Cement, Energy & Environment

r GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS RAJYASABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3127 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.04.2013 Impact of global warming in the country 3127. Shri N. Balaganga: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state: (a) Whether the Government has studied the impact of global warming in the country, with respect to India; (b) If so, the details thereof, and if not, reasons thereof; (c) Whether the Government proposes to augment the area under forest cover, to tackle the problem of climate change in the country; (d) If so, the details thereof; and (e) The details of funds allocated for this purpose during the current plan period? ANSWER Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environemtn and Forests (Shrimathi Jayanthi Natarajan) (a) & (b) A study to assess the impact 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 has been conducted and a report titled "Climate Change and India: A 4x4 Assessment– A Sectoral and Regional Analysis for 2030s" was published in 2010. The study projects a mixed picture of implications for climate parameters and related impacts on the relevant sectors in all four regions. As overall warming for all the regions is projected. It s also projected that all the regions will experience an increase in precipitation by 5- 10 days. Water yield is projected to increase in the Himalayan Region whereas it is likely to be variable across the other regions. Change in the composition of the forests and the net primary productivity is projected in all the regions. Malaria is projected to spread in new areas and threats of its transmission are likely to increase for longer duration. (c) to (e) The Green Indian Mission (GIM) under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) has been launched. The GIM focuses , inter alia, to increase the forest and tree cover in an area of 5 million hectares, improve the quality of forest cover in another 5 million hectares area, and enhance forest-based livelihood, improve eco-system services, biodiversity, hydrological services and the environmental amelioration. ~ 2000 crores have been allocated for the mission during the 12'h Five year Plan. ****** GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3128 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.04.2013 Pollution by highly polluting industries in the country 3128. Shri Om Prakash Mathur: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state: (a) Whether the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) inspects the highly polluting industries in the country; (b) If so, details thereof (c) Whether smoke and dust emanating from the cement factories in the country, especially in Rajasthan are harmfully the agriculture and the people residing nearby; (d) If so, the details thereof; and (e) The steps taken by the Government to stop emission from these factories ANSWER Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environemtn and Forests {Shrimathi Jayanthi Natarajan) (a) & (b) The Central pollution Control Board (CPCB) undertakes inspections of the plants fall ing in the 17 category of highly polluting industries under its Environment Surveillance Programme. 43