opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3199 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Emission by Thermal Power Plants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: GAURAV GOGOI, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3199

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.01.2018

## Emission by Thermal Power Plants

## 3199.   SHRI GAURAV GOGOI: SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

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

- (a) whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to clarify its stand on coal based thermal power plants which are causing emission beyond permissible limits;
- (b) if so, the present status of coal based thermal power plants which are causing emission beyond permissible limits;
- (c) whether CPCB has asked various coal based power plants to adopt latest technologies so that emission by such plants across the country is properly checked; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)  and  (b)     The  Hon'ble  National  Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed  to Central  Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to submit a status report regarding Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) in Ganga basin and its tributaries.  The TPPs in the country are required to meet new emission standards notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on 07.12.2015 which came into force from 07.12.2017.  As per available information, 60% of identified 196 GW capacity in respect of independent power producers is in compliance with respect to particulate matter.  With respect to other plants and parameters, a strict timeline has been laid down for compliance in a time-bound manner.  The timelines have been laid down taking into account proximity to habitations, supply side constraints, need to provide access to electricity to around 300 million people who still do not have access to it, combat indoor air pollution and to maintain the overall stability of power supply in the country.  The monitored data  under  National  Air  Quality  Monitoring  Programme  shows  that  in  general  the  ambient concentration of SO2, NOx are below permissible limits except few locations.

(c) and (d)  The above notification does not lay down any specific technology for controlling the prescribed emissions from TPPs.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Flexi Fund Limit under CSS
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Y. S. AVINASH REDDY, KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3197

To be answered on Friday, January 5, 2018 / Pausha 15, 1939 (Saka) Flexi Fund Limit under CSS

3197. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY: SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA: Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  a  decision  to  increase  the flexi fund limit of the States to be given under Centrally Sponsored Schemes from 10 per cent to 25 per cent; and (b) if so, the details thereof

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI P. RADHAKRISHNAN)

NITI Aayog vide its O.M. No. O-11013/02/2015-CSS & CMC dated 17th August, 2016 has issued instruction for Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS). As per para 6 of the said OM, flexi-funds available in each CSS has been raised from the current level of 10% to 25% for States, and 30% for UTs, of the overall annual allocation under  each  scheme.  Guidelines  for  Flexi-Funds  within  Centrally Sponsored  Schemes  was  issued  by  DoE  vide  O.M.  dated  6th September 2016.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 3196 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: ATMs
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: JAGDAMBIKA PAL, PINAKI MISRA, RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA

TO BE ANSWERED ON 5th JANUARY 2018 (FRIDA YYPAUSHA 15. 1939 (SAKA)

## UN-STARRED QUESTION No. 3196

ATMs

## 3196. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: SHRI PINAKI MISRA: SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- whether the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of' many Public and Private Sector Banks (PSBs) across the country have either depleted shut down due to non-availability of higher denomination currency notes after demonetisation;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- the   action taken the Government sort out these issues and make these ATMs functional: by
- whether the Government received complaints regarding the shortage of lower denomination notes in ATMs due to which are at times unable t0 desired amount from their ATMs. if so. the details thereof: and people get
- the steps taken being taken by the Government t0 provide a proper and balanced flow of lower denomination notes from ATMs?

## Answer

## The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance

## (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) & (b) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) informed that due to changes in the sizes of new design notes: recalibration 2 Jakh ATMs was carried out in a mission mode. After recalibration of ATMs the dispensation has been as usual.

Requirement of currency notes is monitored continuously by RBL and adequate currency noles are being supplied to meet the requirement:

(d) & (e RBI has informed that nearly 48% of the total currency notes supplied since April 01 2017 are lower denomination notes. Denomination-wise requirement of currency notes is monitored continuously by RBL and accordingly, indent of currency notes is revised as per requirement   Moreover; new denomination notes of Rs: 200/- have been introduced t0 ensure balance in required denomination-mix of currency notes t0 public: being

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3194 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Growth of Bank Credit
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKAR, M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3194

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5 TH  JANUARY 2018/ PAUSHA 15, 1939 (SAKA)

## Growth of Bank Credit

## 3194. SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER: SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a)   whether there has been a multi decadal decline in the growth of bank credit in the current financial year, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

- (b)   whether the bank credit growth has hit a low on the back of bad loans in previous years of 2015 and 2017 and turning into Non-Performing Assets, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether there is no statistics or standard base on which the situation has improved or deteriorated, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d)   whether this decline has impacted the private investment in the economy, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)      the  steps  taken  by  the  Government to step  up bank credit growth apart from the recapitalisation bonds along with the action taken against the bank officials with regard to NPAs?

## ANSWER

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a)  to  (d):  As  per  the  Financial  Stability  Report,  published  by  the  Reserve  Bank  of  India  (RBI)  in December 2017, credit growth of Scheduled Commercial Banks increased from 4.4 per cent to  6.2 per cent between March 2017 and September 2017 on year-on-year basis, and credit growth of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) increased from 0.7 per cent to 2.2 per cent during the same period reversing the declining trend observed during the past two years.

(e):  RBI  and  Government  have  taken  various  steps  to  address  the  stress  situation  in  banks  and  enable higher banks credit growth. These include:

- i. Elaborate regulatory guidelines for management of asset quality in banks;
- ii. A  framework  of  Prompt  Corrective  Action  (PCA)  to  monitor  bank's  position  so  as  to  take appropriate supervisory action;
- iii. Guidelines on bank frauds, with Early Warning Signals and Red Flagged Accounts, to strengthen the fraud identification and monitoring framework;
- iv. Enactment of  the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 to improve the recovery environment;
- v. Amendment to the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 for authorizing RBI to direct banks to resolve specific  stressed  assets  by  initiating  the  insolvency  resolution  process,  and  empowering  RBI  to issue other directions for resolution of stressed accounts.

In case of accounts categorised as NPAs, PSBs carry out a staff accountability exercise, as prescribed in the Central Vigilance Commission Manual, and action is taken as per applicable regulations or provisions.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Savings under DBT Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3188

Friday, January 05, 2018/Pausha 15, 1939 (Saka)

Savings under DBT Scheme

3188. SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of schemes covered under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme along with the savings to the Government under the different schemes owing to the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme; and

(b) the names of the schemes that are being considered for a Direct Benefit Transfer?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI P. RADHAKRISHNAN)

- (a) and (b): As on date, 409 schemes from 56 Ministries/ Departments  are  being  implemented  under  DBT.  The  list  of  these schemes is available on https://dbtbharat.gov.in. Ministries/ Departments  have  estimated  and  reported  savings  due  to  DBT implementation  of  schemes  as  a  result  of  elimination  of  ghost beneficiaries, de-duplication etc. in these schemes.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 3186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Shell Companies
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3186 ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 05 th  JANUARY, 2018 [PAUSHA 15, 1939 (SAKA)]

## SHELL COMPANIES

## QUESTION

3186. SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the Government's policy towards dealing with the shell companies of the country;
- (b) the number of shell companies have been found during the last five years and the current year; and
- whether the Government has taken any steps against any of
- (c) them and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE     (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY) AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS

(a) to (c): The  term  'Shell  Company'  is  not  defined  under  the Companies  Act.    However,  Registrars  of  Companies  (RoCs)  have identified 2.97 lakh companies during 2017-18 which were not filing their Financial Statements or Annual Returns for a continuous period of two or more financial years and, prima facie, were not conducting any business or in operation.  Out of such identified companies, RoCs have  removed  the  names  of  2,26,166  such  companies  as  on 19.12.2017 from the Register of Companies after following the due process under Section 248 of the Companies Act, 2013.

- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3182 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: CSR Funds Allocated by Private Companies and PSUs
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: R.P. MARUTHARAJAA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3182

ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 05TH JANUARY, 2018 PAUSHA 15, 1939 (SAKA)

## CSR FUNDS ALLOCATED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES AND PSUs QUESTION

3182. SHRI R. P. MARUTHARAJAA: Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

कारपोरेट कार्य मंत्री

- (a)  whether the private companies and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in Tamil Nadu have allocated and spent funds under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards community infrastructure development programmes;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  private  companies  and  PSUs  in  the  areas  in  and  around Perambalur District of Tamil Nadu have also spent their CSR funds for the said purpose as per the Companies Act, 2013 containing the CSR provision under Section 135 Schedule VII of the Act; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS                                                (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)

विधि और न्र्ार् एिं कारपोरेट कार्य मंत्रालर् में राज्र् मंत्री

(

श्री पी॰ पी॰ चौिरी )

- (a)  &  (b):  Corporate  Social  Responsibility  (CSR)  expenditure  made  by  the companies is as per activities enlisted in the Schedule VII of the Companies Act,  2013.    The  total  expenditure  on  CSR  reported  by  companies  having registered offices in Tamil Nadu for the year 2015-16, as per filings made by companies in the MCA21 registry till 31.03.2017, is Rs. 671.06 crore. Of the reported expenditure, the CSR expenditure made by the companies in state of Tamil Nadu is at Annexure.

## (c)  &  (d):  CSR  expenditure  of  companies  in  and  around  a  district  is  not maintained by the Ministry.

- *******

ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3182 CSR expenditure in the state of Tamil Nadu for year 2015-16

| Sl. No.   | Company Type   | Financial Year 2015-16                                   | Financial Year 2015-16         |
|-----------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|           |                | No. of companies which have reported any CSR expenditure | CSR expenditure (in Rs. crore) |
| 1         | PSUs           | 381                                                      | 297.17                         |
| 2         | Private        | 14                                                       | 84.67                          |
|           | Total          | 395                                                      | 381.84                         |

Note:  -  The  above  figures  do  not  include  CSR  expenditure  reported  by companies against projects/programmes executed on an 'All India' basis, and for which state-wise expenditure figures are not available.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Silicosis
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: HARISH CHANDRA MEENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RE SEARCH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3181 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH JANUARY, 2018

## SILICOSIS

## 3181. SHRI HARISH MEENA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of steps taken to effectively treat and mitigate the disease burden of silicosis in affected areas;
- (b) whether the Government plans to create a national programme on elimination of silicosis on the lines of National Tuberculosis Control Programme;
- (c) if so, the time by which it is likely to be implemented;
- (d) if not, the other measures taken to combat silicosis; and
- (e) the recommendations of National Hum n Rights Commission on aspects of Silicosis?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a): Study has been undertaken in silicosis affected areas in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat Rajasthan, involved in the fields of slate pencils cutting units, agate grin di g units, ceramic and pottery units and stone quarries. Concerned State Labour Departments have been advised to steps of shifting of smaller cottage units from residential areas to isolated place, use to  collect  dust  instead  of  libera ting  it  in  the  ambient  air,  use  of  good  quality  face  mask workers & periodical medical check - up.
- (b) to (d): Guidelines  have  been  laid  for  screening  and  testing  of  occupational  high groups including silicosis. Trainings and sensitization have been organised by the States under States' Programme implementation plan.
- (e): In  its  report  on  Silicosis,  the  National  Human  Rights  Commission  suggested  vari changes in the existing legislations to effectively enforce the provisions of several l for ensuring welfare and protection of workers.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3180 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Money Laundering
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 3180

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 5TH JANUARY, 2018 PAUSHA 15,1939 (SAKA)

## Money Laundering

## 3180. SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Financial Action Taken Force has submitted its report on various issues including money laundering;
- (b) if so, the details of the said report and the action taken by the Government thereon;
- (c) whether the domestic   agencies have started investigation with foreign agencies on the basis of the said report; and along
- (d) if so, the details thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) & (b) The Mutual Evaluation Report of India prepared and published by Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had made some recommendations in respect of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to make the Acts more compliant with the international Anti-Money Laundering/Combating of Financing of Terrorism (AMLICFT) standards. To strengthen the regulatory and law  enforcement intelligence system, improving   compliance by the regulatory entities and  making handling the new evolving threats, the Prevention of Money-laundering Act; 2002 was amended in 2012 and in 2015 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 was amended in 2012 The FATF recognised   that India had made  significant progress in addressing deficiencies identified in its mutual evaluation report and decided that the country should be removed from the regular follow-up process.

- (c) Information from foreign agencies is sought and given on need basis , on basis of Mutual agreements or Multilateral agreements. This is an ongoing process.
- (d) Not applicable.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3179 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Solar Powered Fencing
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAM SWAROOP SHARMA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3179

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.01.2018

## Solar Powered Fencing

## 3179.   SHRI RAM SWAROOP SHARMA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  erect  solar  powered  fencing  in  the  country particularly in Himachal Pradesh for protection of crops of farmers from animals; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) and (b) No Madam. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change does not  have  any  specific  proposal  for  solar  powered  fencing  in  the  farmers  field  for protection of crops of farmers from animals.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3177 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Vacant Posts of Environmental Scientists
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: GANESH SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3177

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.01.2018

## Vacant Posts of Environmental Scientists

## 3177.  SHRI GANESH SINGH

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

- (a) whether a large number of environmental scientist posts are lying vacant throughout the country since 2014;
- (b) if  so,  the  post-wise  and  category-wise  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of permanent scientist at present;
- (c) whether  reservation  has  been  given  in  the  Environmental  Science/Studies  subject which is considered for the scientist posts in the Government;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  immediate  steps  to  fill  up  vacancies  of permanent scientist and if so, the details thereof ?'

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e):  There are 99 sanctioned posts of Scientists in various grades in the Ministry  (Main),  out  of  which  84  are  filled  up  at  present.    Pre-appointment  formalities  in respect of 03 posts have already been initiated while the  recruitment process in respect of remaining 12 posts has also started. In accordance with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and  Climate  Change,  Scientific  Group  'A'  Posts  Recruitment  Rules,  2015,    the  specific discipline  of  educational  qualification  in  the  area  of  environment,  forestry  and  wildlife  is decided by the competent authority keeping in view the requirement of the Ministry.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Change in the Lending and Deposit Rates
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA

## LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY  OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT  OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3176

TO BE ANSWERED  ON THE 5 TH  JANUARY  2018/ PAUSHA  15, 1939 (SAKA)

## Change in the Lending and Deposit Rates

## 3176.  SHRI R. DHRUVA  NARAYANA:

Will  the Minister  of FINANCE  be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  the Government  proposes to change the lending  and deposit  rates of the Banks to counter  the growing  inflation;
- (b)     if so, the details  thereof  and if not,  the reasons  therefor;  and
- (c)  the steps take/being  taken  by  the Government  in this  regard?

## ANSWER

The Minister  of State in the Ministry  of Finance (SHRI SHIV PRATAP  SHUKLA)

(a)  to  (c):  Interest   rates  on  advances   and  deposits   are  subject   to  directions   issued  by   the Reserve  Bank of India (RBI) under the provisions  of the Banking  Regulation  Act,  1949. As per RBI's directions,  the rates in respect of Scheduled  Commercial Banks shall  be as per the interest   rate   policy   approved   by   the  Board  of  Directors   (or  any   Board  committee  to  which powers  have been delegated)  of the bank  concerned,  subject  to RBI guidelines  in this  regard. *******