Government Has Taken Several Measures to Minimise the Impact of Air Pollution:

Government Has Taken Several Measures to Minimise the Impact of Air Pollution: Javadekar

Environmental pollution on account of air pollution causes respiratory diseases in children.  Air Pollution in general causes respiratory ailments and also may affect lung function.  Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, chronic bronchitis etc. are the diseases caused by exposure to increasing air pollution. Air pollution is known to be one of the aggravating factors for many respiratory ailments and cardiovascular diseases.Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had conducted an epidemiological study on ambient air quality, respiratory systems and lung functions of children in association with the Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata.

          To minimize the impact of environmental pollution particularly air pollution, the Government has inter alia taken the following actions:

·      Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2009, envisaging 12 pollutants;

·      Formulation of regulations/statutes;

·      Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;

·      Introduction of cleaner/alternate fuel like CNG, LPG etc. and promotion of public transport network including Metro;

·      Creation of infrastructure for industrial pollution control incorporating cleaner production processes, setting up of common pollution control facilities;

           The Government after realizing the gravity of pollution, have also taken the following measures:

·      Clean India Mission (Swatch Bharat Abhiyan) has been launched;

·      Draft Rules for handing and management of municipal waste have been notified for comments of stakeholders.

·         Standards for sewage treatment plants have been notified for comments of stakeholders.

·         Implementation of Bharat Stage IV norms in the 63 selected cities and Bharat Stage III norms in rest of the country;

·         National Air Quality index was launched by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting with 10 cities;

·         Banning of burning of leaves/ biomass;

·         Relevant draft rules, including those pertaining to construction and demolition waste have been notified;

·         Regular co-ordination meetings are being held at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the National Capital Region (NCR) on 6^th April, 13^th April and 24^thJuly, 2015 to control environmental pollution in NCR adopting air-shed approach;

·         Short-term plan has been reviewed  and long-term plans have been formulated to mitigate pollution in NCR;

·         Stringent industrial standards have been formulated and notified for public/stakeholder’s comments;

·         Government is giving high priority for public partnership in lane discipline, car pooling, vehicle maintenance, pollution under control certification etc.

·         Out of 2800 major industries, 920 industries have installed on-line continuous (24X7) monitoring devices.

Mean Temperature in India has Risen by Nearly Around 0.6 Degree Celsius in more than One Hundred Years

Mean Temperature in India has Risen by Nearly Around 0.6 Degree Celsius in more than One Hundred Years: Javadekar

Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published in 2014 highlights that mean surface temperature of the globe has risen by 0.85 degree Celsius over the period 1880 to 2012. In line with rising temperature across the globe, all India mean temperature has risen by nearly around 0.6 degree Celsius over the last 110 years. Further, a report entitled ‘Climate Change: A Risk Assessment’ released by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office states that the probability of exposed individuals experiencing such conditions in a given year starts to become significant for a global temperature rise of around 5 degree Celsius, and could exceed 50% for a global temperature rise of around 7 degree Celsius in hot areas such as northern India, southeastern China and south-eastern USA.

A scientific study to assess the impact of climate change has been undertaken and a report titled “Climate Change and India: 4X4 Assessment - A Sectoral and Regional Analysis for 2030s” was published in 2010 by the Government of India. The report has assessed impacts of climate change on four key sectors of Indian economy, namely Agriculture, Water, Natural Ecosystems & Biodiversity and Health in four climate sensitive regions of India, namely, the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal Area and the North-East Region. As per the Report, the annual mean surface air temperature is projected to rise by 1.7 degree Celsius and 2 degree Celsius in 2030s.

Government has released the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which has eight national missions. National Water Mission, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Green India Mission, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture focus on adaptation measures for reducing and managing the risk of climate change, including rise in temperatures. State Governments have also prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change in line with the objectives of NAPCC and state specific issues. 

Establishment of Centre for World Natural Heritage Management and Training for Asia and Pacific Region at Wildlife Institute of India,

Establishment of Centre for World Natural Heritage Management and Training for Asia and Pacific Region at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in association with UNESCO, is establishing a Centre for World Natural Heritage Management and Training for the Asia and Pacific Region as a UNESCO Category 2 Centre at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun. The Centre will be established by signing an agreement with UNESCO very soon, as all the procedures are completed. This is for the first time that an existing institute has been accorded the recognition of Category 2 Centre (C2C) by the UNESCO and is also the first centre to be established for management and training in the field of natural heritage in the world.

Minister of State (Independent Charge), Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, said that this is a recognition of the excellent work done by the institute in the field of World Heritage management in natural heritage and this experience will be useful for all the countries of Asia and Pacific Region for identification of potential natural heritage sites, their inscription and management in line with the objectives of World Heritage Convention.

The C2C will function as an integral part of the Wildlife Institute of India by sharing its campus, management and human resources. The Governing Council will have participation of UNESCO, which will also provide advice from global experts. As the centre will cater to capacity building needs of Asia Pacific, it will also be able to provide additional incentive to WII for providing its services in identification, capacity building for management and monitoring of natural heritage for all the countries in the Region.

Asia Pacific already has 227 world heritage properties, out of which 59 are natural sites. Among these, 32 properties are in India, including seven natural heritages. These are – Kaziranga National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Sunderban National Park, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park, Western Ghats (39 sites comprising forests, national parks and sanctuaries) and Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area.

Proposal for Khangchendzonga National Park is under evaluation for inscription. 

Third stage of nuclear programme

Third stage of nuclear programme

The Government is committed to implement the third stage of Indian Nuclear Power Programme, after an adequate nuclear installed capacity has been reached based on Fast Breeder Reactors to be set up in the second stage. On account of non-existence of any fissile isotope in naturally occurring Thorium (unlike that existing in Uranium), commercial utilisation of Thorium, on a significant scale, can begin only when abundant supply of either Uranium or Plutonium resources are available. Upon the launch, followed by a significant growth of a thorium based nuclear programme in this manner, it could be possible to maintain the achieved level (without much further growth) of nuclear power programme with thorium alone, without additional demands on uranium or plutonium resources. Therefore, considering the meager domestic uranium resources in the country, it is feasible to start a significant commercial level Thorium based reactor programme in our country only after an adequate inventory of Plutonium becomes available from our Fast Breeder Reactors, comprising the second stage of Indian nuclear programme. Accordingly, the utilisation of Thorium as a practically inexhaustible energy source has been contemplated during the third stage of the Indian nuclear programme, which can be reached after a few decades.

Substantial work has been carried out in the areas of research on technologies for utilisation of thorium in nuclear fuel cycle, and on the development of an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), to serve as a technology demonstrator for use of thorium based fuel on a large scale.

The details of Projects initiated in the last five years along with amount  

 earmarked and estimated power production are given below:

Project	Location	Capacity (MW)	Completion cost (Rs.crore)
Kakrapar Atomic Power Project Units 3&4 (KAPP 3&4)	Kakrapar, Gujarat	2 X 700	11459
Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Units 7&8 (RAPP 7&8)	Rawatbhata, Rajasthan	2 X 700	12320

The details of projects accorded financial sanction and being readied for launch are :

Project	Location	Capacity (MW)	Completion cost (Rs.Crore
Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP 1&2)	Gorakhpur, Haryana	2 x 700	20594
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP 3&4)	Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu	2 x 1000	39849

This information was given by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in reply to unstarred question in Rajya Sabha today. 

Cost of nuclear power generation

Cost of nuclear power generation

There are 21 nuclear power reactors in the country with a total installed capacity of 5780 MW. Of this, a capacity of 3380 MW comprising 13 reactors, is under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Of the reactors under safeguards, one reactor, Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Unit-1 (RAPS–1) (100 MW) at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan is currently under extended shutdown for techno-economic assessment for continued operation. The Reactors under IAEA safeguards are fuelled with imported fuel, obtained as a result of nuclear cooperation agreements. The remaining reactors are fuelled with indigenous fuel.

The current tariff of nuclear power, both from indigenous reactors and from reactors set up with foreign technical cooperation is comparable with that of other contemporary base-load electricity generating technologies like coal based thermal power stations in the region.

The international cooperation agreements have opened up the possibilities of import of fuel for reactors under IAEA Safeguards and setting up large capacity nuclear power reactors in technical cooperation with foreign countries. In this regard the Government has accorded ‘in principle’ approval of the following sites, to set up Nuclear Power Plants in a phase-wise manner:

Site & Location	In Cooperation with	Capacity (MW)
Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu	Russian Federation	4 x 1000
Haripur, West Bengal		6 x 1000
Jaitapur, Maharashtra	France	6 x 1650
Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh	United States of America	6 x 1000*
Chhaya Mithi Virdi, Gujarat		6 x 1000*

*Nominal Capacity

           The actual percentage increase in power generation, on completion of these projects, would depend on the generation of electricity from other sources at that point of time.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in reply to unstarred question in Rajya Sabha today. 

Encouraging the Production of Organic Manure from Bio-Waste

Encouraging the Production of Organic Manure from Bio-Waste

Government is encouraging the production of organic manure from bio-waste under the Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) of “National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)”  programme.  Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided @ 100%  upto a maximum limit of Rs.190 lakh to State Govt./Govt. Agencies and @ 33% upto a maximum limit of Rs.63.00 lakh per unit to individuals/private agencies through NABARD as capital investment for setting up of mechanized Fruit/Vegetable market waste/Agro waste compost production unit of 3000 TPA production capacity.

Government is encouraging the use of organic/bio fertilizer through various schemes/programmes viz: National Mission for sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)/Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Rashgtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm (NMOOP), National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP), Network Project on Organic Farming of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP) of Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

            Ministry of New & Renewable Energy is implementing a scheme namely, National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) using cow dung, kitchen waste material etc., as mix feed to produce Biogas for cooking gas and organic enriched bio manure through the implementing Agencies such as State Nodal Departments/State Nodal Agencies and Khadi & Village Industries Commission and Biogas Development and Training Centers (BDTCs).  The pattern of assistance provided to state governments through various schemes for promoting use of organic/bio fertilizer is given below.

RKVY:

Under RKVY, State Governments have flexibility and autonomy in the process of selection, planning, approval and execution of schemes including Organic Farming, as per their priorities.  Accordingly, cost of projects under Organic Farming are approved by respective State Level Sanctioning Committees.

NPOP:

NPOP was notified under Foreign Trade Development & Regulation Act (FTDR) in  year 2001, primarily for regulation and certification of organic commodities meant for export.  It provides institutional mechanism for the implementation of National Standards for Organic Production, through a National Accreditation Policy and Programme.  It covers crop production, animal husbandry, food processing, labeling, storage and transport.

NMOOP:

Has launched a scheme for increasing production and productivity of oilseed crops in the country. The expenditure on subsidies is mostly shared on 75: 25 sharing basis between Central and State Government. Financial assistance is being provided for different type of components including bio-fertilisers, Supply of Rhyzobium culture/Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB)/ Zinc Solubilising Bacreria (ZSB)/ Azatobacter/ Mycorrhiza and vermi compost.

ICAR:

ICAR Research Centres are involved in developing Package of Practices for different crops and cropping system under Organic Farming in different agro-eco regions of country.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture Sh. Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria in Lok Sabha today.

Salient Features of Crop Insurance Schemes

Salient Features of Crop Insurance Schemes

Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC), 10 private General Insurance Companies namely,  ICICI-Lombard, IFFCO-TOKIO, HDFC-ERGO, Cholamandalam-MS, Tata-AIG, Future Generali India, Reliance, Bajaj Allianz, SBI and Universal Sompo General Insurance companies for implementation of crop insurance programme.  Share of AIC in terms of coverage of farmers has decreased during last three years. 

Salient features of National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP)

The salient features of the National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP) are :

Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS)

-      actuarial premium rates are charged with a provision of subsidy upto 75%, which is shared by the Central and State Governments on 50 : 50 basis;

-      entire liability of claims is on the implementing insurance companies;

-      it is compulsory for loanee farmers and optional for non-loanee farmers;

-      risk coverage for pre-sowing/prevented sowing and post harvest losses due to cyclone in coastal areas;

-      on account payment up to 25% advance of likely claims as immediate relief in the areas which suffered atleast 50% crop yield loss;

-      more proficient basis for calculation of threshold yield;

-      two higher indemnity levels of 80% & 90% instead of earlier 70%, 80% & 90%;

-      reduction in Unit Area of Insurance to village/ village Panchayat level; and

-      private insurance companies have been involved to provide the benefits of competition.

Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)

-      Provide coverage against weather deviation from the notified standards on the basis of weather data received from the notified Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs) and Automatic Rain-gauges (ARGs);

-      actuarial premium rates are charged with a provision of subsidy upto 50%, which is shared by the Central and State Governments on 50 : 50 basis;

-      entire liability of claims is on the implementing insurance companies;

-      it is compulsory for loanee farmers and optional for non-loanee farmers;

-      add on coverage in respect of hailstorm and cloud burst on individual assessment basis.

-      private insurance companies have been involved to provide the benefits of competition.

Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS)

-      Individual farmer/planter/grower offering atleast 5 healthy nut bearing palms in a contiguous area/plot is eligible for insurance;

-      Provide coverage against total loss of palm on account of happening of peril insured leading to death of the insured palm or its becoming unproductive;

-      Fixed premium rates ranging from Rs. 9/- to Rs. 14/- per palm depending upon the age of palm.  However, Government is providing subsidy upto 50% by GOI and 25% by State Government;

-      Sum insured per palm is ranging from Rs. 900/- to Rs. 1750/-;

-      Scheme is being implemented by AIC.