Question raised in Lok Sabha on Forest Areas, 08/12/2015. 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, there is a net increase of 5871 sq km. in the forest cover as compared to the previous assessment of 2011, which can be attributed to afforestation, conservation measures, management interventions etc. The State-wise details of forest cover are given in Annexure-I.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Clearance for Hydro Power Projects, 08/12/2015. Twenty one (21) hydro power projects have been granted environment clearance during
the last 3 years including current year. No hydropower project has been granted environmental clearance in the State of Uttarakhand during the said period. The list of these 21 projects is annexed.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Acquisition of Forest Land, 08/12/2015. State wise details of area approved under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 by the Central Government for various developmental activities during the last three years i.e. 2012 to 2014 and current year is given at Annexure-I.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Biodiversity Areas, 08/12/2015. Details of funds released to State/ UT Governments under these Centrally Sponsored Schemes of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ (IDWH) ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Project Elephant’ during 2014-15 is given in the Annexure.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Water Storage Capacity of Reservoirs, 07/12/2015. As per information available, live storage capacity of completed reservoirs in the country has been assessed as 253.388 BCM, and that of reservoirs under construction is 50.959 BCM. State wise reservoirs capacity details for completed and under construction reservoirs are at Annexure.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Tribal population, 07/12/2015. Based on Census 2011, conducted by the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, State/ UT -wise details of population of Scheduled Tribes (ST) and their percentage in each State/ UT are given at Annexure.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Supply of piped drinking water in rural areas, 07/12/2015. Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation through National Rural Drinking Water Programme supplements the efforts of States to provide drinking water to rural population by providing technical & financial assistance. The Ministry monitors the coverage of habitation with piped water supply.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Number of lions in the country, 07/12/2015. The census of all wild animals is not undertaken in the country. However census of tiger is undertaken at the national level once every four years and census of a few other major flagship species is undertaken at the State-level by the respective State/Union Territory governments. As per the latest census, the estimated population of tiger, elephant, lion and rhinoceros as received from the States is given in the Annexure.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Level of pollution in rivers, 07/12/2015. The Water Resources Information System (WRIS) database developed by Central Water Commission alongwith Indian Space Research Organisation includes 15615 numbers of identified rivers/streams in the country. The basin-wise number of rivers/streams identified are at Annexure-I. Discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from cities / towns and industrial effluents constitute a major source of pollution in rivers.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Forest clearances for mining projects, 07/12/2015. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has received 518 proposals, involving forest area more than 40 ha, seeking prior approval of the Central Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 including coal and iron ore mining projects. Out of total, 423 proposals have been approved by the Central Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 while 40 proposals have been rejected by the Central Government.