opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1113 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Desalination of Water in Coastal Areas
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1113

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## DESALINATION OF WATER IN COASTAL AREAS

## 1113.   SHRI ARVIND SAWANT:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  is contemplating to set up some  more  plants  for desalination of water in the country particularly in the coastal areas of Maharashtra;
- (b) if so, the details of the cities selected / identified for this purpose;
- (c) the capacity of each of these proposed plants alongwith the amount likely to be spent on setting up of these plants; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government so far in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b)   Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is putting up a 5000 cubic meter per day (5.0 MLD) seawater desalination plant in Odisha's coastal district of Ganjam, adjacent to Gopalpur through MoU mode between Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a Public Sector Undertaking under DAE.   A 6300  cubic  meter  per  day  (6.3  MLD)  Nuclear  Seawater  Desalination  plant  has already been commissioned and is in operation at Kalpakkam, Chennai along Bay of Bengal in IGCAR, DAE premises which is in operation since 2002 and now also is  in  operation  at  designed  capacity  and  availability  factor.    The  site  at  Ganjam District, Odisha has been considered since it is located on the coast line of Bay of Bengal (only 750 meters away from shore line) and a drought prone zone facing acute water shortage.  There is no proposal at present to set up desalination plant in coastal area of Maharashtra.
- (c) Capacity of the plant at Odisha is 5000 m3/day (5.0 MLD) at a cost of Rs.112.90 crore.
- (d) Necessary financial sanction of Rs.112.90 crore has been issued by the Government for the OSCOM plant. All the statutory clearances, namely, OSPCB (Odisha  State  Pollution  Control  Board),  MoEF-CRZ  (Ministry  of  Environment  & Forests-  Coastal  Regulation  Zone),  and  AERB  (Atomic  Energy  regulatory  Board) are obtained and MoU between BARC and IREL has been signed.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1112 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Industry Built Spacecraft
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

## & (b)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1112

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 INDUSTRY BUILT SPACECRAFT

## 1112.   SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether ISRO has roped in a consortium of six companies to deliver the country's first industry built spacecraft;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the first spacecraft will be brought out in around nine months; and
- (d)

## (a)

No Madam. ISRO has not engaged industry to build a spacecraft.  However,  ISRO  is  involving  a  consortium  of  6 industries  only  for  Assembly,  Integration  and  Testing  (AIT)  of two similar satellites, wherein the sub-systems and infrastructure  is  being  provided  by  ISRO.  The  AIT  of  the  first

- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

satellite will be carried out by a joint team of ISRO & Industry and of the second satellite by industry team independently.

(c) Yes Madam.

(d) The AIT activities are planned to be realised with respect to a navigation satellite 'IRNSS-1H' of Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Indians Evacuated from War-Torn States
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SANJAY JAISWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1110 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## INDIANS EVACUATED FROM WAR-TORN STATES

1110. DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  Indians  who  have  been  evacuated  from  the  war-torn States of middle eastern region over the past one year;
- (b) whether  any  foreign  nationals  were  also  evacuated  by  the  Indian Government;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d)     whether the Government has received acknowledgement from foreign countries for helping their nationals and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of other humanitarian efforts taken by the Government to extend support to the peoples of these war-torn nations?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) As  per  available  information,  31  Indians  were  evacuated/  repatriated from  the  Yemen  in  the  West  Asia  region;  65  Indians  from  Libya  and  153 Indians from South Sudan in the North Africa region over the past one year.
- (b) to (d) 2  Nepalese  nationals  were  evacuated  along  with  the  Indian nationals  from  South  Sudan  in  the  North  Africa  region  last  year.  Besides, India  assisted  1,962  foreign  nationals  of  48  countries  in  evacuation  from Yemen  during  March-April,  2015.  The  assistance  extended  by  India  in facilitating the return of these foreign nationals received deep appreciation and acknowledgement by the international community and foreign governments.
- (e) The  Government attaches  the  highest  priority  to  the  safety,  security and  welfare  of  Indians  in  foreign  countries  and  continues  to  keep  a  close watch on developments in these countries and issues advisories whenever required. Indian Missions and Posts abroad also render all possible consular assistance  to  the  Indian  nationals,  including  emergency  medical  care, facilitating boarding and lodging for those in distress, air passages to those stranded, repatriation of mortal remains, initial legal assistance in deserving cases, in conflict torn countries.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1109 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: New Trains from New Delhi to Assam
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1109 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## NEW TRAINS FROM NEW DELHI TO ASSAM

1109. SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Railways  proposes  to  ply  new  trains  from  Assam and New Delhi;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Railways is planning to extend North East Express to  New  Delhi  railway  station  because  it  is  departing  from  Anand Vihar Railway Station; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) & (b) No, Madam.  The State of Assam is presently connected to Delhi  area  by  03  pair  of  Rajdhani  Express  trains  and  08  pair  of mail/express trains which are considered adequate for the present level  of  traffic.    Introduction  of  new  trains  is  an  ongoing  process over Indian Railways and is done keeping in view the traffic pattern, operational  feasibility,  resource  availability,  competing  demands etc.

(c)  &  (d)  No,  Madam.    Extension  of  12505/12506  Guwahati-Anand Vihar  (T)  North  East  Express  from  Anand  Vihar  (T)  to  New  Delhi station is operationally not feasible, at present.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1108 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Compassionate Appointments
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1108

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017)

## COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENTS

## 1108. SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  offers  compassionate  appointments  to  family  or  close relatives of its employees in special circumstances such as untimely death etc.;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the criteria behind allowing a particular number/percentage of compassionate appointments; and
- (d) the details of compassionate appointments made by the Government during the last three years, department-wise?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office. (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a)  &  (b):    Yes  Madam.  The  guidelines  for  making  compassionate appointment  have  been laid  down  in  the  Department  of  Personnel  &  Training  OM  No.  14014/6/94-Estt.(D)  dated 09.10.1998  as amended  from  time  to  time. All the instructions  on  compassionate appointment have been consolidated vide the Department of Personnel & Training OM No. 14014/2/2012-Estt.(D) dated 16.01.2013.

(c):  The decision for prescribing criteria of upto a maximum of 5% vacancies falling under direct  recruitment  quota  in  a  year  in  any  Group  'C'  and  Group  'D'  (erstwhile)  posts  for making  compassionate  appointments  is  contained in  the  Department  of  Personnel  & Training's Office Memorandum No. 14014/6/95-Estt.(D) dated 26.09.1995 (copy enclosed).

In the case of Umesh Kumar Nagpal vs. State of Haryana and others [JT 1994(3) S.C. 525], the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dated May 4, 1994 has observed that as a rule, appointments  in  public  services  should  be  made  strictly  on  the  basis  of  open  invitation  of applications  and  merit.    However,  there  are  some  exceptions  which  are  carved  out  in  the interest  of  justice  and  to  meet  certain  contingencies.    Compassionate  Appointments  is  one such exception.

(d):  The  Department  of  Personnel  and  Training  lays  down  the  policy  of  compassionate appointment which is implemented by the Ministries/Departments.  The details regarding the cases under consideration for compassionate appointments in the respective Ministries/Departments and those already made by them is not centrally maintained.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1107 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Extension of Trains from Gujarat
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN, CHANDRAKANT RAGHUNATH PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1107 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## EXTENSION OF TRAINS FROM GUJARAT

1107.  SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN: SHRI C.R. PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has  received various proposals for starting  new  trains  and  extension  of  trains  forwarded  by  Gujarat Government  from  time  to  time  starting  from  February,  2010  till August, 2014; and
- (b)   if so, the action taken in this regard, proposal-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b)  Representations  for  running  of  new  trains  and  increase  in frequency  are  received  at  various  levels  of  Railways'  administration viz.  station,  Divisional  level,  Zonal  level  and  Railway  Board's  level,  a compendium of which is not maintained. However, these demands are examined and action as found feasible and justified, is taken, subject to traffic demand, operational feasibility and availability of resources
- etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1106 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Twitter Seva Service
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1106 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## TWITTER SEVA SERVICE

## 1106. SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched any centralized grievance redressal mechanism through 'Twitter Seva Service'; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the salient features of the same?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) Yes. The 'Twitter Seva Service' was formally launched on 23  December  2016  by  the  Ministry  of  External  Affairs  in  order  to institutionalize engagement on social media and to ensure that help reaches to all those who need it.  It is a part of that engagement in order to harness the power of technology for creative uses within the Ministry.  This  application  is  able  to  track  grievances,  concerns, complaints and other issues, and thereafter filter them according to categories. Specific tickets are raised on the application and redirected to the concerned official who handles the grievance or the issue concerned, and responds either on Twitter or offline.

The 'Twitter Seva Service' would  be a way  of formally institutionalizing a grievance redressal mechanism via Twitter rather than  having  one  individual  respond  to  every  complaint  or  issue manually.  It provides a dashboard and a general framework to assess complaints  and  to  provide  feedback  not  just  from  one  source,  but from multiple sources and to thousands of citizens. With the launch of this  Service,  Twitter  has  plugged  the  key  twitter  handles  of  this Ministry  which  includes  @MEAQuery,  @MEAIndia,  @CPVIndia  and @passportsevamea  in  addition  to  the  Twitter  handles  of  all  the  38 Regional Passport Offices and the Missions and Posts abroad into a custom based application.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1104 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Delay in Construction of Overbridge
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1104 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION OF OVERBRIDGE

## † 1104. SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for delay in the construction of railway overbridge on the main road from Rama Devi crossing to Jhakar Patti Bus Stand in Kanpur;
- (b) the time by which it will be constructed; and
- (c)
- the date of its start and the targeted date of its completion?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c) Work of construction of 4 lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) in lieu of level crossing in question was  sanctioned. Work  of construction of Railway portion of 2 lane ROB was completed in the year  2011-12.    Since  State  Government  did  not  take  up  the approach  work,  Railway  portion  was  also  not  constructed  for remaining 2 lane of ROB.  State Government has now started the work  and  work  of  Railway  portion  has  also  been  started  in September'2015.  Efforts  will  be  made  to  complete  the  work  of construction of Railway portion of ROB alongwith that of approaches by the State Government .

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Increasing Frequency of Trains from Gujarat
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: VINOD CHAVDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1103 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## INCREASING FREQUENCY OF TRAINS FROM GUJARAT

- † 1103.  SHRI VINOD LAKHAMASHI CHAVDA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways proposes to increase trips of trains from Bhuj and Kutch, Gujarat to South India and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether any representations have been received by the Railways for introducing new trains from Kutch; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b)  &  (c)  Representations  for  running  of  new  trains  are  received  at various levels of Railways' administration viz. station, Divisional level, Zonal level and Railway Board's level, a compendium of which is not maintained.  However,  these  demands  are  examined  and  action  as found  feasible  and  justified,  is  taken,  subject  to  traffic  demand,
- operational feasibility and availability of resources etc.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1102 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Street Vending Act, 2014
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN  POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Asked by: NINONG ERING, LAXMAN GILUWA, PRATAPRAO GANPATRAO JADHAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1102

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## STREET VENDING ACT, 2014

No. 1102

SHRI NINONG ERING:

SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

## Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN PROVERTY ALLEVIATION be pleased to state:

- a) the details of the vending zones created under the Protection  of  Livelihood  and  Regulation  of  Street  Vending
2. Act, 2014 State-wise including Delhi;
- b) whether  the  Government  has  developed  techniques  to monitor the number of street vendors in urban areas under the Protection of Livelihood and  Regulation of Street
4. Vending Act, 2014 and if so, the details thereof;
- c) the  amount  of  rent  received  by  the  Government  from  the
6. said zones during the last three years;
- d) whether the Government is not getting the revenue which it
8. should get due to the activities of local bodies and corrupt officers of police and if so, the details thereof; and
- e) the  strategy  prepared  by  the  Government  to  tackle  this revenue loss?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION (RAO INTERJIT SINGH)

- (a):    In  order  to  protect  rights  of  urban  street  vendors  and  to regulate street vending activities, the Government has enacted  the  Street  Vendors  (Protection  of  Livelihood  and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. The Act, inter alia, provides  for  preparation  of  plan  including  determination  of vending zones, restricted vending zones  and  no-vending zones by the Urban Local Bodies/ Local authorities based on local conditions in their respective jurisdictions. The provisions of the Act are being implemented by states in their
- respective territories.
- (b): The Act provides that Town  Vending  Committees  shall conduct a survey of all  existing  street  vendors,  within  their area of jurisdiction every five years.
- (c)  to  (e):  As  per  provisions  of  the  Act,  the  local  authorities  of States/  UTs  may  make  bye-laws  to  provide, inter-alia,  for issues such as regulation of the collection of taxes and fees in the vending zones. No such data on the collection of rent/ fee from the vendors is maintained at the central level.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1101 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: DD and AIR as Corporate Entities
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: R. VANAROJA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1101

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017)

## DD AND AIR AS CORPORATE ENTITIES

1101.  SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the panel of secretaries  has  urged  the  Government  to  make  public broadcasters  Doordarshan  and  All  India  Radio  corporate  entities  to  reduce  their dependence on Government funds and give them elbow room to take decisions;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the move will give the two entities run by Prasar Bharati the much needed flexibility and financial independence on the lines of the BBC: and
- (d) if so, the reactions of the Government on the said panel of secretaries?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING {Col RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}

- (a)  to (d)  the Ministry has not received any  report on the matter .

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1100 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Quality of Food in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT RAGHUNATH PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1100 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## QUALITY OF FOOD IN TRAINS

1100. SHRI C. R. PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  bad  quality  food  is  served  in  the  Express  trains/Rajdhani Express by Private caterers;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to cancel their contract if they fail to provide good quality food as decided at the time of release of tenders and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c):  Improvement of catering services is an on-going process.  In its endeavour  to  provide  quality and  hygienic food to  the  passengers, Railways have developed and operationalized an institutionalized mechanism  for  monitoring  of  quality  and  hygiene  of  catering  services through regular inspections at various levels to address catering complaints.    However,  about  1869  complaints  regarding  poor  quality  of food have been reported on trains during the last year (i.e. 01.01.2016 to 31.12.2016)  on  which  action  has  been  initiated  as  per  extant  provisions depending  on  the  gravity  of  the  lapse.  Penal  action  taken  on  defaulting licensees during this period, inter-alia, includes imposition of fines in 577 cases and warning in 764 cases.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1097 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Semi High Speed Train between Delhi-Mumbai
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI

- (a): Yes,  Madam.
- (b)  to  (d):  Works  for  raising  of  speed  to  160/200  kilometer  per  hour (KMPH) on existing  New  Delhi  -  Mumbai  route  (including  Vadodara  Ahmedabad)  and  on  existing  New  Delhi  -  Howrah  route  (including

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1097 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## SEMI HIGH SPEED TRAIN BETWEEN DELHI-MUMBAI

- +1097.     SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Railways has planned to operate semi high       speed train service between Delhi- Mumbai and Howrah;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  such  service  is likely to be operated;
- (c) the total amount allotted for this purpose and whether the amount allotted is adequate; and
- (d)  if  not,  the  additional  amount  which  would  be  required  along  with the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

Kanpur-Lucknow) have been sanctioned in the Budget  2017-18  at a cost of  ₹ 11188.9  crore  and ₹  6974.5  crore  respectively.  Precise  time  frame  can  be  worked  out after the detailed project report is finalised.