Question raised in Rajya Sabha on suicide by farmers, 24/07/2015. As per National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) data, the number of suicides committed by farmers under persons self-employed in farming/agriculture Category in 2012, 2013 & 2014 were 13754, 11772 and 5650 respectively. State-wise details are given at Annexure-I. The number of suicides committed by farmers attributed to agrarian distress during last three years i.e. 2012, 2013 and 2014 as reported by State Governments, was 1066, 890 & 1400 respectively and during 2015 (Upto June, 2015) is 263.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on food adulteration, 24/07/2015. The information made available by the State/UT Governments in respect of food samples collected, tested, found not conforming to the prescribed standards, and action taken against the violation of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, Rules and Regulations thereunder, during last three years is indicated in this document.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on adulteration in milk, 24/07/2015. Details of state-wise estimates of milk production during 2011-12 to 2014-15, and per Capita availability of milk during the said period are indicated in this document. As per the data compiled through Food Import Clearance System (FICS), the quantity of milk and milk products imported during last three years and the current year is also indicated.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on action plan to face drought situation, 24/07/2015. Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), ICAR has developed agriculture contingency plans in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities in 600 districts of the country. The contingency plan provides broad advisory to farmers at the district level, prescribing alternate strategies in the event of climatic variability, by factoring in its crops/livestock/aquaculture practices/pattern, soil characteristics, infrastructural facilities etc.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on supply of coal and gas to power plants, 23/07/2015. Details of quantity of coal supplied to the coal based power plants during the last 3 years and the current year (upto June, 2015) is given at Annex-I. Details of quantity of gas supplied to the gas based power plants during the last 3 years and the current year (upto May, 2015) is given at Annex-II.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on setting up of UMPP, 23/07/2015. Four UMPPs, viz, Sasan in Madhya Pradesh, Mundra in Gujarat, Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Tilaiya in Jharkhand have been awarded to the successful bidders so far. Mundra and Sasan UMPP have been fully commissioned. The status of awarded UMPPs is at Annex-I. The status of other identified UMPPs is at Annex-II. Presently, 82 thermal power projects aggregating to 81741 MW are lying incomplete in the country including two nos. projects aggregating to 2980 MW in West Bengal (Details at Annex –III).

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on polluted cities in country, 23/07/2015. The ambient air quality is monitored by Central Pollution Control Board and NEERI in Delhi and by Jharkhand Pollution Control Board in Dhanbad under National Air Monitoring programme (NAMP) for three pollutants namely, Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and PM10 (particulate matter).

Question raised in Lok Sabha on MDG for sanitation, 23/07/2015. Data on State/UT-wise percentage of Rural Households with access to toilets is included in this document.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on contamination of ground water, 23/07/2015. Ground water quality data generated by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) indicates that ground water in various parts in Ten (10) States for Arsenic, Twenty (20) States for Fluoride, Twenty One (21) States for Nitrate, Twenty Four (24) States for Iron, and Fifteen (15) States for Heavy Metals such as Lead, Chromium and Cadmium have concentration higher than the norms, on the date of analysis, prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on contaminated drinking water, 23/07/2015. As on 1/4/2015, States have reported 66,761 rural habitation with water quality contaminations like arsenic, fluoride, iron, salinity and nitrate. State-wise details of water quality affected habitations which are yet to be provided with safe drinking water is at Annex-I. Under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), 67% of the funds released to States can be utilized for coverage and tackling water quality problems.