opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1305 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Paris Agreement on Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA, C. MAHENDRAN, JANARDAN MISHRA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1305

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2017

## Paris Agreement on Climate Change

1305.  PROF. PREM SINGHCHANDUMAJRA:

SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Paris  agreement  under  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on Climate Change (UNFCCC)has been ratified by the Government;
- (b) if so, the obligations and duties ofIndia under the 'Nationally determined contributions' along with the funds allocated for climate change action planduring the year 2016-17;
- (c) whether all the major worldpowers viz. USA, UK, France, Germanyetc. have also ratified the UNFCCC and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details regarding all the actionsproposed post Paris agreement and India's commitment to it; and
- (e) whether the Paris agreement on climate change in likely to beaffected with the progress and  failures  of  UN  climate  change  conference  inBonn,  Germany  and  if  so,  the detailsthereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a),  (b)  and  (d)  Government  of  India  ratified  the  Paris  Agreement  under  the  United  Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 2 nd October 2016.Theimplementation period of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) is 2021 - 2030. Therefore, no earmarking of funds has been doneduring 2016-17 for this purpose. India's NDC includes following goals:

- i. To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 level.
- ii. To achieve about 40 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030.
- iii. To  create  an  additional  carbon  sink  of  2.5  to  3  billion  tonnes  of  CO2  equivalent  through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
- iv. Other  goals  pertain  to  sustainable  lifestyles,  adaptation  to  climate  change,  climate  friendly and cleaner development path etc.

(c)  Currently,  197  Parties  (196  States  and  1  regional  economic  integration  organization)  have ratified  the  UNFCCC  and  171  Parties  have  ratified  the  Paris  Agreement  including  USA,  UK, France and Germany. USA has however submitted a written communication to UN SecretaryGeneral stating that it intends to exercise its right to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

(e) The 23 rd Conference of Parties (COP 23) to UNFCCC was held in Bonn, Germany from 6 th to 17 th November 2017.COP 23 made progress on the procedural work related to guidelines/rules/modalities for implementation of Paris Agreement.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1301 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Research on Malaria and Dengue
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: HARINDER SINGH KHALSA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1301 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 2 ND DECEMBER, 2017

## RESEARCH ON MALARIA AND DENGUE

## 1301. SHRI HARINDER SINGH KHALSA:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that in some countries research has been done to produce anti - dengue and sterile mosquitoes to control malaria and dengue;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any research in this direction has been initiated in our country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the steps taken to make use of this research to control the said diseases?

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

- (a) & (b): Yes, Monash University, Australia has developed anti - d ngue mosquito to control dengue. Another technique has been developed by Oxitec Ltd, UK.
- (c) to (e): Yes, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Monash University, Australia for research on dengue
Lok Sabha Question No. 1300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Training programme for Elected Women Representatives
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JANARDAN MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1300

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2017

## TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR ELECTED WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES

1300.   SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA: SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether the Government has recently launched an intensive training programme for Elected Women Representative (EWRs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and master trainers;
- (b)     if so, the details thereof indicating the States which are initially covered under the programme; and
- (c)     the benefits likely to accrue to EWRs along with the number of EWRs likely to be trained through this programme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

- (a)     to (c)   The Government of India has initiated a pilot programme to build the capacities of Elected Women Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions in a phased manner.  Initially, the  State  of  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  Dadra  &  Nagar  Haveli,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Himachal Pradesh,  Jharkhand,  Karnataka,  Kerala,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have been selected for the pilot programme.

The  Programme  aims  to  impart  knowledge  to  the  elected  women  representatives about  the  role  of  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  at  different  levels,  details  about  development schemes and programmes, resources available, participatory planning and asset creation and public  works.  It  also  aims  to  impart  information  and  communication  technology  and leadership  skills  to  the  Elected  Women  Representatives.  These  EWRs  are  envisaged  to ensure the percolation of knowledge, awareness, legal empowerment and serve as catalysts for social change and function as peer facilitators in the field.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Tax Exemption to Charitable Hospitals
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1299

## BEANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE22" DECEMBER\_2QlZ PAUSHA 0L1939 (SAKA)

"Tax Exemption to Charitable Hospitals"

## 1299: SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:-

.

- whether the Government is aware that many charitable hospitals claiming tax exemptions for being & (a) trust do little charity or no charity at all; due to which the Government exchequer is losing charitable very crores of rupees without any benefits and if so, the details thereof ; public
- performance specific definition of 'Charitable' in the Income Tax (IT) Act and  if whether there is no the details thereof ; SO,
- whether the Government is aware the despite measurable parameter existing in the IT Act; tax exemption (c) cannot be denied to such trusts and if the details thereof ; and SO,
- (d) the steps taken by the Government in this regard ?

## ANSWER

## (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

- The C&AG report no. 27 of 2017 on Assessment of Private Hospitals, Nursing Homes/ Medical Clinics/ (a) Research Institutes, Diagnostic Centres, Pathological labs and other Medical agencies/ stores was laid on the table of Parliament on 28.07.2017. As per appendices to the C&AG report; instances of incorrect allowance of exemption under the existing provisions of the Income-tax Act; 1961 ( Act") have been pointed out Out of the cases identified, the C&AG has reported only a few instances of Hospitals run for non-charitable purposes and claiming tax exemption. supplies being
- (b) Section 2 (15) of the Act defines "charitable purpose to include Relief of the pOOr; (ii) Education, (iii) (iv) Medical   relief; (v) Preservation of environment  (including watersheds, forests   and wildlife) and preservation of monuments O objects of artistic or historic interest; and (vi) Advancement of any other cbject of general utility. Hospitals can avail tax exemption under the category of Yoga; public
- (c) & (d) There is a statutory requirement provided in the Act regarding application of incorne by the charitable institution/  trust  for the specified charitable purposes  The primary condition for of held under trust should be applied for charitable purposes in India: Exemption/ Registrations are granted by the competent authorities aS per the relevant provisions of the Act: Wherever instances of violation of provisions  under the Act by any charitable hospital come to notice, it is dealt with appropriately in accordance with the provisions of the Act: grant
Lok Sabha Question No. 1296 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Incomplete Real Estate Projects
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY

1296.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1296 ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 22 ND  DECEMBER, 2017 [PAUSHA 01, 1939 (SAKA)]

## INCOMPLETE REAL ESTATE PROJECTS

## QUESTION

SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS

be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of action being taken by the Government to provide comfort to the homebuyers whose money struck up in the real estate projects;
- (b) the details of number of real estate projects lying incomplete in the country and the number of homebuyers whose money have been stuck in these projects;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  that  the homebuyers are facing difficulty  in  repaying  the  bank  loan  due  to these incomplete real estate projects, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to formulate any policy to protect  the  interests  of  such  homebuyers  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): In order to protect the rights and interests of consumers and promote  uniformity  and  standardisation  of  business  practices  and transactions in the real estate sector, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has enacted the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.
- (b) to (d): The matter is being looked into.
- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1292 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Paradise Paper Leak
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SHARAD BANSODE, PRASUN BANERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

*****

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION No. 1292 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 22 nd  December, 2017/ PAUSHA 01, 1939 (Saka)

## PARADISE PAPER LEAK

1292. ADV. SHARADKUMAR MARUTI BANSODE: SHRI PRASUN BANERJEE :

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  The number of Indians who are currently facing action by the Government   of India on the Paradise Paper leak
- (b)  whether anyone whose name features in the said papers has been cleared  so far by the Indian agencies of any wrongdoing; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with names of persons who have been  cleared?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  On November  6,  2017  and  on  subsequent  dates  the  International Consortium  of Investigative  Journalists  (ICIJ)  and  their  collaborating  newspapers  across  the  world, including Indian Express in India released what they called 'Paradise Papers', containing some details  of  offshore  entities  set  up  by  two  law  firms  M/s  Appleby  and  Asiaciti.  The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a Washington based organization which has reportedly made the revelations pertaining to the Paradise Papers, has put a caveat on its website (www.icij.org) by mentioning that it should not be assumed that  everyone  who  appears  in  the  database  is  involved  in  tax  avoidance  or  evasion  and there  are  legitimate  reasons  to  create  a  company  in  an  offshore  jurisdiction  and  many people declare them to their tax authorities when that is required.

The Government of India has constituted a Multi Agency Group on 6 November 2017, with Chairman CBDT as the convener and members drawn from Income Tax Department, Enforcement  Directorate,  Reserve  Bank  of  India  and  Financial  Intelligence  Unit,  for  a coordinated investigation into these cases.

Later  on  17th  November  ICIJ  publicly  released  a  structured  database  on  its  website www.icij.org containing the list of names of persons and entities relating to India and other countries. The list of Indians is publicly available on the ICIJ website.

- (b) No, sir.
- (c) Does not arise
Lok Sabha Question No. 1290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Scientific Method to Control Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: PRATAPRAO GANPATRAO JADHAV

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 1290 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2017

## Scientific Method to Control Air Pollution

## 1290.   SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

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

- (a)   whether  implementation  of  any  scientific  method  is  being  considered  to  reduce  the continuously increasing level of pollution in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) &(b)  Science  based  approach  forms  basis  of  all  measures  being  undertaken  for control, abatement and mitigation of air pollution in country including metropolitan cities like Delhi and Mumbai. The Government has taken several steps to address air pollution  adopting  the  scientific  approach  which inter  alia, include  notification  of National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards;  setting  up  of  monitoring  network  for assessment  of  ambient  air  quality;  introduction  of  cleaner  /  alternate  fuels  like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blending, launching of National Air Quality index; universalization of BS-IV by 2017; leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards  by  1st  April,  2020;  notification  of  Construction  and  Demolition  Waste Management Rules; banning of burning of biomass; promotion of public transport network;  Pollution  Under  Control  Certificate;  issuance  of  directions  under  Section 18(1)(b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and under Section 5 of  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986;  installation  of  on-line  continuous  (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries; notification of graded response action plan for Delhi and NCR etc.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Proposals from Dental College
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: (SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG)

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1289 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 2 ND DECEMBER, 2017

## PROPOSALS FROM DENTA L COLLEGE

## 1289. DR. RATNA DE (NAG):

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has received  proposals  from  the  dental  and pharmacy  colleges regarding establishment or increase of seats in the current fiscal year;
- (b) if so, the details an d present status thereof;
- (c) the details of the eligibility criteria and plan out lay in this regard; and
- (d) whether any of the said proposals have been disapproved, if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) & (b) : The  Central  Government  receives  applications  for  establishment  of  new  denta colleges or increase of seats as per provisions of the Dentists Act, 19 48 and Regulations made thereunder.  For  the  year  2017 - 18,  based  on  the  recommendations  of  Dental  Council  of  India (DCI), the Ministry has granted approval for establishment of five (5) new dental colleg and two (2) dental colleges have been granted per mission for increase of seats. Two (2) applications for establishment have been disapproved. For the establishment of new Pharmacy College increase  of  seats,  applications  are  received  by  the  Pharmacy  Council  of  India  (PCI processed as per the provi sions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and Regulations made thereunder. Two  Hundred  and  Nineteen  (219)  proposals  have  been  approved  by  PCI  and  seventeen  (17) proposals have been disapproved.
- ( c): The details of eligibility criteria and requirements for the establishment of dental colleges or  increase  of  seats  are  prescribed  in  Dental  Council  of  India  (Establishment  of  New Colleges, Opening of New or Higher Courses of Study or Training and Increase of Admissi Capacity  in  Dental  Colleges)  Regulations, 2006  and  its  amendments  made  thereunder.  For Pharmacy Colleges, PCI prescribes schemes framed under Regulation 9(1) of the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) Course Regulations, 2014 and the courses are regulated by the Educat Regulations framed under the section 10 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
- (d): Two (2) applications for establishment of new Dental Colleges were disapproved due non- compliance of the statutory norms as prescribed in the DCI Regulations. The seventeen proposals were disapproved by PCI due to non - compliance of statutory norms as prescribed in Education Regulations framed under section 10 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Orang National Park in Assam
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAMEN DEKA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1288

TO BE ANSWERED ON  22.12.2017

## Orang National Park in Assam

## 1288. SHRI RAMEN DEKA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken safety and security measures to improve the Orang National Park in Assam; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the funds provided for the purpose?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)

and (b)

As per the recommendation of Government of India, State of Assam has notified the Orang National Park as a Tiger Reserve on 24.02.2016.  The Orang  Tiger  Reserve  is  covered  under  the  ongoing  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger and is financially and technically assisted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and from the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme of Government of India.

The assistance to Orang Tiger Reserve is provided for inter alia , antipoaching, habitat intervention, Phase IV monitoring protocol, All India Tiger Estimation besides staff welfare, desilting water bodies and intelligence gathering.

Details  of  funds  released  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of 'Project Tiger' and IDWH during the three years and the current financial year are as under:

| Year                       | Amt released(Rs. in lakhs)   | Amt released(Rs. in lakhs)   |
|----------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
|                            | IDWH                         | Project Tiger                |
| 2014-15                    | 21.00                        | -                            |
| 2015-16                    | 14.7995                      | 60.88                        |
| 2016-17                    | 0                            | 238.768                      |
| 2017-18 (as on 18.12.2017) | 0                            | 264.21                       |
| Total                      | 35.7995                      | 563.858                      |
Lok Sabha Question No. 1287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Air Pollution due to Crop Residue Burning
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MAHEISH GIRRI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 1287

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2017

## Air Pollution due to Crop Residue Burning

## 1287. SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI :

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

- (a)    whether  the  Government  has  evolved  any  alternative  solution  to  crop  burning  residue which is a very large contributor to air pollution in early winter in North India;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  large  subsidy  on  the  Happy  Seeder,  a machine developed by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Australia and Punjab Agricultural University which allows planting of wheat through the residue;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the action plan of the Government to counter environmental pollution arising out of crop residue burning?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b)  Burning  of  crop  residue  in  various  states  can  lead  to  higher  level  of  pollution specially during adverse meteorological conditions in early winter in North India. Government has taken various actions to address the issue of air pollution from crop residue burning which include banning of stubble burning, mass awareness programmes, constitution of a Task Force to suggest remedial measures for crop residue burning, including both in-situ options such as use of innovative farm implements like Happy Seeder, Straw Management system, Bio-char, Prali-char, etc., and ex-situ options like biomass based power plants, cofiring with coal in thermal plants etc.
- (c) & (d) There are existing schemes of Government of India that support farm mechanization and larger support is subject to adequate allocations.
- (e) A High Level Task Force has been constituted by the government for management of air pollution  in  Delhi  and  NCR  including  the  air  pollution  from  crop  residue  burning.  On  the basis of direction of the Task Force, Sub-Committee of High Level Task Force for Prevention of Stubble Burning in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab has been constituted for finalizing the action plan to counter environmental pollution arising out of crop residue burning.

*****