opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 325 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Basic Facilities in MEMU/EMU Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 325 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## BASIC FACILITIES IN MEMU/EMU TRAINS

*325. SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  MEMU  and  EMU  trains  are  running  more  than  their administered distance and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether no toilet  facility  is  available  in  old  coaches  of  MEMU/EMU short  distance  trains  running  on  daily  basis  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government plans to provide basic facility in these old coaches of MEMU/EMU trains running in various parts of the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which such facility is likely to be provided in these coaches/trains; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor and the manner in which the basic facility would be extended to the passengers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

- (a) to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION  NO.  325  BY  SHRI  GAJANAN  KIRTIKAR  AND  DR.  SUNIL BALIRAM  GAIKWAD  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  09.08.2017 REGARDING BASIC FACILITIES IN MEMU/EMU TRAINS

(a) to (e): Presently, the administered distance has been legislated only for Mainline  Electric  Multiple  Unit  (MEMU)  trains  which,  interalia,  stipulates that trains running more than 160 Kilometers or more than 4 hours are to be  provided  with  toilet  facility.  At  present,  there  are  no  MEMU  trains running  more  than  the  administered  distance  without  toilet  facility  on Indian Railways. Moreover, from April 2010 onwards, all newly manufactured  MEMU  trailer  coaches  have  been  provided  with  toilet facilities. At present, approximately 31 rakes running less than 160 Km or 4  hrs.  are  without  toilet  facilities.    Action  has  been  initiated  to  provide, atleast, one trailer coach in these rakes with  toilet facilities in a phased manner.

For  Electric  Multiple  Unit  (EMU)  trains,  unlike  MEMU  trains,  which mostly  ply  in  suburban  sections  of  Metropolitan  cities  having  very  high density  traffic,  less  travel  time  and  short  distance,  there  is  no  such stipulation of administered distances or running time. Further, provision of toilets  in  EMU  coaches  is  not  desirable  as  it  will  cut  into  the  carrying capacity of trains.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 324 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: LED Street Lighting Project
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO.*324

TO BE ANSWERED ON 9.8.2017

LED STREET LIGHTING PROJECT

NO.*324         SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs be pleased to state:

- a) Whether  the  Government  has  considered  LED  street  lighting project throughout the country, particularly in Delhi;
- b) if so, the details thereof and the progress made in this regard
3. so far; and the action plan for implementation of the project;
- c) whether the LED Street Lighting Project has started in some
5. metro cities including Mumbai; and
- d) if so, the detailed status thereof and if not, the time by which
7. the project is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)to(d): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION No.*324 for  9.8.2017  REGARDING  LED  STREET  LIGHTING PROJECT

(a) to (d): Yes,  Madam.  A  national  programme  with  the  name  Street Light National Programme (SLNP) has been launched in January, 2015 to  replace  conventional  street  lights  with  smart  and  energy  efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights. This programme is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power.

One of  the  reform  agenda  of  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and Urban Transformation(AMRUT) Mission is to carry out energy audit for every mission city, which includes energy audit of street lights in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). In pursuance to this, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with EESL to carryout energy audit of various installations including street lights in ULBs.

So far 554 ULBs have been enrolled under SLNP and 28.19 lakh conventional street lights have been replaced with energy efficient LED lights. In case of Delhi, 2.86 lakh street lights have been replaced with LED lights in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) area.

EESL has informed that they aim to replace 1.34 crore conventional  street  lighs  in  the  country  under  Street  Light  National Programme by 31 st  March 2019.

LED street lighting project has also started in other metro cities. A pilot project has been implemented in Mumbai at Marine Drive where 659 conventional lights have been replaced with energy efficient LED lights.  Similarly in Hyderabad 17,530 LED lights have been installed and 68,000 LED lights have been installed in Ahmadabad.

EESL has approached the concerned authorities in other metro cities  such  as  Bengaluru,  Kolkata  and  Chennai  for  implementing  the project  for  replacing  ordinary  street  lights  with  energy  efficient  LED lights.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 322 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Digital Payments
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION NO.*322

TO BE ANSWERED ON:  09.08.2017

## DIGITAL PAYMENTS

## *322       ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information technology be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to come out with a policy on fee for digital payment;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the proposed policy would also cover the risk factors involved in  digital payments; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (d):   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED

## QUESTION NO.*322 FOR  09.08.2017 REGARDING   DIGITAL PAYMENTS *******

- (a) and (b):  No, Sir.  At present, RBI regulates fee levied by different stakeholders on some platforms  of  digital  payments.  Within  the  overall  directions  of  RBI  and  the  ceiling  for  the charges  prescribed  by  RBI,  individual  banks  &  non  banking  entities  fix  charges  for  various types of services provided through their respective channels.
- (c)  and (d):    In view of above, this  question doesn't  arise.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 321 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Advertisement in Hindi
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 321 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 9.8.2017)

## ADVERTISEMENT IN HINDI *321. SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

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

- (a) Whether the Government has asked all Ministries and Departments to have a Hindi version of every advertisement that they release either in English or in a regional language; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) & (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 321 FOR ANSWER ON 9/8/2017

(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. This is in view of the Government of India, Ministry of Home  Affairs,  Department  of  Official  Language's  OM  No.  20012/1/2017रा . भा. ( नीति ) dated 30.6.2017 which conveys the order of Hon'ble President of India directing that the Advertisements released by Ministries/Departments/Offices/Enterprises in English/Regional Languages shall be released compulsorily in Hindi.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3909 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Train between Lamding and Jiribam
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: THOKCHOM MEINYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3909 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## TRAIN BETWEEN LAMDING AND JIRIBAM

3909. DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS   be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the train service between Lamding and Jiribam was disrupted in the recent past;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the service has been restored; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  measures taken to ensure uninterrupted train service between the above places?

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

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b)  to (d) Do not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3908 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Two Time Zone
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA, Richard Hay

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3908 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9/08/2017

## TWO TIME ZONE

## †3908. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA: PROF. RICHARD HAY:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó  Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to divide the country into two time zones across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has tied up with some organization to conduct research in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and their achievement so far?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY  AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y.S. CHOWDHARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó

(gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

********

- (a) No, Madam.

- (b) Does not arise.

- (c) No, Madam.

- (d) Does not arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Apprentice Law
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3905 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## APPRENTICE LAW

## †3905.    SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

## Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Government has a target to impart skill training to the youth to make them skilled for as many as five lakh jobs. if so, the details thereof; whether the Government proposes to amend the apprentice law in order  to
- (b) promote skill development; and
- (c) if so, the time by which the Government is likely to implement the same?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)

- (a) Government of India has a target to impart skill training to 50 Lakh youth up to 2020 under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). The  Government has already amended the Apprentices Act, 1961 in December,  2014  in  the
- (b) & (c) December,  2014  and  started  implementation  w.e.f.  22 nd country.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3902 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Cost Escalation
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANJAY JAISWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3902 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## COST ESCALATION

3902.  DR. SANJAY  JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  has  been  inordinate  delay  in  the  work  on  the Katra to Banihal rail line.
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the cost of the said rail line has escalated as a result thereof: and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the money spent so far on the  stretch?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b):  There have been some delays in work of Katra-Banihal section due to its unique nature of most challenging and difficult geological terrain of young fold mountain of the Himalayas. There are long tunnels and mega bridges in this section.

....2/..

Delay  in  completion  of  work  of  Katra-Banihal  section  is  due mainly to the following reasons:-

- (i) Extremely complex geology of young fold mountains of  the Himalayas.
- (ii) Inaccessibility and remote location of various sites.
- (iii) Repeated filing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in High Courts on  alignment  issues  between  2009    to  2016,    hampering  the progress of work.
- (iv) Difficult law and order situation in  J&K State.
- (v)
- Extreme weather conditions like snowfall.
- (vi)
- Delays in acquisition of land and Forest clearances.
- (c)  &  (d)  :    The  cost  approved  by  Cabinet  Committee  of  Economic Affairs (CCEA) in January, 2012 of USBRL Project was 19565 crore, of which cost of Katra(30 km)  - Banihal section is 13236 crore.  The detailed  estimated    cost  for    Katra  (30-  km)  -Banihal  section  is 21468 crore.  The total expenditure incurred on Katra (30km) -Banihal section up to July 2017 is 9309 crore.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3901 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Survey of New Rail Lines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BODH SINGH BHAGAT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3901 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## SURVEY OF NEW RAIL LINES

## † 3901.     SHRI BODHSINGH BHAGAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has granted approval for the survey work of new railway lines from Waraseoni-Khairlanji-Tirora, SeoniChhapra-Lakhnadon and Seoni to Barghat under Balaghat and Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh;
- (b) if  so,  the  names  of  the  lines  out  of  the  said  lines  for  which  funds have been sanctioned and the quantum of funds allocated for each of these lines; and
- (c) the time by which the survey work is likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) and  (b):    Survey  work  for  new  line  between  Waraseoni-KhairlanjiTirora  (50  Km)  sanctioned  in  budget  2017-18,  has  been  taken  up. Further,  survey  of  new  line  i)  Seoni-Chhapra-Lakhnadaun  (73  Km) with cost of ₹ 901 Cr. having (ROR) Rate of Return (-) 7.21% and ii) Seoni-Barghat-Katangi (92 Km) with cost of ₹ 611 Cr. having (ROR) Rate of Return (-) 7.23% was completed in the year 2015-16. These two projects could not be taken forward due to their unremunerative

nature and large shelf of ongoing projects.  Funds are disbursed only after sanctioning of the project.

(c):  Surveys require investigation of one or more routes, in consultation with State Governments and forest department, to decide the most technically  feasible  alignment,  interaction  with  State  Government, trade and industries for assessment of traffic projections, preparation  of  plans  and  drawings  for  calculation  of  costs  etc. Since this is an extensive exercise, it is not possible to fix time line. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3898 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Age of Superannuation of Judges
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3898 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 09.08.2017

## Age of Superannuation of Judges

3898. SHRI :RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER

Will the Minister of LAWAND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government mulls over increasing the age of superannuation for the Judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government plans to decrease the age-limit to 42 years from the present agelimit of 45 years for appointing Judges in High Courts and if so, the reasons therefor; and

(c) whether the Government plans to increase the number of Judges in High Courts and the Supreme Court and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## Minister of State for  Law and Justice and Electronics and Information Technology. (SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b): No, Madam.

(c) : After receiving approval from the State Governments and the High Courts and with the approval  of  the  Chief  Justice  of  India,  the  Judge  strength  of  the  High  Courts  has  been increased from 906 in 01.06.2014 to 1079 as on date.

Further, the Supreme Court in its Order dated 20.3.2017 in W.P.(C) Nos, 295 and 624 of 2016  has  stated  that  there  are  a  number  of  unfilled  posts  of  Judges  at  various  levels  and therefore the need for increasing the number of posts of Judges will arise only after filling up of the existing vacancies.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3894 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Development of Launching Capacity
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3894

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2017

## DEVELOPMENT OF LAUNCHING CAPACITY

## 3894.   SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the amount allocated to the Indian Space Research Organisation  (ISRO)  particularly  for  developing  capacity  for launching of satellites;
- (b) whether  any  revenue  has  been  earned  by  ISRO  by  launching satellites of other countries and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is contemplating to encourage ISRO as Commercial Satellites Launch Enterprise so that it could be self-reliant and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  policy  to  seek co-operation of foreign countries to develop  capacity  for launching satellites; and
- (e) 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):

- (a) Based  on  the  approved  outlay  of ` 8658.74  Crores,  activities towards   three   launch   vehicles viz.  Polar   Satellite  Launch

Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV  Mk-III)  are  in  progress.  Out  of  31  launch  vehicles  (15 PSLV,  13  GSLV  and  3  GSLV  Mk-III)  to  be  realised  under  this outlay, 10 launch vehicles (3 PSLV, 5 GSLV and 2 GSLV Mk-III) have been completed till date and work is in progress for the remaining vehicles.

- (b) As on date, Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix), a Government of India company under Department of Space and the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has earned a revenue of 21 Million USD and 146 Million Euros in Foreign Exchange, through launching of 209 foreign satellites from 29 countries. These foreign satellites have been launched under  a  commercial  arrangement  between  Antrix  and  the foreign customers.
- (c) Primarily, ISRO's launch vehicles are being used for launching national  satellites  towards  meeting  the  earth  observation, communication, navigation and scientific needs of the country. The excess capacity available has been utilised for launching satellites of other countries by Antrix on a commercial basis. Towards  stepping  up  the  launch  capacity,  ISRO  is  making efforts to increase participation of Indian Industries for realisation of hardware for launch vehicles.
- (d)
- No, Madam.
- (e) Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3892 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: New Rail Line between Armoor and Adilabad
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: NAGESH GODAM

- (a)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3892 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2017

## NEW RAIL LINE BETWEEN ARMOOR AND ADILABAD

## 3892.     SHRI NAGESH GODAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has got the survey for laying of new rail line  between  Armoor  and  Adilabad  via  Nirmal  which  has  been sanctioned in 2017-18 budget;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether an agreement between the Railways and the State Government of Telangana has been entered into for the said rail line and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the further action taken by the Railways in this regard and the time line fixed for the completion of the work?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- &  (b):  Survey  for  new  rail  line  between  Armoor  and  Adilabad  via Nirmal  (136  Km)  having  cost  of  ₹  700  Cr.  and  Rate  of  Return  (-) 10.77% was completed in the year 2011-12.  Further, the project has been included in Capital Investment Programme 2017-18 subject to

State  Government  coming  forward  for  sharing  the  cost  of  the project.

- (c) & (d): No specific agreement for the said line has been entered into between the Railways and Government of Telangana.  However, an MoU was signed between Government of Telangana and Ministry of Railways  to  form  an  Umbrella  Joint  Venture  (JV)  to  undertake project development, resource mobilization and monitoring of mutually  identified  rail  infrastructure  project(s).      Joint  Venture Company  once  incorporated  by  Government  of  Telangana  will decide about the project.

*****