opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3533 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Ban on Import of Sugar
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3533

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  AUGUST, 2017

## BAN ON IMPORT OF SUGAR

## 3533.   ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

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 it is true that the Government is considering to impose a ban on import of sugar as the farmers were agitating against or opposing import of sugar;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also true that at the same time the sugar prices have increased manifold due to shortage of sugar; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof ?

## A N S W E R

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

- (a) &(b): Import of sugar in the country is regulated through imposition of appropriate  tariff rate/duty  which is determined  after taking into account the  domestic  availability,  demand  and  prices  of  sugar  in  domestic  and international  markets.  There  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  of  the Government to ban the import of sugar.
- (c) & (d): Taking  into  account  the  sugar  production  of  current  sugar season and the carryover stock of 77 LMT, there is sufficient availability of sugar  to  meet  the  domestic  demand.  However,  regional  imbalance  in availability  of  sugar  has  resulted  in  marginal  increase  in  sugar  prices  in recent months. The All India average ex-mill prices of sugar which were in the  range  of  Rs.3589-3637/  quintal  few  months  back  are  presently  at Rs.3676-3735/quintal.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3530 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Hard Area Allowances
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3530

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 th  AUGUST, 2017/ SHRAVANA 17, 1939 (SAKA)

HARD AREA ALLOWANCES

3530. SHRI OM BIRLA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  personnel  of  the  Central  Armed  Police Forces (CAPF) are unfairly treated as compared to their counterparts in the Armed Forces which may lead to an adverse impact on the morale of the Forces;

(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to bring parity between CAPF and Army;

(c) whether the Government proposes to grant hard area allowance on the basis of geographical and climatic conditions of the area of deployment;

(d)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  also  proposes  to  make  it  uniform  for security personnel of all the forces, be it CAPFs or Army; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) & (b) There  can  be  no  one  to  one  comparison  between  CAPFs  and Army,  as  the  CAPFs  and  Army  personnel  are  governed  by  different  set  of rules and service conditions.

(c) to (e) The  government  have  accepted  the  recommendations  of  7 th Central  Pay commission  (CPC)  on  various allowances  to be applied uniformly  for  Defence  and  CAPF  personnel.  These  allowances,  inter  alia, include Risk & Hardship Allowances, Additional Free Railway Warrant/LTC, Dress Allowance, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3529 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Ban on Diesel Cars
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3529 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2017

## Ban on Diesel Cars

3529. SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

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

- (a) whether the demand and sale of diesel cars have declined due to a recent ban ordered by NGT on diesel cars of more than ten years old;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the reaction of the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether the Government has received representations from car manufacturers in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers(SIAM) has intimated that decline in sale of diesel cars due to  the recent ban ordered by National Green Tribunal(NGT) on diesel cars of more than 10 years old is one of the reasons for decline in the sale of diesel cars vs Gasoline cars. Figures of diesel cars sales vs Gasoline car sales before and after the NGT ban are as per the table  below:
- (c): Government  has  always  taken  the  stand  in  various  affidavits  submitted  before  National Green Tribunal (NGT) that all fuels are equal and have separate emission footprint.
- (d):  No Madam, the Government has not received representations from car manufacturers in this regard.

|                                 | Fuel wise sales Percentage in Domestic Sales   | Fuel wise sales Percentage in Domestic Sales   | Fuel wise sales Percentage in Domestic Sales   | Fuel wise sales Percentage in Domestic Sales   | Fuel wise sales Percentage in Domestic Sales   |
|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Segment/Sub-segment             | 2012-13                                        | 2013-14                                        | 2014-15                                        | 2015-16                                        | 2016-17                                        |
| %of Diesel Cars in Total Cars   | 47                                             | 42                                             | 37                                             | 34                                             | 27                                             |
| %of Gasoline Cars in Total Cars | 53                                             | 58                                             | 63                                             | 66                                             | 73                                             |

- (e): Does not arise in view of (d) above.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3528 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Low Cost Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KRISHN PRATAP SINGH

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3528

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH   AUGUST, 2017

## LOW COST FARMING

3528.  DR. KRISHAN PRATAP:

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

- (a) whether the agriculture is a main source of income and livelihood for the rural people and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether majority of illiterate farmers could not succeed in low cost farming and are still using old methods of farming; and
- (c) the details of the measures taken to impart training to the illiterate farmers for adopting modern techniques/inputs to obtain better yield?

## 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) & (b): As per the 'Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households' conducted by  National  Sample  Survey  Office  (NSSO)  during  its  70 th round  (January  2013-December 2013),  agricultural  households  constitute  about  58  per  cent  of  the  total  estimated  rural households in the country. Further, as per the survey results, about 41 per cent of the farmers, who  were  engaged  in  agriculture  and  allied  activities  either  in  principal  status  or  subsidiary status, were estimated to be illiterate. However, the details of number of illiterate farmers who could  not  succeed  in  low  cost  farming  and  are  still  using  old  methods  of  farming  are  not estimated in the survey.
- (c): With  a  view  to  propagate  improved  crop  production  technologies  in  the  country, Government  is  implementing  various  crop  development  schemes  and  programmes,  viz., National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY),  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture (MIDH), Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), etc. Government has also set up 680  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  and  652  Agricultural  Technology  Management  Agencies (ATMAs) at district level for dissemination of technologies among farm community.

In  addition,  farmers  are  provided  information  through  Focused  Publicity  Campaigns, Kisan Call Centres (KCCs), Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (ACABC) of entrepreneurs, Agri Fairs and exhibitions, Kisan SMS Portal, etc.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3527 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Review of Government Agencies
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3527

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08, AUGUST, 2017 / SHRAVANA 17, 1939 (SAKA) REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

†3527. SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  encourages  various  agencies engaged in border security, internal security, anti-naxal activities and relief work by reviewing them.

(b)  whether  the  Government  organises  various  social  activities  other  than welfare programmes like free medical camps; and

(c)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  encourages  the  agencies  for organising social events from time to time?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)  to  (c):  Civic  Action  Programmes  (CAPs)  are  carried  out  in  border  and militancy/naxal infested area to act as a bridge between the security force and the local people.

Various social activities other than welfare programmes carried out under CAP are like development of village infrastructure,  distribution  of  teaching aids, sports items etc., multi skills development training in tailoring/embroidery etc. including vocational training, pre-recruitment training for government jobs, sports activities, Bharat Darshan Tour, assisting  Divyang  Jan  (Handicaps),  counseling on sanitization and hygiene. Funds are allocated for civic action plans.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3524 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Meditech Parks
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: PARESH RAWAL, DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3524

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08 th  August, 2017

## Meditech Parks

3524. SHRI PARESH RAVAL: SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposal from the State Governments for assistance to develop/ establish Meditech Parks;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  proposals  received  in  this  regard  and  the  status  of  these proposals, State-wise;
- (c)  whether  there  is  any  policy/scheme  for  assistance  to  promote/establish  Meditech Parks in the States and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  if  not,  whether  there  is  any  plan/  proposal  to  declare  scheme  of  assistance  for promotion of Meditech Parks?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY  OF  SHIPPING  AND  MINISTRY  OF  CHEMICALS  AND  FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (d): Proposals for assistance for setting up of Medical Device Parks from the State Governments of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were received. The State Government of Gujarat  requested  in-principle  approval  and  financial  assistance.  Central  Government has informed the State Government of Gujarat that no in-principle approval is required. State Government of Andhra Pradesh had also requested a grant of INR 75 Crores for setting up Common Facilities in the Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone being established in Visakhapatnam. Government has a proposal for a ' Scheme for Financial Assistance to Common  Facility  Centers  (CFCs) ' under  the  umbrella  scheme  for ' Development  of Pharmaceuticals Industry ' .  However, no budget allocation has yet been made for  the proposed scheme.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: CAPART Projects in Drought Affected Areas
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: NARAMALLI SIVAPRASAD

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3522

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH   AUGUST, 2017

## CAPART PROJECTS IN DROUGHT AFFECTED AREAS

3522.   DR. NARAMALLI SIVA PRASAD:

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

- (a) the  details  of  the  projects  received  and  approved  by  CAPART  in  the  drought  affected areas of the country during each of the last three years and the current year including Chittoor region of Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the time by which the remaining projects are likely to be cleared;
- (c) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  and  released  to  the  Voluntary  Organisations  for  the projects during the said period; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  increase  the  allocation  of  projects  to  the voluntary organisations for the drought mitigation, if so, the details thereof?

## 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 (d): No funds have been allocated by CAPART to NGOs during the last three years and current year, as funding to NGOs by CAPART is kept under abeyance since September, 2010, as intimated by the Department of Rural Development.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3519 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Foodgrain Storage Capacity
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3519 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  AUGUST, 2017

## FOODGRAIN STORAGE CAPACITY

## 3519. DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

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 aware that every year huge quantum of foodgrains gets ruined due to insufficient storage capacity in the country;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  names  of  those  States  which  have  more  foodgrains  storage capacity than their requirement at present;
- (d) whether  additional  storage  capacity  in  some  of  the  States  has become a cause of concern and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the corrective steps taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a):    No,  Madam.  No  damage  of  foodgrains  has  been  reported  due  to insufficient storage capacity.

On the basis of peak stock requirement during procurement season, the overall storage capacity required in the country is about 600 Lakh MT. Against this, the total capacity available with Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Agencies for storage of foodgrains as on 30.06.2017 was 794.48 Lakh  MT.  Thus  on  the  overall,  there  is  sufficient  capacity  for  storage  of foodgrains in the country.

- (b):
- Does not arise.
- (c): Total storage capacity available is as per requirement. The utilization  of  storage  capacity  depends  upon  the  level  of  procurement, movement of foodgrains etc. and may differ from time to time. In procuring regions,  the  capacity  utilization  is  maximum  when  procurement  operations are going on but, subsequently, the stock is moved to deficit regions.  This leads to liquidation of stock and the utilization of capacity also goes down hence, the capacity temporarily becomes surplus at micro level but overall, i.e., at macro level, the capacity with FCI is as per requirement.
- (d):
- No such issues have been reported.
- (e): Does not arise.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3517 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Disposal of e-Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3517

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2017

## Disposal of e-Waste

## 3517. SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that huge amount of toxic e-waste of disposable nature is being stored in all the power firms across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has asked the power firms to dispose off the e-wastes without damaging the environment; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of power firms thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) & (b) Information is not available about the storage of toxic E-waste of disposable nature by the power firms in the country with the Ministry. Nevertheless power generating units have deployment of electronic and electrical equipment of various vintage which would attain end-of-life and turn into e-waste. As per extant provisions of E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016, all the power firms being bulk  consumers  of  electronic  and  electrical  equipment  are  obliged  to  dispose  of  e-waste  in  the prescribed  manner  by  handing  over  to  authorized  collection  centers  only.  In  pursuance  of  the directions of National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have jointly inspected twenty installations of power distribution  companies  and  reported  non  availability  of  any  stock  of  e-waste  except  at  Tata  Power Delhi Distribution Limited, Mangolpuri.

(c) & (d) The Government has not issued any specific directions to power firms to dispose of the ewaste.  However,  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016  were  notified  in  March,  2016  for  providing environmentally  sound  systems  for  disposal  of  e-waste.  The  provisions  of  these  Rules  include dedicated extended producers' responsibility (EPR), setting up of producer responsibility organizations  and  e-waste  exchanges  to  facilitate  collection  and  recycling,  assigning  specific responsibility  to  bulk  consumers  of  electronic  products  for  safe  disposal,  providing  for  economic incentives  for  collection  of  electronic  waste,  and  other  measures  which  include  responsibility  of producers of electronic and electrical products for collection and channelizing of electronic waste. The power firms are the bulk consumers of the electrical and electronic equipments. As per the provisions of  the  E-Waste management Rules, 2016 such companies are required to maintain records and file annual report to the concerned State Pollution Control Boards.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3516 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Clearance for Airports
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY, RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3516

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2017

## Clearance for Airports

## 3516.     SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA: SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received proposals for environmental clearance for Shamshabad and Sabarimala Airports;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the time by which the environmental clearance is likely to be granted?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a)  to  (c)  The  Ministry  has  granted  environmental  clearance  to  the  project  for  Expansion  of  Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Village Shamshabad, Hyderabad, Telangana in favour of M/s Hyderabad International  Airport  Limited  on  28 th July,  2017  in  terms  of  the  Environment  Impact  Assessment Notification, 2006 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. No proposal for consideration of the environmental clearance for Sabarimala Airport has been received in the Ministry so far.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Afforestation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MEENAKASHI LEKHI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3515

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2017

## Afforestation

## 3515.  SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI :

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

- (a) whether any afforestation has been carried out by  the Government to compensate  for  the  number  of  trees  being  cut  down  for  the  various Government/private projects; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)&(b) Yes, Madam.  So  far,  compensatory  afforestation  has  been  carried out  over an area of 7,50,000  ha to in lieu of  diversion of forest land for development projects.

***