opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1242 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Internship in Technical Courses
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1242 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Internship in Technical Courses

1242. SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

## Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  technical  courses  for  which  internship  programme  has  been mandatory by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) currently; (b) whether the AICTE has proposed to make internship programme mandatory for  all  the  technical  courses  conducted  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details thereof  including  the  academic  year  from  which  it  is  proposed  to  be  made compulsory; and (c) if not, the reasons therefor and the steps taken/being taken by the Government to suitably utilise the resources of availability of young engineers
- in the country?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (c): AICTE in its Council meeting held on 14 th March 2017 resolved that every student in a technical institution shall do three internships each spanning 4 to 8 weeks before completion of the under-graduation. The responsibility will be on the institution for helping the students in finding suitable industry or organisation for the internship. This resolution would be made applicable from the year 2017-18 onwards. The AICTE has taken steps to support the institutions in finding suitable internships by entering into agreement with agencies like LinkedIn and Internshala.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Intangible Cultural Heritage
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNTARRED QUESTION NO.1239 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Intangible Cultural Heritage

## 1239.   SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the United Nations Educational, Scientific and  Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has formally inscribed Yoga in its representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether this is due  to a Government  initiative after the first International Yoga Day celebration;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the benefits of inclusion of yoga in the list?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) & (b)  Yes, Madam. Yoga was inscribed in UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage  of  Humanity  during  the  11 th session  of Intergovernmental  Committee  held  from  28 th November  to  02 nd December, 2016 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- (c) & (d)   No, Madam. The dossier for nomination of Yoga for inclusion in the UNESCO's  Representative  List  of  Intangible  Cultural  Heritage  of  Humanity was submitted  to UNESCO Headquarters before the first International Yoga Day.
- (e)    The  inclusion  of  Yoga  on  the  UNESCO's  Representative  List  will contribute  to  the  visibility  of  intangible  cultural  heritage  in  general  and  raise awareness of its importance at the local, national and international levels as its practice is universal and widespread cutting across community, class, income, gender, faith and age. Additionally, Yoga's inscription  on the Representative List  will  promote  respect  for  cultural  diversity  and  human  creativity  as  it  will create a commonality and a bond between and across practitioners, transmitters  and  the  diverse  communities  and  individuals  that  follow  the practice.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1238 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: EPFO Investment in ETF
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: A.T. (NANA) PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1238 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## EPFO INVESTMENT IN ETF

1238. SHRI A.T. NANA PATIL:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether the EPFO proposes to raise investment limit in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) to 15 per cent;
- (b)if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  have  an  exit  policy  for liquidating  investments  in  ETFs,  securities  and  State  loans  to maximize  returns  before  raising  the  proportion  of  equity  linked investments?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a) & (b): The investment limit in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) has been recommended to be raised from 10 per cent to 15 per cent by the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) in its 218 th  meeting held on 27.05.2017.
- (c): The policy for accounting investments in ETFs was placed before  the  CBT,  EPF  in  its  218 th   meeting  held  on  27.05.2017  and  no final recommendation has been made by the CBT.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: New Universities/ Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1236 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## New Universities/ Schools

## 1236. SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  set  up  new  Central  Universities/  Kendriya Vidyalayas in those districts/ Lok Sabha Constituencies in the country particularly in North Chennai Lok Sabha Constituency which do not have the same;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the time by which the above institutions are likely to be set up?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (c) At present there is no proposal to set up a new Central University or a Kendriya Vidyalaya in the North Chennai Lok Sabha Constituency. However, the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act 2014  envisages  for  establishment  of  one  Central  Tribal  University  each  in  the  State  of  Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and one Central University in the successor state of Andhra Pradesh in the 12 th and 13 th Plans. Further, the Prime Minister announced a package for Bihar on 18.8.2015 which includes  establishment  of  a  Central  University  near  Bhagalpur  at  the  historic  site  of  Vikramshila University.  The Government has recently approved opening of 50 new Kendriya Vidyalayas in the civil sector all over the country.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1235 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: PNG Pipeline
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: GAURAV GOGOI

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1235

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.7.2017

## PNG PIPELINE

## 1235.    SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

- (a)  whether  Indraprastha  Gas  Limited  (IGL)  has  laid  down  pipeline    for  PNG  connection  in several housing societies particularly in Gaur City at Greater Noida West, Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  technicians  of  IGL  have  also  installed  meters  at  several  premises  in  the  said area but final connectivity with gas stove has not commenced despite repeated requests;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to start PNG connection and the timelimit prescribed  for  starting  connections/supply  from  the  date  of  installation  of  meter  at  the premises; and
- (d) the time by which the PNG connections are likely to start in the said societies' premises?

## ANSWER

पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज् य मंत्ररी (स् विंत्र प्राार ( श्ररी धमेन्द  र प्रधान

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)  IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (c):  As per the information furnished by Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) the pipeline for providing PNG connections in 1 st , 4 th and 5 th Avenue of Gaur City, Greater Noida West in Uttar Pradesh has been laid. Out of 1456 customers who have registered with IGL, meters have been installed in 811 flats/houses and gas supply has also been started in 393 flats/houses as per the request of registered customers.  IGL has informed that gas supply to customers is started as per the requests received from them. The maximum time limit prescribed for starting connections/supply  from  the  date  of  installation  of  meter  at  the  premises  is  48  hours  from receipt of request from the customers.

- (d): The gas supply in 393 flats/houses in Gaur City has already started.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1232 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Talk on Economic Corridor
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: HUKUM SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1232 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  JULY, 2017

## TALK ON ECONOMIC CORRIDOR

## 1232. SHRI HUKUM SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has held talks on the Bangladesh-China-India Myanmar economic corridor recently; and
- (b) if so, the details and outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a)  &  (b)  :  The  Third  Meeting  of  Joint  Study  Group  (JSG)  of  Bangladesh-China-IndiaMyanmar (Economic Corridor) was held on 25 th and 26 th April, 2017 in Kolkata. The meeting deliberated  upon  the  consolidation  of  various  country  reports  so  as  to  finalize  a  common report of Joint Study Group (JSG).

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Decline of Tourists in Kashmir
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1231

## LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## DECLINE OF TOURISTS IN KASHMIR

## †1231. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the number of tourists has declined in Kashmir during the current year;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  certain  steps  to
- (c) improve the number of tourists; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said steps are likely to be taken and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) and (b): The number of Domestic and Foreign Tourist Visits to the State of Jammu and Kashmir in 2016 (provisional) were 94.15 lakhs  and  0.63  lakhs,  registering  positive  growth  of  2.95%  and 7.92%  in  2016  over  2015,  respectively.  This  information  is  not available for current year.
- (c) and (d): Development and promotion of tourism sector is the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA), from  various plan schemes, to them for tourism projects subject to adherence  of existing scheme  guidelines, availability  of  funds  and  liquidation  of  utilisation  certificates  for funds released earlier.

In  addition,  Government  has  undertaken  following  special measures  for  development  and  promotion  of  tourism  in  Jammu  & Kashmir:

- i. Sanctioned tourism projects of Rs.42.02 Crore and Rs.569.19  Crore  under  PRASAD  and  Swadesh  Darshan scheme, respectively in the year 2016-17. ii. 100% central financial assistance for organizing fairs & festivals is allowed to the State of Jammu & Kashmir. iii. Provision of complimentary space to the State of Jammu & Kashmir in India Pavilions set up at major International Travel Fairs and Exhibitions. iv. The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  been  releasing  special campaigns  on  Jammu  &  Kashmir  on  Doordarshan  and Private TV channels to promote tourism in the regions. Government of India employees are allowed to avail LTC
- v. for visiting Jammu & Kashmir in lieu of Home town LTC.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1230 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Kendriya Vidyalaya in Maharaj Ganj, Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1230 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA IN MAHARAJ GANJ, UTTAR PRADESH † 1230. SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY:

Will  the  Minister  of  HUMAN  RESOURCE  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the details of the progress made in setting up Kendriya Vidyalayas sanctioned for the district of Maharaj Ganj, Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) whether the Uttar Pradesh Government has approved for allotment of land to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan for the purpose;
- (c) if so, the time by which the construction work for Kendriya Vidyalaya is likely to be initiated; and
- (d) the details of process followed by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan for initiating classes during the current academic session in the said school?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a)  to  (d):  There  is  no  sanction  of  the  Government  for  opening  of  a  new  Kendriya Vidyalaya  (KV)  at  Maharaj  Ganj,  Uttar  Pradesh.  Kendriya  Vidyalaya  Sangathan (KVS) has informed that  it  has  received  a  proposal  from  the  State  Government  of Uttar Pradesh for opening of a KV at Maharaj Ganj for which the state government has earmarked 6.5 acres of land.

As per norms of the KVS, the sponsoring authority is liable to provide suitable and sufficient rent free temporary accommodation for making the new KV functional (after it is sanctioned) till the construction of permanent building by KVS on the land to be provided by the sponsoring agency, free of cost. The identified and demarcated land is  also  required  to  be  transferred  by  the  sponsoring  authority  in  favour  of  KVS. Administrative orders for opening of the KV is issued by KVS only after land transfer formalities are completed by the sponsoring authority.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1228 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Interest Subsidy to Top Industries
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: LILADHARBHAI KHODAJI VAGHELA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1228. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE  24 TH  JULY, 2017.

## INTEREST SUBSIDY TO TOP INDUSTRIES

## 1228.  SHRI L.K. VAGHELA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  stop  the  interest  subsidy  and  other benefits extended to top level industries in the country having a turnover of more than 100 crore; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यं ्रीस् वतं ््रभााा(स्रींतंरीिरंमलााीरीतंाांि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) & (b):

Interest  subsidy  of  Rs.169.07  crore  was  provided  to  the  eligible industrial  units  in  the  North  Eastern  States  including  Sikkim  under North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007 and Rs. 173.56 crore to eligible industrial units of Jammu & Kashmir under  Schemes  pertaining  to  Special  Category  States  regardless  of business turnover.  NEIIPP, 2007 ended on 31.03.2017 and Schemes pertaining to J&K ended on 14.06.2017.

A Committee under the Chairmanship of CEO, Niti Aayog is  presently examining and suggesting  a Road Map for a New Industrial Policy for North Eastern and Himalayan States

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1226 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Export of Cardamom
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1226 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  JULY, 2017

## EXPORT OF CARDAMOM

## 1226. SHRI P.K. BIJU:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of cardamom produced in the country from 2014 to 2017;
- (b) the details of cardamom exported from the country during the said period; and
- (c) the measures taken by the Government to meet the increasing domestic demand of cardamom?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) The details of total production of cardamom in India during 2013-14 to 2016-17 are given below:
- (b)  The exports of cardamom from India during 2013-14 to 2016-17 is as below:

| year     |   Cardamom(small) Production(Tons ) |   Cardamom(large) Production(Tons ) |
|----------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 2013-14  |                               16000 |                                4465 |
| 2014-15  |                               18000 |                                4850 |
| 2015-16  |                               23890 |                                5315 |
| 2016-17* |                               19625 |                                5623 |

| Year     | Cardamom(small)   | Cardamom(small)   | Cardamom(large)   | Cardamom(large)   |
|----------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|          | Qty(Tons)         | Value(Rs. Crores) | Qty(Tons)         | Value(Rs. Crores) |
| 2013-14  | 3600              | 283.81            | 1110              | 79.61             |
| 2014-15  | 3795              | 323.47            | 665               | 84.04             |
| 2015-16  | 5500              | 449.83            | 600               | 75.50             |
| 2016-17* | 3850              | 421.50            | 780               | 82.66             |

(*)  provisional

(c)      The  Government,  through  Spices  Board,  is  implementing  various  programmes/  schemes  to meet  the  increasing  domestic  demand  of  Cardamom  in  the  country,  which  inter  alia,  includes, production of quality planting materials of Cardamom in the  growers field, replanting of old, senile and  uneconomic  gardens  of  Cardamom,  new  planting  of  Cardamom  (large),  assistance  for  farm mechanization,  supply  of  Good  Agricultural  Practice  (GAP)  kits  to  cardamom  growers    and recognition of cardamom growers by instituting Awards for promoting healthy competition  amongst the farmers for increasing the yield, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Tribal University
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HARI NARAYAN RAJBHAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1225 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Tribal University

## †1225. SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposal from the State Government of Uttar Pradesh for the establishment of a Tribal University;
- (b) if so, the latest status of the said proposal;
- (c) if not, whether the Government proposes to set up a multi-disciplinary tribal university in Uttar Pradesh keeping its large tribal population in view and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (d) At present there is no proposal to set up a new Central Tribal University in the country including in Uttar Pradesh. However, the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act 2014 envisages establishment  of  one  Central  Tribal  University  each  in  the  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh  and Telangana.  There  are  other  Central  Universities  in  the  States  which  fulfil  the  aspirations  of higher education of tribal youth of the region.

During 12th Plan (2012-17) as approved by National Development Council (NDC) the thrust is on consolidation of the higher education system. Expansion would be mainly done by scaling up capacity of the existing institutions in place of setting up new institutions. The Central Government has launched Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) on cost sharing basis to  assist  States  to  open  new  institutions.  Since  'Education'  is  a  concurrent  subject,  State Governments are also taking various initiatives to enhance the access to higher education in the respective States along with other Private Universities/Institutions.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1222 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Petrol from Crop Stubble
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1222 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  JULY, 2017

## PETROL FROM CROP STUBBLE

## 1222. SHRI NANA PATOLE:

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=h

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  devised/proposes  to  divise  a  scheme  to generate  petrol  from  crop  stubble  so  as  to  get  rid  of  the  environmental problems being posed by burning the stubble;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the number of the projects likely to be installed by the Government under the said scheme, State/UT-wise; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  time  prescribed  and  estimated  cost  for  the  said  projects along  with  the  benefits  likely  to  accrue  to  the  farmers  as  well  as  the Government therefrom?

## ANSWER

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Lora= izHkkj½ ¼Jh /kesZUnz iz/kku½

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS  (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

**********

- (a)   to  (d):    The  Government  has  allowed  procurement  of  ethanol  produced from  other  non-food  feedstocks  besides  molasses,  like  cellulosic  and  ligno cellulosic materials including petrochemical route.

Accordingly, Oil PSUs have decided to establish twelve second generation (2G)  Ethanol  bio-refineries  in  11  States  in  the  country.    Oil  PSUs  have  also entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with State Governments and  Technology  Providers  for  setting  up  five  2G  ethanol  bio-refineries. Foundation  Stone  of  one  bio-refinery  has  been  laid  by  Hindustan  Petroleum Corporation Limited on 25.12.2016 at Bathinda, Punjab.

The  financial  outlay  of  these  projects  is  estimated  at  Rs.  800  crore  to Rs.  1000  crore  per  bio-refinery.  Successful  commissioning  of  the  2G  ethanol projects will increase the availability of ethanol for blending with Petrol under EBP  Programme,  which  will  in  turn  help  in  addressing  environment  issues, reduce our dependency on import of crude oil and savings in foreign exchange. Besides, it will also result in generating revenue for farmers for their otherwise waste crop residues.

*****