Generation of Electricity from Solid Waste

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing programmes on energy from urban, industrial and agricultural wastes/residues including setting up of five pilot projects for power generation from municipal solid waste. This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. The programme provides Central Financial Assistance of Rs.2.00 crore/MW limited to Rs.10 Crore per project. In addition, excise duty exemption and concessional custom duty are also being provided to such projects. The Minister further stated that only one project of 16 MW capacity is operational at Okhla, New Delhi and four more projects [at Delhi (2 Nos.), Hyderabad (A.P.), Pune (Maharashtra)] have been commenced, the Minister added. Programmes/Schemes for the Upliftment of Scheduled Tribes             The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is running following programmes/schemes for the upliftment of Scheduled Tribes over all India: (i) Scheme of Construction of Hostels for ST Girls and Boys (ii) Scheme of Establishment of Ashram School in Tribal Sub-Plan Areas (iii) Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students (iv) Upgradation of Merit (v) Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students studying in classes IX & X. (vi) Vocational Training in Tribal Areas(State’s component) (vii) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for STs (viii) Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for STs (ix) Top Class Education for ST students (x) Grants in aid to Voluntary Organisations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes (xi) Coaching for Scheduled Tribes (xii) Strengthening Education among Scheduled Tribe Girls in Low Literacy Districts (xiii) Vocational Training in Tribal Areas (xiv) Development of Particularly Vulnerable  Tribal Groups (PVTGs) (xv) Grants-in-Aid to STDCCs for MFP Operations (xvi) Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP’ as a measure of social safety for MFP gatherers.            (xvii) Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India (xviii) Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan (SCA to TSP) (xix) Development of Tribal Products/Produce (Grants in aid to Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) (xx) A new Scheme called ‘Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana’ has been proposed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Rs.100.00 crore (Rupees Hundred Crore) have been allocated under the scheme for the year 2014-15. Dam on Brahmaputra Government of India is aware of construction activity on Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra river at Zangmu on the Chinese side which is a Run of the River (RoR) hydroelectric project. Recently released ‘Outline of the 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China’ indicates that three more hydropower projects on the main stream of the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra River in Tibet Autonomous Region have been approved for implementation by the Chinese Authorities. As these four projects are considered to be Run of the River (RoR) hydro-electric projects, any significant change on flow of water in the North-East of India is not expected. Government of India monitors developments on the Brahmaputra River. As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the River, India has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels of the Government of the People’s Republic of China. India has urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas.

Female Literacy

On account of comparatively low female literacy rate among the disadvantaged groups including Muslims, a target focused approach to enhance female literacy among Muslim adults under the name of Maulana Azad Taleeme-e-Balighan has been initiated since February, 2014. The female literacy rate is lower than the national average female literacy rate in ten States and one Union Territory namely, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Various factors viz. poverty, gender and social inequities, etc. are impeding female literacy in the country. A statement indicating State/UT-wise and gender-wise literacy rate in the country as per Census, 2011 is annexed. In order to improve female literacy rate in the country, Government has been implementing Saakshar Bharat programme since October, 2009 in rural areas of all the districts that had adult female literacy rate of 50% and below as per Census, 2001, including left wing extremism affected districts, irrespective of their literacy rate. The scheme has a target of 70 million adult non-literates, including 60 million women, with special thrust on disadvantaged groups. In addition, Government is implementing the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 for universalisation of elementary education for all children in the age group of 6-14 years. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has targeted interventions for girls that includes opening of schools in the neighbourhood, appointment of additional teachers including women teachers, free textbooks, free uniforms, separate toilets for girls, teachers’ sensitisation programmes, gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials, etc. In addition Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) has been opened in Educationally Backward Blocks where the female rural literacy is below the national average to provide for residential upper primary schools for girls.

Chinese intrusion in Indian Territory

There is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas between India and China. From time to time, on account of differences in the perception of the LAC, situations have arisen on the ground that could have been avoided if we had a common perception of the LAC. Government regularly takes up any transgression along the LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms including border personnel meetings, flag meetings, meetings of Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India- China Border Affairs and diplomatic channels. The two sides agree that peace and tranquillity on the border is the basis for the continued expansion of India-China relations. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India on June 8-9, 2014 as the Special Envoy of the President of China. The External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj held extensive discussions with him. The discussions were comprehensive and substantive and various issues of significance were raised and discussed in a frank and candid manner.

India facilitates entry into force of Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing

The Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar today made a suo moto statement on the floor of Lok Sabha regarding India facilitating entry into force of Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. The Minister stated that the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing translates and gives practical effect to the equity provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The landmark treaty has received the requisite number of ratifications during India`s Presidency of the Conference of Parties for its entry into force. The Minister congratulated his counterparts for making this happen. The Minister further mentioned that a new era has now ushered in for implementation of CBD that would contribute to achieving sustainable development and a glorious future for all living beings inhabiting our mother Earth. Ratification of the Nagoya Protocol by 51 Parties to the CBD is also a major step towards achieving the first of the global Aichi Biodiversity Targets (Target 16 that by 2015, the Nagoya Protocol is in force and operational), and that too more than a year before its target date, which is quite unprecedented. The pivotal role played by India in achieving this remarkable feat once again showcases India’s leadership on biodiversity in the global arena. The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) will enter into force on 12 October 2014, 90th day of receiving the required 50th instrument of ratification on 14th July 2014. The Nagoya Protocol was adopted at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Nagoya in October 2010. The Protocol significantly advances the objective of the Convention on the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources by providing greater legal certainty and transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources including researchers and industry. By promoting the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, and by strengthening the opportunities for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use, the Protocol will create incentives to conserve biodiversity, sustainably use its components, and further enhance the contribution of biodiversity to sustainable development and human well-being. India has been a victim of misappropriation or biopiracy of our genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, which have been patented in other countries (well known examples include neem and haldi). It is expected that the Nagoya Protocol on ABS which is a key missing pillar of the CBD, would address this concern. In order to prevent biopiracy, the Government of India in 2002 brought out domestic legislation for ABS, namely, Biological Diversity Act, 2002. After requisite number of ratifications of Nagoya Protocol and its becoming an international law from 12th October, 2014, this will supplement our domestic efforts. India, having hosted CoP-11 to the CBD in Hyderabad in October 2012, is currently the President of CoP till CoP-12 to be held in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea in October 2014. Facilitating early entry into force of this landmark international treaty has been a priority of India as CoP President. Towards this, India has made significant efforts in the last 21 months through political and diplomatic channels

Increase in Sea Level in Coastal Areas of Goa

The average sea level rise trends along the Indian west coast has been about 3.0 mm/year during the last two decades. Sea level rise is a very slow phenomenon and can be because of physical factors like normal subsidence, coastal erosion and siltation of river channels along the coastline apart from global warming. An isolated incident of flooding on the Morjim beach during 2-6 January, 2014 occurred around mid-night for 3-4 consecutive days largely coinciding with the highest high tide (spring tide) of the year as per the gravitational tidal prediction tables of 2014. The study conducted by the Pune based Central Water and Power Research Station (Union Ministry of Water Resources’ Research) found out that over the years the problems of coastal erosion has accelerated and presently about 25kms is affected. Appropriate protection measures are addressed jointly by respective state governments and the Coastal Protection and Development Advisory Committee (CPDAC) of the Central Water Commission. Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) – Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and Survey of India continuously monitor the sea level measurements all along the Indian coastline.

Manufacturing of Chemicals and Fertilizers by CIL

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed amongst Rashtriya Chemical & Fertilizers Ltd (RCFL), Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL), GAIL (India) Ltd. and Coal India Ltd. (CIL) for revival of the Talcher unit of FCIL to agree in principle to set up a plant for manufacturing Urea & Ammonium Nitrate at the site of Talcher Unit of FCIL. The process of identification of suitable available technology and thereafter preparation of a Detailed Feasibility Report has not been completed. This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. The Minister further stated that Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) has signed MoU with M/s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) for taking up Underground Coal Gasification (UCG), Surface Coal Gasification (SCG) and Coal Bed Methane (CBM) on 15.04.2006. The same was further renewed for 5 more years on 18.07.2011. Through this MoU, SCCL and ONGC intend to cooperate in the Service, Operation, Process development and Research related to UCG, SCG and CBM in the Coal bearing states of lndia. Under this MOU, it has been proposed to setup IGCC (Integrated Gas Combined Cycle) Power Plant at Srirampur area and to produce different chemicals, fertilizer by using coal of Chennur mines of SCCL. The “Techno-economic feasibility Study” for this project is prepared by PDIL, New Delhi, the Minister added.

Income Through Launching of Satellite

The Government is generating income through various satellite launch missions by providing services, on commercial basis, through Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). These services include (i) Marketing and direct reception of data from Indian Remote Sensing Satellites to national and international clientele, and (ii) Leasing of satellite transponders on-board INSAT/ GSAT satellites. The income generated by Antrix, since 1992, for providing the above services is Rs. 4,408.07 Crores. In addition, the satellites of the foreign countries are launched by ISRO, on commercial basis, under contract between respective foreign customer and Antrix. As on date, ISRO has launched 40 satellites from 19 foreign countries; and the income generated through launch of these satellites is € 50.47 million and US $ 17.17 million. The future course of action plan includes, (i) expanding the data and direct reception services of Indian Remote Sensing Satellites to international clientele, (ii) enhancing leasing of satellite transponders to Indian customers, (iii) increasing launch services for foreign satellites on-board Indian launch vehicles, and (iv) enhancing marketing of satellites and sub-systems.