Question raised in Lok Sabha on Ecological Impact of Mining, 09/08/2016. The forest land diverted has not caused ecological imbalance. Since the enactment of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. the forest land diverted for non-forest use including mining purposes is on average approximately 25,000 Ha per year. The forest alnd diverted from October 1980 to date, State/UT-wise including Karnataka is given in Annexure -I. Non forestry activities including mining invariably have an impact on the environment and ecological balance.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Schemes for increasing forest resources, 08/08/2016. Forest cover of the country is assessed biennially and published as India State of Forest Report (ISFR) by Forest Survey of India, Dehradun (FSI), an organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. As per latest ISFR, 2015 there is overall increase of 3775 sq. km of forest cover in the country, as compared to ISFR 2013. Some States have shown decline in forest cover whereas some States have shown increase in forest cover.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Pollution effect of thermal power plants, 08/08/2016. The contribution of thermal generation in the year 2015-16 was 80.4% of total generation from all sources (including renewable). The State-wise details of annual generation from thermal power plants in the country is at Annex-I.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Per capita consumption of power, 08/08/2016. As per Load Generation Balance Report (LGBR) of 2016-17, 14 States and 3 Union Territories are expected to have surplus electricity in the year 2016-17. State-wise details of surplus electricity during 2016-17 and their projected per capita supply of electricity (gross) are at Annex.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Inter-Linking of River Projects, 08/08/2016. The Government is planning to start implementing this National Project as a model link project of ILR programme, which will benefit the drought prone areas of Bundel Khand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The present status of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links, the States involved, names of rivers and status of Feasibility Reports/Detailed Project Report (DPR) is given at Annexure-I.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Inter Linking of Minor and Major Rivers for Floods and Drought, 08/08/2016. The Government is planning to start implementing this National Project as a model link project of ILR programme, which will benefit the drought prone areas of Bundel Khand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The present status of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links, the States involved, names of rivers and status of Feasibility Reports/Detailed Project Report (DPR) is given at Annexure.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Inter Linking of Minor and Major Rivers for Floods and Drought, 08/08/2016. The Government is planning to start implementing this National Project as a model link project of ILR programme, which will benefit the drought prone areas of Bundel Khand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The present status of Inter Basin Water Transfer Links, the States involved, names of rivers and status of Feasibility Reports/Detailed Project Report (DPR) is given at Annexure.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Development of sewage system, 08/08/2016. The NGRBA programme along with work of Ganga & its tributaries is with Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR) from 01/08/2014 onwards. The programmes of NRCP & NGRBA (till 31/07/2014) have covered polluted stretches of 43 rivers in 200 towns spread over 21 States, at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 12202.59 crore so far. Sewage treatment capacity of 5169 mld has been created so far under these two programmes.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Loss to Farmers Due to Climate Change, 05/08/2016. Agricultural land has been affected due to low rainfall in the country during last year. Eleven States, i.e. Karnataka (both for Kharif and Rabi), Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra (both for Kharif and Rabi), Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh (both for Kharif and Rabi), Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand (rabi) submitted Memoranda reporting crop loss due to natural calamities like drought, hailstorm, pest attack & coldwave/ frost.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Fluoride in Water, 05/08/2016. Several districts in the country have Fluoride in excess of the permissible limit in drinking water, leading to condition known as Fluorosis (Dental, Skeletal and Non-Skeletal Fluorosis). As per Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation as on date, there are about 13,907 habitations in various States with high Fluoride content in the drinking water. About 114.6 lakh persons living in these areas are at risk of Fluorosis.