opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 283 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Performance of Heavy Industries
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
Asked by: KIRRON KHER, ANOOP MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES DEPARTMENT OF HEAVY INDUSTRY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.283 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## Performance of Heavy Industries

## 283. SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER: SHRI ANOOP MISHRA:

Will the Minister of HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the decline in production and performance of the heavy industries sector in the country during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the corrective steps being taken by the Government in this regard ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF  HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI  BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a): The Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) is concerned with Automotive Sector and Capital Goods Sector. No such decline has been noted in growth of both of these Sectors during the last three years.

- (b) & (c): Does not arise.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 282 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Sub-Categorisation of OBCs
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +282 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## SUB-CATEGORISATION OF OBCs

## +282. SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the National Commission for Backward Classes has suggested for sub categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs);
- (6) if the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and SO,
- (c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard? being

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI KRISHAN PAL GURJAR)

- (a) Madam. Yes;
- (6) & (c): The NCBC has recommended sub-categorization within OBCs into three sub-categories, namely:
- (i) Extremely Backward Classes (Group 'A')
- (ii) More Backward Classes (Group 'B')
- (iii) Backward Classes (Group 'C')

Only advices for inclusion/exclusion tendered under Section 91) & (2) of the NCBC Act; 1993 are ordinarily binding upon the Central Government: The report on sub-categorisation amongst OBCs is not covered under Section 91) of the NCBC Act and is hence not binding upon the Central Government: At present, no proposal for sub-categorisation is under consideration.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 279 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Food Processing Industries in Bundelkhand Region
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 279 ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2017

## FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES IN BUNDELKHAND REGION

## † 279. SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  food  processing  industries  set  up  in  Bundelkhand  region  of  Uttar Pradesh during the last three years, district-wise;  and
- (b)    the details of the efforts made by the  Government to promote food processing industries in  Bundelkhand region?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries does not set up any food processing Industries on its own. However, the Ministry has provided financial assistance in the form of grant -in aid for establishment /up gradation / expansion under the Scheme of Technology Upgradation/ Establishment/ Modernization of Food Processing Industries. No proposal was received by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries from Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh for financial assistance.The    committed  /  spillover  liabilities  of  cases  received  upto  end  of  11 th Plan  are being  considered  by  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  for  sanction  of  Grant  -  in  -Aid under the said scheme as per availability of  funds and merits of proposals.

(b): With  a  view  to  promote  food  processing  industries  in  the  country,  the  Government  has recently  approved  a  new  Central  Sector  Scheme  'KISAN  SAMPADA  YOJANA'  with  an allocation  of  ₹  6,000  crore  for  the  period  2016-20  coterminous  with  the  14 th Finance Commission cycle. These schemes are as follows:

- (i) Mega Foods Parks
- (ii) Integrated Cold Chain and Value  Addition Infrastructure
- (iii) Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities.
- (iv) Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters
- (v) Creation of  Backward and Forward Linkages
- (vi) Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure
- (vii) Human Resource and Institutions

The detailed operational guidelines of the schemes have been uploaded on Ministry of Food Processing Industry's website http://www.mofpi.nic.in.

The  Schemes  being  implemented  under  the  KISAN  SAMAPADA  YOJANA  are applicable  throughout  the  country  and  these  are  not  region  /  state  specific.  The  schemes  are private  sector  driven  and  provide  freedom  to the  entrepreneurs  to  choose the  project  location based on availability of raw material, techno-economic feasibility and viability of the project.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Reservation for Transgenders
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 277 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## RESERVATION FOR TRANSGENDERS

## 277. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any proposal to provide reservation for the transgender community;
- (6) if so, the details thereof and the stand of the Government in this regard;
- whether the Government is likely to consider a policy on transgenders on the lines of the policy announced by the State Government of Kerala last year; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a) to (d) The Hon 'ble Supreme Court in its judgment dated 15.04.2014 in WP (C) 400/2012 (NLSA Vs. UOI) directed, inter-alia, the Centre and State Governments to take steps to treat Transgender as socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservation in cases of admission in educational institutions and for appointments The Central Government is not seeking review of the said judgment: public

The Government has introduced a Bill titled *The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Biil 2016" in Lok Sabha on 2.8.2016. The Bill has been   referred to the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee for examination and report.
Lok Sabha Question No. 276 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Payment of MSP to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 276

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  JULY, 2017

## PAYMENT OF MSP TO FARMERS

276.   ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has asked all State Governments to ensure that the declared Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farm produce are paid to the farmers;
- (b) if so, the details of the States which have adhered to it; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  extend  some  financial  assistance  to  those States  which  have  not  paid  MSP  to  the  farmers  in  order  to  safeguard  the  interest  of  the farmers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a) to (c): The  Government  ensures  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  through  procurement operations  undertaken  by  the  Central,  State  and  Cooperative  agencies  in  the  States.  State Governments have been alerted from time to time to make adequate arrangements to ensure MSP to farmers. Government offers to procure farmers' produce at MSP, however, they are free to sell it to Government agencies or in the open market as is advantageous to them. In  addition,  Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  ensure  MSP  for  all  agricultural produce which inter alia includes setting up of procurement centre keeping in view the potential in the areas; creating awareness among the farmers of the MSP operations; making payment through arthias/co-operative societies to the farmers through Ac payee cheque/electronic mode as per prevailing situation in the states;  encouraging decentralized procurement; adopting eprocurement system; engaging private players in certain States to participate in procurement operation etc. To ensure remunerative price to farmers, the Government procured 38.65 million tonnes of Rice, 22.93 million tonnes of Wheat and 1.3 million tonnes of pulses during 2016-17 across various States. Government  has  also  launched  a  scheme  developing  a  pan  India  electronic  trading platform under 'National Agriculture Market' (NAM) aiming to integrate 585 regulated markets with the common e-market platform to ensure remunerative prices to the farmers.  Each State is being encouraged to undertake three major reforms - allow electronic trading, have a single license valid throughout the State and a single entry point market fee.  455 markets in 13 States have already been brought on the e-NAM platform.

- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 275 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Eco-Sensitive Zone
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: HARI NARAYAN RAJBHAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 275

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## Eco- Sensitive Zone

## 275.    SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has decided to create an eco-sensitive zone around Wild Life Sanctuaries and National Parks and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether  the  State  Government  of  Uttar  Pradesh  has  sent  any  such  proposal  to  the Government and if so, the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) Yes,  Sir.  The  National  Board  for  Wildlife  in  its  meeting  held  on  17 th March 2005,  had  taken  the  decision  for  declaration  of  Eco-Sensitive  Zone  around National  Parks  and  Sanctuaries  in  consultation  with  State/Union  Territory Governments.
- (b) Out of 24 proposals received from the State of Uttar Pradesh, final notifications for  2  Protected  Areas  and  draft  notification  for  9  Protected  Areas  have  been issued.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 274 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Sasthamcotta Lake
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 274

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## Sasthamcotta Lake

## 274.  SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  check  shrinking  of  sasthamcotta lake in Kerala State due to large scale pollution and receding water table;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether an  expert  committee  has  been  constituted  to  study  the  environmental impact on the lake which is a designated wetland under Ramsar convention; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the objectives of the said committee?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) & (b)     Sasthamkotta, a Ramsar site in Kerala, is one of the identified wetlands for conservation and management under the scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA). Being a Ramsar site, this wetland has also been notified under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010. So far, an amount of  Rs.  53.08  lakhs  has  been  released  to  the  Government  of  Kerala  for  various conservation  activities  like  catchment  treatment,  conservation  of  flora  and  fauna, pollution control measures, scientific management  of wetland fisheries, social interventions,  monitoring  and  evaluation,  etc.  Also,  in  order  to  conserve  lakes  and wetlands in an integrated manner, all the States, including Kerala, have been advised for giving high priority for constitution of  State Wetland/ Lake Authorities, identification and notification of wetlands, development of integrated management plans, securing resources  for  implementation  of  management  plans,  monitoring  and  evaluation, strengthening research-management interface, etc.

The  Government  of  Kerala  has  also  set  up  the  State  Wetland  Authority  in November, 2015 under the Chairmanship of Minister of Environment, Government of Kerala for conservation and management of all wetlands and lakes in the State in a holistic and integrated manner.  Sasthamkotta lake and its catchment area has been declared as protected area and all the illegal activities like sand mining, discharge of effluents  from  houses  and  hotels,  bathing  and  washing  clothes,  wetting  of  coconut leaves, disposal of plastic waste, debris of animals, fishing and agricultural practices using pesticides and chemical fertilizers, etc causing pollution in and around lake have been banned vide order no. M6-35904/07 dated 25.04.2017 issued by the Government of Kerala.

- (c) & (d) No Expert Committee has been constituted to study the environmental impact on Sasthamkotta lake.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 273 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Setting up of Indian Agricultural Research Institute
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: NAGARAJAN P.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 273

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18/07/2017

## SETTING UP OF INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

## 273. SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  set  up  an  Indian  Agricultural Research Institute in Assam at the cost of Rs.155 crore;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  time  by  which  the  institute  will  be functional;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to set up such institute at any other part of the country in the near future;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a) The  Government  has  decided  to  set  up  IARI  like  institution  at  Gogamukh, Dhemaji district of Assam with an outlay of Rs.155.29 crores.
- (b) Cabinet has approved its establishment on 17 th  May, 2017 and the foundation stone has been laid by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on 26 th May, 2017.   It is proposed that the institute  will  work  in  School  Mode  and  every  year  students  for M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes will be admitted.  Pre-construction formalities have been  initiated.    However,  ICAR-IARI,  New  Delhi  has  already  started  admitting M.Sc. students for IARI-Assam from academic year 2015-16.

(c) Recently  one  IARI  like  institution  has  been  established  at  Gauria  Karma, Hazaribagh,  Jharkhand  with  the  approval  of  Cabinet  on  18 th January,  2017  and construction work has been initiated.

(d) This Institute has a budgetary outlay of Rs.200.78 crores for the period 201617  to  2019-20.    Further,  Master's  programme  in  agriculture  for  ICAR-IARI, Jharkhand  has  been  initiated  at  ICAR-IARI,  New  Delhi  from  academic  year 2015-16.

(e) Question does not arise.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Import of Wheat
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 272

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2017

## IMPORT OF WHEAT

272.  DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is not considering to import wheat on Government account;
- (b) whether the country has enough wheat to meet the requirement under the Public Distribution System;
- (c) whether it is true that as on December 1, 2016 Food Corporation of India had 27.55 million tonne of foodgrains out of which the quantum of wheat was
- 16.4 million tonne and rice was 11 million tonne; and
- (d) whether the Government is encouraging import of wheat by private players by scrapping import duty on wheat and if so, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a):    Yes  Madam,  there is no proposal to      import wheat on Government Account.
- (b): Stock of wheat in the Central Pool as on 1 st  July, 2017 was 32.275 million tonne against stock norms of 27.58 million tonne as on 1 st  July which is adequate to meet the requirement under Public Distribution System.
- (c): The stock of foodgrains as on 1 st  December, 2016 was 27.555 million tonne of which the quantum of wheat was 16.496 million tonne and rice was 11.059 million tonne.
- (d): The Import duty on wheat has been imposed @ 10% vide notification dated 28 th  March, 2017.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Setting up of Production Hubs
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING AND FISHERIES LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 271 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2017

## SETTING UP OF PRODUCTION HUBS

## 271. ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि और क ृ िक कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that the Government is working on a proposal to set up production hubs for cow milk, vegetables and other agri produce near metro cities to boost supply and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government had held discussion with the State Governments in this regard; and
- (c) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a) No Madam.
- (b) to(c)  Does not arise in view of reply at (a).
Lok Sabha Question No. 266 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: National Zoological Park, Delhi
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 266

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## National Zoological Park, Delhi

## 266.    SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken strict action for the negligence of the senior staff at the National  Zoological  Park,  Delhi  for  the  mismatch  of  the  number  of  livestock  as  per  the records;
- (b) if so, the details of thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  check  the  doubtful  &  mismatch  recording  of  the Rhinoceros horn which are very costly in the open market;
- (d) whether the Government has taken steps to reorganize the set up to save the wildlife ; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) No Madam, There is no livestock in the National Zoological Park, Delhi as per Section 2, clause (18A) of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; 'Livestock' means farm animals and includes buffaloes, bulls, bullocks, camels, cows, donkeys, goats, sheep, horses, mules, yaks pigs, ducks, geese poultry and their young but does not include any animal specified in Schedules I to V. As per the records, there is no mismatch of animals in the zoo.
- (b) Does not arise in the light of above.
- (c) There are two Rhinoceros in the zoo and their horns are intact. There is no doubtful & mismatch recording of the Rhino horn in National Zoological Park, Delhi.
- (d)&(e) Establishment and operation of zoo is one of the steps in efforts to save the wildlife. Central Zoo Authority is the agency established for regulating the functioning of zoos in the country. National Zoological Park, New Delhi is established  for  this  purpose.  For  protection  of  wildlife,  protected  areas (National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Conservation Reserve and Community Reserve) have been established throughout the country. Funds are provided under various centrally sponsored schemes for protection of wildlife and its habitat.  Also  funds  are  provided  for  ex-situ  and  in-situ  conservation  of wildlife.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 265 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Drought Assistance to Karnataka
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 265

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  JULY, 2017

## DROUGHT ASSISTANCE TO KARNATAKA

## 265.   KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  a  Central  team  constituted  by  the  Government  to  assess  the  damage  to  the Rabi crops owing to drought in Karnataka has submitted its Report to the Government after the survey;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  has provided the amount of compensation to the State Government as per the assessment in the report and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  State  Government  of  Karnataka  has  demanded  Rs.  3310  crore  as compensation for the damages to the Rabi crops for 2016, if so, the time by which the aforesaid amount is likely to be sanctioned by the Government; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

- (a): Yes, Madam.
- (b) to (d): For Rabi 2016-17, the State Government of Karnataka declared drought in 160 taluks  of  30  districts  and  submitted  Memorandum seeking financial assistance of Rs.3310.83 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for drought relief.  This was considered in accordance with the established procedure and the Government of India approved assistance of Rs.795.544 crore from NDRF subject to the adjustment of 50% of balance available in the SDRF account.
- ********