CETF Battalion of Territorial Army for Environment Protection

CETF Battalion of Territorial Army for Environment Protection

Sanction has been accorded for raising a new Composite Ecological Task Force (CETF) of Territorial Army to patrol sensitive river areas for protection of bio-diversity and other tasks.

The task of pollution abatement and Ganga rejuvenation has to be taken to a level so that it becomes a people’s movement. The CETF is expected to be largely manned by ex-service men who would bring their spirit of dedication and expertise to the tasks related of pollution abatement on the lines of Ecological Task Force Battalions, which are already successfully functioning in different parts of the country.

The Ministry is implementing the programme of pollution abatement and Ganga rejuvenation as per Ganga River Basin Management Plan drawn by consortium of IITs which consist of short, medium and long term activities. The decision to raise the new Battalion is not on account of any lacunae in its implementation but to provide platform to every section of people whose services can be fruitfully utilised in this onerous task and has been a Component of the Namami Gange Mission.

The Battalion is supposed to perform its role under the guidance of authorities who have the mandate to perform a particular role and they do not have the powers to arrest those found polluting the river.
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Dr. Satya Pal Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Study on Groundwater Contamination

Study on Groundwater Contamination

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) regularly monitors ground water quality of shallow aquifers on a regional scale, once every year. Ground water quality data generated during various scientific studies and ground water quality monitoring indicate that the ground water in major part of the country is potable. However, some parts of various states are contaminated by Salinity, Arsenic, Fluoride, Iron, Nitrate and Heavy metals beyond the permissible limits of BIS. State-wise details are given below. The name of the districts affected with ground water contamination in Rajasthan State is given are given below.

The possible sources of contamination of ground water are either geogenic or anthropogenic in nature. Anthropogenic contamination of ground water is due to industrial discharges, landfills, diffused sources of pollution like fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural fields etc.

Steps taken to check the ground water pollution are –

• Control of industrial pollution under the provision of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 by consent mechanism being applied by SPCBs/ PCCs.
• A mutually agreed time targeted programme is implemented under Corporate Responsibility on Environment Protection (CREP).
• Establishment of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) for cluster of Small Scale Industrial units.
• Continuous water quality monitoring systems are being established on industrial units in the country, through the directives issued by CPCB, for getting real time information on the effluent quality.

For improving the coverage of safe drinking water to rural population, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation supplements the efforts of the states by providing them with technical and financial assistance through the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). It is the State Governments who plan, design, approve, execute and operate & maintain the schemes for providing safe drinking water to rural population.

STATES WISE DETAILS OF AFFECTED DISTRICTS WITH GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION

Sl No	Name of the State/UTs	Salinity (EC above 3000 micro mhos/ cm)  (EC : Electrical Conductivity)	Fluoride ( above 1.5 mg/l)	Nitrate (above 45 mg/l)	Arsenic (above 0.01 mg/l)	Iron (above 1mg/l )	Heavy metals
							Lead (above 0.01 mg/l)	Cadmium (above 0.003 mg/l)	Chromium (above 0.05 mg/l)
1	Andhra Pradesh	11	11	13	3	7	-	-	-
2	Arunachal Pradesh	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-
3	Assam	-	6	-	19	18	-	-	-
4	Bihar	-	13	10	23	19	-	-	-
5	Chhattisgarh	-	13	12	1	4	1	1	1
6	Delhi	7	7	8	2	-	3	1	4
7	Goa	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
8	Gujarat	21	19	21	12	6	-	-	-
9	Haryana	15	20	19	15	17	17	7	1
10	Himachal Pradesh	-	-	6	1	-	-	-	-
11	Jammu & Kashmir	-	2	4	3	6	3	1	-
12	Jharkhand	-	12	11	1	6	1	-	-
13	Karnataka	29	29	22	2	22	-	-	-
14	Kerala	4	5	11	-	15	2	-	1
15	Madhya Pradesh	16	39	50	8	42	16	-	-
16	Maharashtra	20	17	30	-	20	19	-	-
17	Manipur	-	-	-	2	1	-	-	-
18	Meghalaya	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-
19	Nagaland	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
20	Odisha	7	25	28	1	21	-	-	1
21	Punjab	9	19	20	10	9	6	8	10
22	Rajasthan	30	33	33	1	33	4	-	-
23	Tamil Nadu	23	19	27	9	2	3	1	5
24	Telangana	7	9	10	1	8	2	1	1
25	Tripura	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-
26	Uttar Pradesh	9	30	46	29	15	10	2	4
27	Uttarakhand	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
28	West Bengal	4	7	2	9	15	6	2	2
	UT s	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1	Andaman & Nicobar	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
2	Chandigarh	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3	Dadra & Nagar Haveli	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4	Daman & Diu	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
5	Pondicherry	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
	TOTAL No of Districts	212	335	386	153	301	93	24	30
	TOTAL No of State	15	20	21	21	26	14	9	10

DETAILS OF AFFECTED DISTRICTS WITH GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION BY DIFFERENT CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

State/UT	Salinity (ECabove3000µS/cm) (EC :Electrical Conductivity	Fluoride (above 1.5 mg/l)	Nitrate (above 45mg/l	Arsenic (above0.01mg/l)	Iron (above1mg/l)	Heavy metals :Lead (above0.01 mg/l) Cadmium (above 0.003mg/l) Chromium (above 0.05 mg/l)
Rajasthan	Ajmer, Alwar, Baran, Barmer, Bharatpur,  Bhilwara,  Bikaner,  Bundi, Chittorgarh, Churu, Dausa,  Dhaulpur, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur,  Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhalawar,  Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Karauli, Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Rajasamand, Sawai- Madhopur, Sikar, Sirohi, Tonk, Udaipur	Ajmer, Alwar, Banswara, Barmer, Bharatpur, Baran,  Bhilwara, Bikaner, Bundi, Chittaurgarh, Churu, Dausa, Dhaulpur, Dungarpur,  Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore,  Jhalawar , Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Karauli, Kota, Nagaur, Pali,  Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Sirohi, Sikar,    Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Udaipur	Ajmer, Alwar, Banswara, Baran, Barmer, Bundi, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Chittaurgarh, Churu, Dausa,  Dhaulpur, Dungarpur, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh,  Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhalawar,  Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Karauli,  Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Partapgarh,  Rajasamand, Sirohi,  Sikar,  Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Udaipur	Ganganagar	Ajmer,  Alwar, Banswara,  Baran, Barmer,  Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Bundi,  Chittaurgarh, Churu, Dausa, Dhaulpur,  Dungarpur, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh,  Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore,  Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Karauli,  Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Sikar, Sawai Madhopur, Sirohi, Tonk,  Udaipur	Lead: Jhunjhunu Dist (Khetri Copper Deposit), Pali, Jaipur (Sambhar Lake, Sa nganer

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. 

Upgradation of Safety Standards to Prevent accidents in Railways

Upgradation of Safety Standards to Prevent accidents in Railways

Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all possible steps are undertaken on a continual basis to prevent accidents and to enhance safety of passengers. As a specific measure after taking note of recent accidents, the following measures have been taken:-

1. It had been decided to completely stop the manufacture of ICF Coaches since 01.04.2018 and shift to safer Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) design coaches having anti-climbing features.
2. To prevent accidents due to human error,  all electric locomotives are provided with Vigilance Control Device (VCD) which takes inputs through positive actions of the driver like operation of master controller, application of brakes and pressing of button etc. to judge his alertness every 60 seconds and applies brakes, if found lacking, thereby ensuring safety.
3. Simulator based training is being imparted for improving the driving skills and the reaction time of Loco Pilots.
4. Special drives to check the alertness of Loco Pilots and other safety parameters are regularly being launched.
5. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking System with centralized operation of points and signals are being provided to eliminate human failure and to replace old mechanical systems. These systems have been provided at 5786 stations upto 30.06.2018.
6. Track Circuiting of stations to enhance safety for verification of track occupancy by electrical means instead of human element has been completed at about 6001 stations upto 30.06.2018.
7. Axle Counter for Automatic clearance of Block Section (BPAC) to ensure complete arrival of train without manual intervention before granting line clear to the next train and to reduce human element have been provided on 5125 block sections upto 30.06.2018.
8. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates to protect L.C Gate with signals to avoid accidents has been done at 11085 gates upto 30.06.2018.
9. Automatic Train Protection System:-

• Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System called Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) has been implemented on 342 RKMs (200 RKMs Delhi-Agra Section, 117 RKMs Chennai section and 25 RKMs of Metro Railway, Kolkata).
• An ATP System called Auxiliary Warning System (AWS) is presently functional on 364 RKMs in the Mumbai suburban sections of Central Railway (240 RKMs) and Western Railway (124 RKMs).
• An ATP System being indigenously developed called Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is under trial on 250 RKMs of South Central Railway as pilot project.

The following measures have been taken to upgrade the various safety standards and infrastructures of the Railways:-

1. Provision of Crew Voice and Video recording system on electric locos - Crew Voice/Video recording system ensures effective and tamper proof video and voice recording of locomotive cab for post failure event analysis. Loco no. 32001 fitted with Crew Voice/Video recording system has been commissioned in December, 2017 on trial basis.
2. 500 nos. of Crew Voice and Video recording system under Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) has been sanctioned in Budget 2018-19.
3. Upgradation of safety measures and infrastructure of the Railways is a continuous and ongoing activity as a basic part of maintenance and examination of Rolling Stock over Indian Railways.
4. Modern track structure consisting of PSC (Pre-stressed Reinforced Concrete) sleepers, 60 kg, 90 or higher UTS ( Ultimate Tensile Strength) rails, fan-shaped layout on PSC sleepers for turnouts, Steel channel Sleepers on girder bridges is being used while carrying out primary track renewals. Further, it has been decided to lay Thick Web Switches on indentified routes which is a continuous process.
5. A work for modernization of complete Signaling system on Indian Railways has been included in the works programme  of 2018-19 for implementation on complete 60,000 Route Kilometers (RKMs) on Broad Gauge (BG) network of Indian Railways with expenditure on this project subject to due processes/mandatory approvals and sanctions.

Expenditure on safety related activities forms part of both Revenue and Capital sections of Budget. In 2017-18, an expenditure of ₹62152 cr. has been incurred on safety related activities. Further, in 2018-19, a Budget provision of ₹73065 cr. has been made for the same. A statement indicating expenditure on safety relative activities is given below.

Expenditure on Safety Related Activities (All Indian Railways).
(₹ in crores)

	Actual 2017-18  (Approx)	Budget Estimate 2018-19
Revenue Expenditure (Gross) on Safety:
Repairs & Maintenance of Permanent Ways & Works	13925	14619
Repairs & Maintenance of Motive Powers	6288	6745
Repairs & Maintenance of Carriages & Wagons	15053	15825
Repairs & Maintenance of Plant & Equipment	7752	8751
Operating Expenses –Traffic-Minor head 600-Safety	32	31
Total Revenue (Safety):	43050	45971
Capital Expenditure (Gross) on Safety:
Assets – Acquisition, Construction & Replacement :
Road Safety Works – Level Crossings	535	700
Road Safety Works – Road Over/Under Bridges	5449	6300*
Track Renewals	8897	11450
Bridge Works	453	740
Signalling & Telecom Works	1254	2025
Workshops (POH/IOH of Rolling Stock)	936	2579
Other planheads (under RRSK)	1578	3300
Total Capital (Safety):	19102	27094
Total Exp (Revenue+Capital) on Safety Related Activities	62152	73065
*includes funds under Extra Budgetary Sources

              This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Growth of Infrastructure Industries

Growth of Infrastructure Industries

            The Government is continuously taking steps to boost industrial growth including infrastructure sector which includes putting in place a policy framework to create conducive business environment, strengthening infrastructure network and ensuring availability of required inputs. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy and procedures have been simplified and liberalised progressively. The Government has also taken up a series of measures to improve Ease of Doing Business. The emphasis has been on simplification and rationalization of the existing rules and introduction of information technology to make governance more efficient and effective. Overall growth of the infrastructure industries is interplay of many factors such as capacity utilisation, investment cycle, seasonal factors, policy interventions, domestic and global growth outlook.

As per the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI), the details of growth of index of eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity for the year 2017-18 over the year 2016-17 are given in the table below:

Growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries (in %) (base year 2011-12)
Year	Coal	Crude Oil	Natural Gas	Refinery Products	Fertilizers	Steel	Cement	Electricity	Overall Index
2017-18	2.6	-0.9	2.9	4.6	0.03	5.6	6.3	5.3	4.3

Source: Office of Economic Adviser, DIPP
      The figures for 2017-18 are provisional.

Out of the eight core industries, Crude Oil production registered a decline in 2017-18. The production of crude oil declined due to various reasons which include less than envisaged production, natural decline due to mature fields and reservoir issues in some of the fields, shutdown taken for maintenance activities and rise of water cut.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, C. R. Chaudhary, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

a) whether the Government has constituted a High Level Committee to review the various environmental related laws in the country;

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED

QUESTION NO:

2630

ANSWERED ON:

09.12.2014

REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

NARASIMHAM THOTA

RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN

Will the Minister of

ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has constituted a High Level Committee to review the various environmental related laws in the country;  (b) if so, the details thereof including the terms of reference of the said Committee;  (c) whether the Government has invited comments and suggestions from various stakeholders, experts and organizations in this regard;  (d) if so, the details thereof along with suggestions received so far and the reaction of the Government thereto; and  (e) the time by which the said review is likely to be completed? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)  (a) Yes, Sir.  (b) The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change vide Office Order No.22-15/ 2014-IA.III dated 29th August, 2014 has constituted High Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri T.S.R. Subramanian, former Cabinet Secretary to Govt. of India to review various Acts administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, namely (i) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, (ii) Forests Conversation Act, 1980, (iii) Indian Forests Act, 1927, (iv) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, (v) Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and (vi) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 with following Terms of Reference.  (i) To assess the status of implementation of each of the aforesaid Acts vis-à-vis the objectives;  (ii) To examine and take into account various court orders and judicial pronouncements relating to these Acts;  (iii) To recommend specific amendments needed in each of these Acts so as to bring them in line with current requirements to meet objectives; and  (iv) To draft proposed amendments in each of the aforesaid Acts to give effect to the proposed recommendations.  (C), (d) & (e) Yes, Sir. Based on the comments received from Central Government, State Governments, Civil Societies etc. the report has been finalised and submitted to the Government and is now in the public domain.

(c) whether the Government has any proposal to penalize acts tending to create noise pollution as an environmental hazard since noise pollution is not covered at present under any of the various Pollution Act;

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED

QUESTION NO:

1226

ANSWERED ON:

03.03.2015

REVAMPING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAWS

BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

Will the Minister of

ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government is considering to revamp the Environmental related laws based on the recommendation of the High Level Committee on Environment, Forest and Related laws;  (b) if so, the details and present status thereof;  (c) whether the Government has any proposal to penalize acts tending to create noise pollution as an environmental hazard since noise pollution is not covered at present under any of the various Pollution Act;  (d) whether an All India Service by the name of Environmental Service would be created to protect environment and forests based on the recommendations of the High Level Committee on Environment, Forest and Related Laws; and  (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)  (a) & (b) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is examining the report submitted by the High Level Committee constituted for review of various acts administered by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. For this purpose, process of selection of Technical Consultant for supporting the implementation of agreed recommendation of High Level Committee has been initiated and Request for Proposal (RFP) uploaded on the website of the Ministry. The Pre- proposal meeting with the interested firms was held on 22.02.2015.  (c) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change vide Notification S.O. 123(E) dated 14.02.2000 notified the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.  (d) & (e) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is also examining the recommendation of High Level Committee on creation of new All India Service – Indian Environment Service.