rivers, particularly Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, Krishna, Godavari, Vyas, Kosi and other major rivers of the country so that the problem of pollution may be tackled under NRCP;
(d) if so, the details of amount allocated during the last three years till 25th July, 2009, year-wise and river-wise; and
(e) the details of amount utilized, year-wise and river-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH): (a) to (e) Disposal of half and un-burnt dead bodies is one of the sources of pollution of rivers. To address this problem, setting up of electric crematoria is sanctioned by the Ministry under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
The Ministry has so far sanctioned 50 schemes of electric crematoria at a total sanctioned cost of Rs. 41.36 crore under the plan. These include 44 schemes along Ganga in the States of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, 2 schemes along Yamuna in Delhi, 1 scheme along Sabarmati in Gujarat, 1 scheme along Khan in Madhya Pradesh and 2 schemes along Subarnarekha in Jharkhand. 38 of these schemes have been completed and 12 are under implementation. The remaining one scheme along Subarnarekha in Jharkhand has not been taken up as a crematorium has been constructed by the State Government. Expenditure of Rs. 19.28 lakhs in 2006-2007, Rs. 46.54 lakhs in 2007-2008, Rs. 95.73 lakhs in year 2008-2009 and Rs. 26.47 lakhs in 2009-2010 (till June, 2009) has been incurred on the schemes of electric crematoria along the river Ganga. The sanctioned schemes along other rivers had been completed earlier.
Encroachment of forest land
2833. SHRI PARIMAL NATHWANI: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:
(a) whether instances have come to the notice of Government about the encroachments of forest land by builders and land mafias in metropolitan cities like Gurgaon and Pune;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of mechanism available to protect the forest land from such elements; and
(d) the action taken by Government against such encroachments?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH): (a) and (b) As per information received from Government of Haryana, there are no instances of encroachment on forest land by builders and land mafias in Gurgaon. However, the information on encroachments of forest land in Pune is being collected from the concerned State Government.
269 (c) and (d) Protection and Conservation of forest land are primarily the responsibility of the State/Union Territory (UT) Governments. The respective State/UT Governments under the relevant provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife (Protection), Act, 1972 and Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 take appropriate action to protect forest land from being encroached by such elements.
Funds for rivers of Gujarat
2834. SHRI PARSHOTTAM KHODABHAI RUPALA: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Ministry has received any proposal from the Gujarat Government seeking funds for rivers of the State under the National River Conservation Plan expect Sabarmati river;
(b) if so, what further action would be taken by the Ministry; and
(c) the details thereof and the funds allocated for this purpose?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH): (a) to (c) This Ministry has received a proposal in respect of Mindhola River in Surat from the Government of Gujarat, for approval under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). The State Government has been requested to revise the proposal taking into consideration the Master Plan for Surat and the guidelines of the NRCP.
Hydel Project in Arunachal Pradesh
2835. SHRI KUMAR DEEPAK DAS: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that there is a huge protest against construction of Hydel Project capacity of 20,066 MW in West and East Siang and some portion of lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh;
(b) whether it is also a fact that these areas fall under seismic zone V which witnessed 87 major to minor tremors since 1993;
(c) if so, the details thereof and of the action taken thereon; and
(d) the details of diversity effect and down stream effect of the dams assessed by the concerned authority before signing the MoU?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH): (a) The Ministry has received representations against construction of Lower Siang Hydro Electric Project (2700 MW) in East Siang district and Dibang Multipurpose Project (3000 MW) in Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh.
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