-wise details (including Maharashtra) of claims paid and number of farmers benefitted during last three years under Crop Insurance Schemes are given in Annexure-I and II respectively.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Monitoring of Polluting Industries, 19/07/2016. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the 17 category of highly polluting industries to install system for online monitoring of emission / effluent quality. Out of total 3387 industrial units, 2736 units were identified for installing online monitoring system. 1783 industrial units have installed online monitoring system as on 1st July, 2016 and 625 units are in the process of installation while the remaining have been issued closure directions.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Environmental Clearance, 19/07/2016. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has taken various initiatives to make the environmental clearance process more transparent and expeditious, without compromising the integrity of the environment.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Compensation to Farmers for Crop Loss, 19/07/2016. The status of funds released from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) during the last three years and current year to States for natural calamities including droughts and floods is at Annexure.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Afforestation in Hilly Areas, 19/07/2016. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) is implementing a centrally sponsored “National Afforestation Programme (NAP)” scheme for regeneration and restocking of degraded forests in the country. The scheme is implemented in participatory mode under the Joint Forest Management by State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) at the State level, Forest Development Agency (FDA) at the forest division/district level and Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) at the village level.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Special Economic Zones, 18/07/2016. The proposals for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are approved by the Board of Approval (BoA) on recommendations of the concerned State Government. Approval of SEZs is an on-going process as they are created under the provisions of the SEZs Act, 2005. During the last three years and current financial year, 29 proposals have been received. Out of these, 23 proposals have been approved for setting up of SEZs. Details of the proposals approved including IT/ITES SEZs are at Annexure-I.