opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2109 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Driving Licenses
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the wide usage of fake/duplicate driving licenses, in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any proposal to link the driving licenses with Aadhaar;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  above  proposal  is  likely  to  be implemented;
- (d) whether the Committee constituted for road safety has submitted its report;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the time by which its report is likely to be submitted?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) As per an analysis done in January, 2015 on National Register for Driving Licences by National Informatics Centre (NIC) regarding fake driving licenses, it was found that there is a possibility  of  duplicate  licences.  As  on  5 th January,  2015,  out  of  total  6,70,16,851  driving licences records available,  16,72,138 records were found to be possible duplicates spread over 7,99,923  clusters.    The  percentage  of  probable  duplicates  stands  at  2.5  percent  as  per  this exercise. This information has been shared with respective states for further action. Implementation of provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 come under purview of State Governments concerned.

(b)&(c)  Ministry has finalised the notification to  amend the form of application for license to drive a motor vehicle and the form of driving license, prescribed in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules,  1989  for  incorporating  suitable  provisions  in  regard  to  Aadhaar  number.  The  final notification is presently with Ministry of Law & Justice, Legislative Department, OL Wing for hindi translation.

(d)  to  (f)  The  Committee  on  Road  Safety  constituted  in  pursuance  of  order  dated  22 nd April, 2014 of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India has submitted a number of reports. In its 13 th Report, Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  has  inter-alia  asked  the  Committee  to  examine  the  issues  for procurement of fake licences and how to eliminate this.

******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2109

ANSWERED ON 8 TH  MARCH, 2018

## DRIVING LICENSES

## 2109.   SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## lM+d ifjogu vkSj jktekxZ ea=h
Lok Sabha Question No. 2107 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Use of Mobile Phones in Flights
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY, Y. S. AVINASH REDDY

2107.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIQN NO. : 2107

(To be answered on the &th March 2018)

Use of Mobile Phones in Flights

SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA ` € SHRI Y.S: AVINASH REDDY

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

- (6) if s0, the detaiis thereof; and

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is planning to grant permission to use mobile phones in the flights;
- (c) the time by which this would come into force?

## ANSWER

Minister 0f State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) to (c) There is no such proposal with this Ministry: However, Rule 29B of Aircraft Rules 1937 regulates the use Of portable electronic devices, including mobile phones; which inter-alia states that Pilot-in-Command may permit the use of cellular telephone by the passengers Of a flight after the aircraft has landed and cleared active runway: except when the ianding takes place in low visibility conditions Further, Civil Aviation Requirements Section-5, SeriesX Part-Ipermits the use %f mobile/cellular phone in non-transmitting mode i.e FlighthAirplane mode during flight
Lok Sabha Question No. 2103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Grounding of Air India Flight
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: VASANTHI M.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIA TION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2103 (To be answered on the March 2018)

Grounding of Air India Flight

## 2103. SHRIMATI VASANTHI M:

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be to state:pleased

- (a) whether an Air India flight from Birmingham to Delhi was grounded by a rare fault recently;
- (C) whether due to this rare fault, the flight could not operate 0n the same day;and
- (6) if so, the detaiis thereof;
- (d) if the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto? SO,

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

- (2) to (d): On following four occasions, Air India flights from Birmingham to Delhi were not able to depart 0n same during last 6 months: day

ii 12.09.2017-Due to Left 1 Gen processor module fault

- i, 31.08.2017 Due t0 Aircraft Battery Snag

iii. 16.09.2017 Due to suspected iightning strike iv 23.09.2017- Due to defect in Passenger address and cabin interphone

In order to ensure enforcement of the flight schedules, Directorate General 0f Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Air Transport Circular (ATC) 05 0f 2017 on Procedure to be followed to mitigate flight delays' In order to ensure appropriate protection for the air travelers in case of flight disruptions, DGCA has issued Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR); Section 3Air Transport; Series-M, Part-IV titled "Requirement Of facilities to be provided to passengers by airiiues due to denied boarding; cancellation %f flights and delay in flights and CAR Section 3 Air Transport; Series-M, Part-V titled "Facilitation in case of diversion on passenger facilitation:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2102 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Violation of Flight Duty Time Limitations
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: B.V. NAYAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTIQN NO. : 2102 (To be answered on the March 2018)

Violation of Flight Time Limitations Duty

2102. SHRI B.VNAIK

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

- (a) whether the recent move of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to come out with a draft Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) to discipline pilots who feign sickness, has caused resentment and met with opposition by three pilots unions\_and if s0, the details thereof;
- (c) whether many airlines do not hire enough pilots and offer more lucrative terms to fly overtime; and
- (6) whether many airlines violate Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) with impunity due to the CAR on FDTL being open to interpretation and if $O, the details thereof;
- (d) if s0, the details thereof and the reaction 0f the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIA TION

1 `

(a) No such proposal is under consideration by DGCA

() There is no violation of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) by airlines due to CAR on FDTL being open to interpretation: FDTL requirements of flight cabin crew and cabin crew are prescribed in CAR Section 7, Series J, Part III and CAR Section 7, Series J, Part [ respectively. Under the provisions of CAR, airlines are required to establish, FDTL scheme for their flight/ cabin crew\_ Subsequently, the FDTL scheme is submitted to DGCA for approval: (c) & (d) No such information is available with this Ministry:

(Shri Jayant Sinha)
Lok Sabha Question No. 2101 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Use of Toilets for other Purposes
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

## Government of India Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2101 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08-03-2018

## Use of Toilets for other Purposes

## 2101. SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

Will the Minister of DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government has noticed that toilets made under various Government schemes are used to shelter small animals or to store tools, bikes and grains, etc.;

(b) if so, the details thereof, Statewise;

(c)  whether  deep-seated  attitudes  may  present  an  even  bigger  barrier  to  improve  sanitation than the lack of pipes and pits in the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a)  to  (b)  As  per  Swachhata  Status  Report  2016,  published  by  National  Sample  Survey Office, in rural India, of the households having sanitary toilet, 95.6% were found to be using them. There may be  isolated instances where toilets are used to shelter small animal or to store tools bikes and grain etc. Sanitation is a state subject and accordingly records of such instances  ( and action taken thereof) is limited to them.

(c) to (d) Yes, Swacch Bharat Mission is currently focusing on taking up Sanitation primarily as a behavior change issue. This involves changing the  mindset amongst people to stop open defecation  and  to  adopt  safe  sanitation  practices.  This  is  achieved  through  sustained engagement  of  community  and  skills  in  facilitation,  'triggering'  and  toilet  usage  that  are largely defined as IEC (Information, Education and Communication) activities.  Up to 8% of total  budgetary  resources  can  be  spent  on  IEC  by  the  states.  Many  States  are  focusing  on community approaches, wherein the people are directly triggered and made aware about the importance  of  sanitation  and  hygiene  using  socio-cultural  triggering  tools.  Besides  these, conventional IEC tools  such as IPC (Inter personal communication ) are also used to educate the people.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2099 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Amendments in National Mineral Policy
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2099

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2018

## AMENDMENTS IN NATIONAL MINERAL POLICY

2099. ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether district level  authorities have been involved in the process of granting environmental clearances in minor mineral base cases;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether it is a fact that some State Governments have raised questions on the ambiguity of the role of district level authorities and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether the Union Government is contemplating to make necessary changes in the National Mineral Policy to clear the doubts of the State Governments and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINES AND COAL (SHRI HARIBHAI PARTHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

- (a) and (b):  Yes, Madam. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)  vide  notification  dated  15.01.2016,  has  delegated  the  Authority  of Environmental  Clearance  up  to  5  hectares  of  individual  mining  lease  of  minor minerals and 25 hectares in clusters to the District Environment Impact Assessment Authority ( DEIAA ) headed by the District Magistrate/ District Collector. The MoEFCC has also notified the constitution of DEIAA and District Expert Appraisal Committee (DEAC) vide notification SO No. 190 (E) dated 20.01.2016. The MoEFCC has further clarified  the  provisions  of  the  Environment  Impact  Assessment  (EIA)  Notification, 2006 and issued the amendments in the EIA Notification, 2006 on 01.07.2016 for mining of minor minerals, in situation of a large number of leases or quarry licenses of very small size in contiguous area.
- (c):  As  per  information  made  available  by  the  MoEFCC,  no  questions  have  been raised by the State Governments in this regard.
- (d):  Does not arise in view of the reply given to (c) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2097 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Declaration of NHs in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2097

TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 TH MARCH, 2018

## DECLARATION OF NHs IN UTTAR PRADESH

## 2097. SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the State Government of Uttar Pradesh has approved to declare Sismaiyaa-Nighaasan-Puranpur,  Lakhimpur-Gaurifanta  and  Belroya-Patrasi  in  Lakhimpur District of Uttar Pradesh as National Highways;
- (b) if so, the present status of National Highways; and
- (c) the total cost of this project and the amount allocated for this project?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to (c) The conversion of new National Highway is done by Union Government based on the recommendation of State Government, inter se priority regarding importance of the road. The roads Sismaiyaa-Nighaasan-Puranpur, Lakhimpur-Gaurifanta and Belroya-Patrasi are not declared as National Highway.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2094 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Allotment of Houses under PMAY-G
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2094

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2018

## ALLOTMENT OF HOUSES UNDER PMAY-G

## 2094.   SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether allotment of houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in  the  entire  rural  region  of  Jharkhand  especially  in  Sahebganj,  Pakur,  Godda  and Dumka  districts  is  being  done  through  middlemen  and  consequently  the  entitled persons are not being benefitted;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the rules of the Union Government in this regard; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  have  a  control  on  the  middlemen  in  the  said districts?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

- (a) & (b) :  No such incident has been reported to the Ministry of Rural Development.

(c)& (d): Under  PMAY-G,  identification  of  beneficiaries  is  based  on  the  housing deprivation  parameters  as  per  Socio-Economic  and  Caste  Census  (SECC)  2011data  base. Accordingly,  all  the  rural  houseless  households  and  households  living  in  zero,  one  or  two room kucha houses with kucha  wall and kucha  roof,  subject  to  the  exclusion  process,  and duly verified by Gram Sabha are provided financial assistance for construction of house. The assistance  is  transferred  directly  into  the  bank  account  of  the  beneficiaries  electronically through Fund Transfer Order from the State Level Nodal Bank Account of PMAY-G.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2093 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Sports Radio Channel
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, RODMAL NAGAR, OM PRAKASH YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2093 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2018)

## SPORTS RADIO CHANNEL

2093.  SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI: SHRI NAGAR RODMAL: SHRI OM PRAKASH YADAV:

## Will  the  MINISTER  OF  INFORMATION  AND  BROADCASTING  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has launched or proposes to launch any sports radio channel in the country; (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  frequency  of  the  radio  channel  for receiving the said channel in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar; and (c)  the  details  of  sports  for  which  information  is  likely  to  be  broadcast  through  the
- said channel?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND

## BROADCASTING

{COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE(Retd.)}

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) & (c) Do not arise in view of reply at (a) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2092 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: New Bill for Rights of Air Passengers
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

2092.

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

UNSTARRED QUESTIQN NO. : 2092 (To be answered on the March 2018)

New Bill for Rights of Air Passengers

SHRI RAMDAS C TADAS SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce any new bill in view of problems being faced by the air passengers; and () if s0, the manner in which said bill is likely to provide better facilities to the air passengers?

## ANSWER

Minister 0f State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

- (a) & (b) Madam.  However; the proposal to formulate 4 Passengers Charter is under consideration. No,

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2091 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Darkening of Siang River
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 2091

ANSWERED ON 08.0 3.201 8

## DARKENING OF SIANG R IVER

## 2091. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION  be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has received any complaints on unusual darkening of Siang r Arunachal Pradesh before meeting with Brahmaputra river in As sam;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has made any specific survey on the issue and if so, the deta and

(d) the action taken by the Government to take up the matter with China at the earliest?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES, RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a to c) Yes, Madam. Government has received information regarding contamination of Siang through different sources . Water samples collected and tested by Central Water Commission (CWC and North Eastern Research Institute for Water and Land Management (NERIWALM) during th month of November, 2017 and December, 2017 at Tuting and Passighat Hydrological observa site s on Siang river were found to be highly turbid in nature. Presence of Aluminium (Al)& was also found to be beyond the permissible limit for drinking water as per IS 10500:2012 the contamination has reduced significantly over the period s ince December 2017, but it was still beyond permissible limit on 14/15 January, 2018 as per IS 10500:2012.

(d ) Ministry of External Affairs, GoI has informed that as a lower riparian State with c established user rights to the waters of the trans - border rivers, Government of India has consistentl conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest lev urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any ac upstream areas. The issue was also taken up by Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Minister during his recent visit to India on 11 December 2017. Gov intends to remain engaged with China on the issue of trans - borde r rivers to safeguard our interests.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2089 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Increase in Number of Air Passengers
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA

2089.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIQN NO. : 2089

(To be answered on the March 2018) &th

## INCREASE IN NUMBER OF AIR PASSENGERS

SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

- (b) the reaction of the Government thereto; and

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the number of air passengers is increasing every year in Gujarat; if so, the details thereof;
- the steps taken by the Government to increase the number of flights in view:of. the increasing number 0f air passengers in Gujarat?

## ANSWER

## Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

- (): Yes Madam; Total air passengers handled at airports %f Gujarat is 60.32 14,2014-15,2015-16 and 2016-17. The Compounded Annual Growth gate of passengers during the last three years is.16%
- (b) and (c): With repeal of Air Corporation Act in March; 1994, the Indian domestic aviation sector was deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network wish teservice and operate: Government has laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial subject to compliance of RDG issued by Government they

***x*
Lok Sabha Question No. 2085 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Less Access to Water for use in Toilets of Rural Areas
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: PARASURAMAN K.

## Government of India

## Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2085 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08-03-2018

## Less Access to Water for use in Toilets of Rural Areas

## 2085. SHRI K. PARASURAMAN:

## Will the Minister of DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION be pleased to state :

- (a) whether it is a fact that in rural areas of the country only 42.5 per cent of households were found to have access to water for use in the toilet as compared to 88 per cent in urban areas;
- (b) if so, whether such water scarcity is a challenge towards the target set by the Government to stop 100% open defecation by the year 2019; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a)  to  (c)  As  per  National  Sample  Survey  Office  Report  2015, 93.9 percentage  of  rural households having toilet had access to water for use in toilets. Further, under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), the incentive for individual toilet has been increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs.  12,000,  to  provide  for  water  availability,  including  for  storing  water  for  hand-washing and  cleaning.  The  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  (Gramin)  and  National  Rural  Drinking  Water Programme(NRDWP)  guidelines  also  provide  for  convergence  towards  implementation  of the    programmes    of  sanitation  and  water,  and  to  maximize  the  availability  of  water  for sanitation purposes. Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages are being prioritized for providing Piped Water Supply Schemes(PWSS) under NRDWP.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2080 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Increase in Import Duties on Solar Equipment
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2080

TO BE ANSWERED ON-08.03.2018

## INCREASE IN IMPORT DUTIES ON SOLAR EQUIPMENT

2080. SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether the Government has increased the import duties on solar equipment and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there are enough Lithium reserves in the country to fulfil the demand of the solar industry and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the extent to which this fulfils the Government's commitment to promote harnessing the solar energy in the country?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (I/C) (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) The Government has not increased import duties on solar equipment.
- (b) & (c) Lithium is largely being imported in the country. It is required in the Solar Industry for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

Battery  Energy  Storage  Systems  (BESS)  is  presently  not  a  significant  component  in  the country's solar power projects because of high cost, and as such, limited domestic availability of lithium does not affect the Government's commitment to promote harnessing the solar energy in the country.

*****