Question raised in Lok Sabha on Air Pollution Levels, 08/02/2019. The ambient air quality monitoring with respect to PM2.5 was initiated in 2014 under NAMP. The ambient air quality data for different cities of the country during 2014 and 2017 is attached at Annexure.

Agriculture and allied sector forms the bedrock of Indian economy as it engages more than 50% of the workforce and contributes about 17% to the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA). The developments in this sector are keenly watched by the policy makers, business, academia and other stakeholders. The flagship publication of Directorate of Economics & Statistics, namely ‘Agricultural Statistics at a Glance’ is one of the most reliable sources of information to gauge the performance of agriculture and allied sector in India.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, 08/01/2019. The sector-wise projects approved by the States under the scheme as per the data entered by them in RDMIS during the last four years and State/Union Territorywise allocation, release and utilization during the period are given respectively at annexure- I & II. The State -wise production of rice, wheat, pulses as well as allocation, release and utilization of funds under NFSM during the last three years is given respectively at annexure-III & IV.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Minimum Support Price, 08/01/2019. Government generally increases the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of all notified crops on the basis of recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices(CACP) which provide adequate return over cost of production. Government has substantially increased MSPs for all mandated crops for the season 2018-19. This decision of the Government was a historic one as it fulfills the commitment to the farmers to provide 50 per cent return over cost of production for the first time for all mandated crops.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Impact of climate change on Indian agriculture and food security, 08/01/2019. The State wise details of assistance given for crop loss from 2014 to 2017 as per guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is placed at Annexure-I

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on WHO report on most polluted cities, 07/01/2019. Ambient air quality is monitored at 731 locations covering 312 cities/towns in 29 States and 6 Union Territories across the country under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). WHO Report has made assessment of Air quality data up to 2016. Comparison of Air Quality Data from WHO report for 2016 with NAMP data for 2017 reveals that the levels of PM2.5 and PM10 have decreased in 2017 in all the above-mentioned 14 cities for which NAMP data is available (Annexure).

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Poaching of animals, 07/01/2019. Details of animal poaching incidents in various parts of the country are not collated in the Ministry. However, cases as reported and made available to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau for the last year by the State Enforcement Agencies is enclosed as Annexure-I.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on High pollution areas under NCAP, 07/01/2019. In order to address the increasing air pollution across the country in a comprehensive manner, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has finalized the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) as a pan India medium term five-year national level strategy to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Discharge of industrial waste into the rivers, 07/01/2019. As per the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 industrial units are required to install effluent treatment plants(ETPs) and to treat their effluents to comply the stipulated environmental standard before discharging it into any water bodies. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), there are 2743 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) in the country discharging their effluents into various water bodies, including rivers.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Death of wild animals in rail and road accidents, 07/01/2019. The number of death of wild animals in road and rail accidents in the country are not collated by the Ministry. However, as per information collected from the states the number of death of elephants, lion and tigers in road/rail accidents in the country as available with the Ministry during the last three years are given at Annexure I, Annexure II and Annexure III.