opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5321 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Indira Vikas Patra
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5321 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2018

## INDIRA VIKAS PATRA

## 5321. SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Small Savings Scheme of Indira Vikas Patra has been discontinued and  over  Rupees  Nine  Hundred  crore  is  lying  unclaimed  with  the  Government  as outstanding amount and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to disburse the aforesaid unclaimed money; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to utilize the said amount?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) Yes, the Small Savings Scheme of Indira Vikas Patra has been discontinued. The circle wise balances are being collected and will be submitted in due course.
- (b) The  amount  lying  unclaimed  under  Indira  Vikas  Patra  can  not  be  disbursed unless the Patras are presented at the Post Office by the customers.  No application was necessary for purchase of IVPs and the certificates issued under the scheme did not bear the name/particulars of the purchaser.  Any person presenting the Patras at the Post Office is entitled to receive the maturity value.
- (c) Senior Citizen Welfare Fund has been established by the Government to utilize the  unclaimed  money  in  the  Post  Office  Small  Savings  Schemes  vide    Gazette Notification  No.  24  dated 14.05.2015  issued  by  Ministry  of  Law  and  Justice (Legislative Department).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5320 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Manpower Development
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5320

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2018

## MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT

†5320. SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the rolling stock technology is absolutely outdated and the  system  is  beset  with  excessive  manpower  and  if  so,  the facts thereof;
- (b) whether manpower  development has not kept pace with technology upgradation and if so, the facts in this regard;
- (c) whether most of the equipment used by the Railways are now obsolete and need immediate replacements;
- (d) if  so,  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  above  situation  has  made Railways  incapable  of  coping  up  with  increasing  transport demand and improving the traffic volume and flows at lower unit cost of operation and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Union  Government  has  made  any  study  in  this regard, if so, the outcome thereof and the action taken thereon; and
- (f) the  concrete  steps  being  considered  by  the  Government  to overcome  the  situation  and  to  provide  better  service  to  the public?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5320 BY SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV, DR.  SHRIKANT  EKNATH  SHINDE,  SHRI  ANANDRAO  ADSUL,  DR. PRITAM  GOPINATH  MUNDE,  SHRI  ADHALRAO  PATIL  SHIVAJIRAO, SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT AND SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  28.03.2018  REGARDING MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT

(a): No, Madam. Upgradation of coaching stock technology in Indian Railways (IR) is a continual process and steps are taken regularly to upgrade the existing technology and induct new technology into the system.  The  manpower  deployment  for  coaching  maintenance  is done  as  per  defined  yardsticks  of IR.  There  is  no  excessive manpower for maintenance of coaches.

(b):  No,  Madam. Manpower is the most crucial asset of IR and full attention is paid for upgradation of manpower viz.a.viz. the available technology. Elaborate initial and in-service modules are available for the purpose of improving the knowledge of staff working in coaching maintenance.

(c):  No,  Madam.  The  equipment  used  by  IR  is  upgraded  on  a continual  basis  as  per  requirement.  Apart  from  upgradation  of existing  equipments,  timely  purchase  of  new  equipments  is  also ensured.

(d) to (f): Do not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5318 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Status of Nuclear Cooperation agreement between India and USA
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5318 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2018

## STATUS OF NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDIA AND USA

5318.  SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of nuclear cooperation agreement between India and the United States of America;
- (b) the  reactors  imported,  nuclear  plants  set  up,  other  production  facilities  made  and nuclear power generated in the country under the said deal; and
- (c) whether the deal has not yet been operationalised and if so, the reasons therefor and the time by which the said deal is likely to become operational ?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR.JITENDRA SINGH):

(a)to(c)   During  discussions between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and M/s Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) for setting up six units of AP-1000 (6 x 1208 MWe) reactors at Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh, M/s WEC has expressed willingness to continue with the proposed project in India. Further progress in these discussions  will  depend  upon  finalization  of  techno-commercial  aspects  of  the project  acceptable  to  the  Indian  side  and  upon  establishing  the  viability  of  the project.    In  this  regard,  a  Techno-Commercial  Offer  has  been  submitted  by  M/s WEC to NPCIL, on which negotiations have been initiated. Further progress in the negotiation will also depend on the operation of reference plant of the above design in U.S.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Setting up of Mobile Towers in Madhya Pradesh
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RODMAL NAGAR, LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5317 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH     MARCH, 2018

## SETTING UP OF MOBILE TOWERS IN MADHYA PRADESH

†5317. SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  operational  Base  Transreceiver  Stations  (BTSs)  in  Madhya Pradesh, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)-wise;
- (b) whether the said number of BTSs are sufficient to meet requirement of the State and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of BTSs in Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof, circle-wise;
- (d) the measures taken by the Government to set up BTS in remote villages of the State having no connectivity and the time by which it is likely to be done; and
- (e) whether the Madhya Pradesh Electronic Development Corporation is capable to implement the BharatNet Project and if so, the details thereof and if not, the steps taken by the Government to implement the said project in the state?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) Telecom Service Provider (TSPs) wise details of the Base Transreceiver Stations (BTSs) in Madhya Pradesh  are as under:
- (b) to (d) 84.5%  of the population in MP  is covered by the current mobile network in the State.    M/s BSNL and M/s Reliance JIO have planned 1449 and 26220 BTS in Madhya Pradesh during the year 2018-19.
- (e ) Government  is  implementing  Bharat  Net  project  under  CPSU  led  model    by BBNL through BSNL which is fully competent to do the work.

| TSP       |   Airtel |   BSNL |   Idea |   R Jio |   Reliance |   TTSL |   Vodafone |   Total |
|-----------|----------|--------|--------|---------|------------|--------|------------|---------|
| BTS count |    22869 |   9511 |  25500 |   29281 |        275 |   3294 |       5825 |   96555 |

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5314 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Computerised Reservation Centre at Parsabad
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5314 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2018

## COMPUTERISED RESERVATION CENTRE AT PARSABAD

†5314.      DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the railway officers of Dhanbad district have promised to set  up  computerised  reservation  centre  at  Parsabad  station  after agitation of local citizens;
- (b)   if  so,  the  time  by  which  the  Government  is  likely  to  set  up computerized reservation centre at Parsabad station; and
- (c)    if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) :    No, Madam.
- (b) :    Does not arise.
- (c) :    The computerised passenger reservation centres are available at Hazaribagh Road Station and Koderma Railway Station located on either side of Parsabad Railway Station.    These reservation centres fulfil the requirement of reservation of passengers in Parsabad area. Moreover,  about  65%  reserved  tickets  are  now  booked  online  on website www.irctc.co.in.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5312 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Threats to Advocates
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

*****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5312 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2018

## Threats to Advocates

## 5312. SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

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

- (a) whether there are reports of recent attacks on properties and lives of advocates and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the  details  of  cases  reported  in  courts  of  the  country  and  the  losses  estimated  and  the action taken so far on such incidents; and
- (c) whether the advocates and courts are in anguish over delays in probing of such incidents and if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor along with the corrective steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## (SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (c)  The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Expenditure on Integrated Security System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5311 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2018

## EXPENDITURE ON INTEGRATED SECURITY SYSTEM

†5311. SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  amount  spent  by  the  Railways  on  Integrated  Security System (ISS);
- (b) whether any negligence has come to the notice of the Railways in the use of ISS;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereto; and
- (d)  the corrective measures taken by the Railways in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a): The total amount spent so far by Railways on Integrated Security System (ISS) stands at ₹ 179.06 crore.
- (b) to (d): No, Madam. No such report has been received regarding any negligence in the use of ISS. Railway Protection Force personnel have been deployed for round the clock surveillance through CCTV cameras and utilization of other security equipment provided under ISS. As and

when malfunctioning of any security equipment is reported, necessary remedial measures are taken for repair of the equipment. Close Circuit Television  (CCTV)  cameras  have  already  been  installed  over  108 railway stations under ISS.  Besides, 132 baggage scanners, 35 undervehicle  scanning  system  and  other  security  gadgets  like  hand  held metal  detectors,  door  frame  metal  detectors  and  bomb  detection items have also been provided at nominated stations under ISS.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5310 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Setting up of Central Schools for Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5310 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.3.2018

## SETTING UP OF CENTRAL SCHOOLS FOR MINORITIES

## 5310. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether due to lack of affordable and quality school education for children of minority communities especially of Muslims a panel has been set up by his Ministry which has recommended setting up of 211 Central Schools on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas in the minority concentrated districts;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and other recommendations made by the panel;
- (c) whether the Government has accepted the recommendations of the Committee; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which a final decision is likely to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a) & (b):  Yes, Madam.  In the last several decades education of minorities especially Muslim girls  had  not  been  a  priority  area.  This  educational  backwardness  was  more  prominent  in northern part of the country. In the last three years, the government has focused on educational empowerment  of  minorities  and  as  a  result,  about  2.45  Crore  scholarships  under  various schemes  have  been  disbursed  to  minorities  in  which  girls,  on  average,  comprise  of  50%. Further, several educational infrastructural assets under Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) have been sanctioned in the last 3 years in the  minority concentrated areas including 767 schools, 493 hostels, 60 gurukul type residential schools, 10 Degress colleges, 16 Polytechnic,  94  ITIs, and 13,985 additional Classroom. As per 'All India Survey on Higher Education,  2015-16'  of  the  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development,  the  enrolment  of minority women has improved to 11,21,066 in higher education during 2015-16.

The  Maulana  Azad  Education  Foundation  (MAEF),  a  Society  working  under  the  aegis    of Ministry of Minority Affairs, in its 52nd meeting held on 29.12.2016, constituted an 11 member Committee to  go  into  the  modalities  for  establishment  of  institutions  in  different  parts  of  the country with a view to facilitate educational empowerment of the minorities. The Committee, in its  Report,  submitted  on  06.07.2017  to  the  General  Body  of  MAEF,  has  recommended  for  a three tier model of educational institutions for minorities having:

-  211 Central Schools at the bottom;
-  25 Community Colleges at the middle; and
-  05 National Institutes at the top level.

(c) & (d): The General Body of MAEF has adopted the report and initial steps such as contacting the concerned authorities/organizations have been taken by MAEF.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5309 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Flexible Mode of Transportation of Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5309

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.3.2018

## Flexible Mode of Transportation of Coal

## 5309. SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Coal  Ministry  is  planning  to  adopt  flexible  mode  of  transportation using Roadways and Railways, both for easy evacuation of coal and if so, the details thereof;

(b)   whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  during  the  second  tranche  of  linkage auction of 15 million tonnes of coal, the mining companies could not conclude the fuel supply agreements  since there were supply constraints  from  Mahanadi Coalfields  Limited  (MCL),  South  Eastern  Coalfields  Limited  (SECL)  and  Central Coalfields Limited (CCL);

(c)    if so, the Government's reaction thereto;

(d)  whether the CIL's e-auction and linkage auction has not been in parity with its production and off take infrastructure;

- (e)   if so, the details thereof; and

(f)  the other steps being taken by the Government for maximum utilization of coal resources?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  : Coal is supplied to the Power Sector under Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) as per  the  mode  convenient  to  the  Power  Plant.  For  non-power  consumers,  a dispensation for change of mode from Rail to Road has been extended by CIL.

(b) & (c) : In the second tranche of Linkage Auction for Non-regulated sector, 14.8 Million  Tonnes  of  coal  linkage  was  booked.  Out  of  this  booked  quantity,  FSAs  of about 14 MT quantity have already been signed which is around 95% of the linkage quantity. For the balance 0.8 MT of coal linkage, the provisional successful bidders have to submit requisite documents with the company to overcome the deficiencies which have been found during the verification process.

(d) to (f) : E-auction of coal and coal linkage are two different modes for coal supply. Through  auction  route,  long  term  linkages  are  given  to  the  consumers  and subsequently  FSAs  are  signed.  For  non-power  consumers,  FSAs  are  valid  for  5 years and renewable for another term of five years, whereas for power sector, FSAs are  valid  for  20  years  or  till  the  end  of  plant  life  or  period  of  Power  Purchase Agreement (PPA), whichever is the earliest. E-auctions are generally conducted for shorter duration for the buyers with seasonal/periodic demand or in short term need of coal. Coal companies allocate fresh linkages through linkage auction or sell coal through e-auctions keeping in view various factors like production, existing commitments, logistics availability, evacuation infrastructure, market demand etc.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5308 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Grants to NGOs
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5308 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/3/2018

## GRANTS TO NGOS

5308. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  takes  help  of  Non-Governmental  Organizations (NGOs) for running a number of their programmes;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the achievement made thereto;

(c) whether the Ministry of Science and Technology extends financial grants to NGOs for the promotion of Science and Technology;

(d) if so, the details of funds made available to the NGOs by the Government during the last three years and the current year in this regard; and

(e) the names of the NGOs, which have been running the programmes of the Ministry during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN) ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ, {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {ÉªÉÉÇ´É®hÉ, ´ÉxÉ A´ÉÆ VÉãÉ´ÉÉªÉÖ {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

- (a)  &  (b):      No,  Madam.  Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  doesn't  take  help  of  Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for running programmes. Programmes of the Ministry are not outsourced to NGOs fro running. However, the Ministry provides grants-in-aid support to the NGOs to implement Science and Technology (S&T) based intervention projects under its various schemes. (c) Yes,  Madam.  Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  through  its  various  constituents  namely, Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST),  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  and  Department  of Scientific  &  Industrial  Research  (DSIR)  are  extending  grants-in-aid  support  to  NGOs  under  various schemes to promote science and technology interventions. (d) During the last three years and current year viz. 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18, Rs.38.01 crore,  Rs.78.26  crore,  Rs.81.81  crore  and  Rs.33.62  crore  respectively  has  been  provided  to  NGOs  by  the Ministry. Ministry of Science and Technology does not provide any grants-in-aid support to NGOs for running its  programmes.  NGOs  are  only  implementing  projects  which  are  conceived  by  them  and  the  Ministry

(e) provides grant-in-aid support to such projects on merit basis.

- ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 5307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Weather Forecasting at District and Block Level
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5307 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018

## WEATHER FORECASTING AT DISTRICT AND BLOCK LEVEL

## 5307. SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has decided to set up weather forecasting stations in 600 districts of the country and further to be taken down to block level;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  in  the  first  phase  of  the  proposal,  IMD  has  shortlisted around 130 districts and if so, the time by which these stations are likely to be set up;
- (d) whether  the  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  under  the  Indian  Council  of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  have  been  identified  as  the  possible locations for the proposed weather forecasting stations; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)-(c)  Yes Madam.  India Meteorological Department (IMD) is implementing District level Agro-Meteorological Advisory Services in Collaboration with Indian  Council  of  Agriculture  Research  (ICAR)  and  under  that will set up District Agro meteorological Units (DAMU) in 530 districts in addition to the existing 130 Agro-Met Field Units (AMFU). The 530 DAMUs will be established in a phased manner by March 2020.
- (d)-(e)  Under Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS), District AgroMeteorological Units (DAMUs) will be established at KrishiVigyanKendras  (KVKs)  in  each  district  in  collaboration  with ICAR to implement district level Agromet Advisory Services during 2017-20.    In  addition  to  existing  130  Agromet  Field  Units  (AMFUs) which  will  act  as  DAMUs  for  the  districts  of  their  location,  530 DAMUs will be established in a phased wise manner.  The network of DAMUs will be extended to cover all the districts by March 2020.

*****