Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Least visible pollutant particle in air in major cities , 09/05/2016. The total Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in ambient air is comprised of PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 micron), PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micron) and PM1. The least visible particulate matter i.e. PM1 (particulate matter less than 1 micron) is significantly smaller than PM2.5 is not monitored by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as the same is not regulated.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Electricity Supply in Villages, 09/05/2016. There were 18,452 un-electrified census villages in the country as on 01.04.2015 as informed by the States. Out of these un-electrified census villages, 7108 villages have been electrified during 2015-16. The State-wise details are given at Annex-I. Under Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), all the eligible Below Poverty Line (BPL) households are provided free electricity connections and infrastructure is created for all as proposed by State/DISCOM.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Rehabilitation of Displaced Families due to Irrigation Projects, 05/05/2016. Water Resources projects are planned and implemented by the respective State Governments. Further, the concerned State Government and Project Authorities make assessment of number of people/families displaced due to such projects and formulate and implement project-wise Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Plans.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Water Treatment Plants, 03/05/2016. As per the information furnished by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MoDWS), the details of funds allocated, released and utilized by the States / UTs under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) which include funds for setting up water treatment plants in toxic heavy metal affected areas in the country including Karnataka during the last 3 years and 2016-17 are given at Annexure I.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Monitoring of Air Pollution, 03/05/2016. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is monitoring the ambient air quality in the country including metropolitan cities in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committee (PCCs) of UTs, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) under the scheme “National Air Quality Monitoring Programme” (NAMP).

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Flow of Sewage into River, 03/05/2016. Discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from cities / towns and industrial effluents constitute a major source of pollution in rivers. As per the report published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in February 2015, 302 polluted river stretches have been identified on 275 rivers based on Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, a key indicator of organic pollution. The State-wise details are at Annexure.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Eco-sensitive Zones, 03/05/2016. The State-wise details of proposals for declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zone around National Parks and Sanctuaries received are at Annexure. So far, the Ministry has approved/notified 257 ESZ proposals covering 404 Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks for declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones. Of the 275 proposals, 220 have been notified in the Gazette of India, of which 187 are draft notifications and 33 are final notifications.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Cruelty to Animals, 03/05/2016. The enforcement of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and Rules made thereunder (Animal Protection Laws) is the responsibility of the concerned State Governments / UTs which are empowered to take action in cases of cruelty inflicted on animals. A list of cases registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, 1960 during the last three years and persons convicted as provided to Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) by the States is enclosed herewith as Annexure A.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Crop Insurance Scheme, 03/05/2016. The number of farmers covered and claims paid to farmers under various Crop Insurance Schemes viz. National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS), National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP) components namely, Modified NAIS (MNAIS) & the Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS), during last three years are given in Annexure-I. State-wise details of percentage of sown area covered under crop insurance schemes as against net sown areas during last three years is given in Annexure-II.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Conservation of Wetlands, 03/05/2016. The Ministry has so far, identified 115 wetlands in 24 States and two Union Territories for conservation and management under the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP). The State-wise list of these wetlands is given in Annexure.