opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Stoppage at Vapi Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: NATUBHAI GOMANBHAI PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5158 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## STOPPAGE AT VAPI STATION

†5158.  SHRI NATUBHAI GOMANBHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  trains  introduced/  yet  to  be  introduced  by  the Government as announced in the budget for the year 2016-17;
- (b)  the  number  of  trains  out  of  the  trains  which  are  yet  to  be introduced, likely to pass through Vapi station; and
- (c) the names of the trains which are likely to be provided stoppage at Vapi station?

## ANSWER

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

(a): In Railway Budget 2016-17, introduction of Antyodaya, Humsafar, UDAY, Tejas type of train services have been announced. Presently,  7  Antyodaya  Express,  10  Humsafar  Express,  3  UDAY Express and 3 Tejas Express have been planned to be introduced. Out  of  these,  2  Antyodaya  Express  and  4  Humsafar  Express  have been introduced.

(b):  3  Humsafar  Express  trains,  1  Antyodaya  Express  train  and  1 UDAY Express train will pass through Vapi station.

(c): None of the trains will have stoppage at Vapi station.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5155 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: IT Policy of Goa
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  5155

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 05.04.2017

## IT POLICY OF GOA

## 5155.    ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether  Government  is  aware  that  State  Government  of  Goa  has  unveiled  Information Technology policy that extends a lot of facilities to investors and have identified two sites i.e. Tuem and Chimbel for development of IT industry in the State; and
- (b) if so, whether the Union Government is likely to extend some support to the State in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)

(a) and (b):  Yes, Sir. Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa has unveiled the Information Technology Investment Policy 2015-2020 in December 2015, in which two sites that  is  Tuem  and  Chimbel  have  been  identified  for  development  of  IT  industries.    Currently, there  is  no    proposal  with  the  Ministry  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  for development  of  IT-ITES  in  the  identified  two  sites.    However,  MeitY  has  accorded  final approval for setting up of Greenfield Electronics Manufacturing Cluster over an area of 147.55 acres  on  3rd  Match,  2017  at  Tuem  Village-Pernem  Taluka,  North  Goa  District,  Goa  with  a project  outlay  of  Rs.  161.32  crore  including  Government  of  India  Grant-in-aid  of  Rs.  73.78 crore.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5154 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Sarvodaya Express
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5154 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## SARVODAYA EXPRESS

†5154. SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has considered/is considering to run Sarvodaya Express from Aurangabad-Purna-Hingoli - Vasim-Akala via Nagpur;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  to  (c)    No,  Madam.    At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  for introduction of new Sarvodaya Express between Aurangabad and Akola  via  Nagpur  due  to  operational  and  resource  constraints including terminal constrains at Akola and Aurangabad.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5152 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Heritage Line of Delhi Metro
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SAUGATA ROY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5152

## TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL 05, 2017

## HERITAGE LINE OF DELHI METRO

No. 5152 PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the construction of Heritage Line of Delhi Metro affected
- any heritage buildings on the line;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the expected schedule of the opening of the Heritage Line?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) :No, Madam.
- (b) :Does not arise.
- (c) :Delhi  Metro  Rail  Corporation  Ltd.  (DMRC)  has  informed  that application  for  inspection  by  the  Commissioner  of  Metro  Rail Safety (CMRS) has been submitted in March, 2017.  The line will
- be opened after clearance by CMRS.

x-x-x-x-x
Lok Sabha Question No. 5151 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: City Liveability Index
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5151

## TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL 05, 2017

## CITY LIVEABILITY INDEX

No. 5151 SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to develop 'city liveability index' to evaluate how liveable are the cities in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has developed a framework/guidelines to study the index and if so, the details thereof along with the details of guidelines/variables; and
- (c) whether  the  State  Governments  are  also  participating  in  the
- preparation of the index and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) to (c): This Ministry, after extensive consultations with States/ Cities/  Citizens  and  peer  review  by  Sector  Experts  has developed a draft  framework  of  Liveability  Index  suited to conditions prevailing in Indian Cities to rank cities on

the  basis  of the  Liveability  Index.  The  objective  of ranking  of  cities  on  Liveability  Index  is  to  facilitate  a competitive environment amongst  cities resulting in systematic improvement in the quality of life of citizens.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 5150 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Railway Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5150 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## RAILWAY PROJECTS

## 5150. DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the new railway projects under implementation in the State of Maharashtra;
- (b) whether the State Government has taken a decision to implement  these  projects  on  cost  sharing  basis  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether all these projects will be implemented by MRIDC and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Ministry has received request from the State Government for these project and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the status of provision of funds for these new projects?

## ANSWER

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

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  5150  BY  DR.  KIRIT  SOMAIYA  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2017 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS

(a) & (b):     5 New Lines, 3 Gauge Conversion and 17 Doubling projects falling  fully  or  partly  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra  have  been  sanctioned which  are  in  different  stages  of  implementation.    3  new  line  projects falling partly or fully in the State of Maharashtra have been taken up on cost-sharing basis with the Government of Maharashtra i.e. AhmednagarBeed-Parli  Vaijnath  (261  km)  (50:50  cost  sharing),  Wardha-Nanded  via Yavatmal-Pusood  (270  km)  (60:40  cost  sharing  -  Railway  and  State respectively) and Wadsa-Gadchiroli (50 km) (50:50 cost sharing).

(c): A  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MOU)  for  formation  of  a  Joint Venture  Company  between  Ministry  of  Railways  and  Government  of Maharashtra has been signed on 28.06.2015. The JV agreement has also been signed. The role of Joint Venture Company, inter alia, is to identify projects and collaborate with its stakeholders, mobilize resources, form project  specific  Special  Purpose  Vehicle  (if  required).  The  formation  of Joint  Venture  Company  has  been  taken  up.  After  formation  of  Joint Venture Company, further action for identification and funding of projects will be taken by Joint Venture Company.

(d): Government  of  Maharashtra  has  requested  for  9  projects  (8  New Lines  and  1  Gauge  Conversion)  for  implementation  on  Special  Purpose Vehicle  (SPV)  model  which  includes  only  4  New  Lines  sanctioned projects. 846 crore for Gauge Conversion 2197.50 crore for Doubling projects falling partly or fully in the State

(e): Outlay of ` 873 crore for New Lines, ` and ` of Maharashtra have been provided in 2016-17.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5149 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Houses to Homeless
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN  POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Asked by: ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE

No. 5149

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5149

TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL 05, 2017

## HOUSES TO HOMELESS

SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  asked  the  State  Governments  to provide land to construct houses for the homeless people in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  the  land  demanded  by  the  Government  from  each State Government for constructing houses in the States;
- (d) whether  the  State  Governments  have  initiated  any  action  in
- response to the direction of the Union Government; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) to  (e):  'Land'  and  'Colonization'  being  State  subjects,  it  is  the responsibility of the State / UT Governments to provide encumbrance free land for projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) {PMAY (U)}  mission.  Government  has  launched  PMAY  (U)  mission  on 25.06.2015 to provide central assistance to States/UTs for addressing the  housing  requirement  of  all  urban  poor.  The  scheme  guidelines, inter-alia,  stipulate  States/UTs  to  prepare/amend  their  Master  Plans earmarking  land  for  Affordable  Housing.  The  guidelines  also  provide that  States/UTs  shall  provide  additional  Floor  Area  Ratio  (FAR)/Floor Space Index (FSI)/Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and relaxed density  norms  for  slum  redevelopment  and  low  cost  housing,  if required.

As on 27.03.2017, Central assistance amounting to Rs.27,355.34 crore has  been  approved    under  PMAY  (U)  mission  in  respect  of  3,735 projects  (including  subsumed  projects  of  RAY)  for  construction  of 17,44,610 houses.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5148 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Gauge Conversion
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5148 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## GAUGE CONVERSION

†5148. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to convert the narrow gauge railway line between Pulgaon and Arvi into broad gauge;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a)  to  (c):      Gauge  Conversion  of  Murtizapur-Yavatmal  (113  km), Murtizapur-Achalpur (77 km) and Pulgaon-Arvi (35 km) (total 225 km) has been  included in  Budget  2017-18  under  Capital  Investment Programme  at a cost of ` 2100 crore in anticipation of State Government  coming  forward  to  take  up  the  project  through  Joint Venture.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5147 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Aadhaar Mandatory for Booking Tickets
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: YERRAM VENKATA SUBBAREDDY

- (a): No, Madam.
- (b) & (c): Do not arise.
- (d)  &  (e):  With  a  view  to  promoting  cashless transactions, it has been decided  to  install  10,000  Point  of  Sale  (POS)  machines  in  association with  State  Bank  of  India  at  various  locations  of  Indian  Railways  i.e. Passenger  Reservation  System  (PRS)  locations,  Unreserved  Ticketing System (UTS) locations, Parcel/Goods locations.

At present, about 3000 smart card operated and cash-cum-smart card  operated  ATVMs  have  been  commissioned  at  various  locations across Indian Railways. It is a continuous process to add new facility as per requirement.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5147 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## AADHAAR MANDATORY FOR BOOKING TICKETS

5147. SHRI Y. V. SUBBA REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  true  that  the  Railways  has  made  it  mandatory  to
- mention Aadhaar number in all online ticket bookings;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  manner  in  which  it  will  stop  cases  of  impersonation  and fraudulent bookings;
- (d)  whether it is also true that the Railways is planning to install 6,000 point-of-sale  machines  and  1,000  automatic  ticket  vending  machines across the country; and
- (e)   if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
Lok Sabha Question No. 5145 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: New Body for International Pacts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

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

****

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5145 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 5 th  April, 2017

## NEW BODY FOR INTERNATIONAL PACTS

## 5145. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a Parliamentary Panel has recommended for a new body to formulate international pacts and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Parliamentary Panel has also recommended for creation of a new wing-Department of International law-under the Ministry of Law and Justice to ensure that matters related to international treaties and agreements  which  may  inter-alia  include  multiple  treaties  on  black money  and other international agreements are formulated and implemented in a better way; and
- (c) if so, the Government's reaction thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE  & ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHURY)

****

- (a) & (b) Yes  Madam.  The  Department-Related  Parliamentary  Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice in its 81 st Report, inter-alia ,  has  recommended  for  setting  up  a  new Department of International Law similar to the existing Department of Legal Affairs, Legislative Department and Department of Justice to formulate International Pacts.
- (c) The recommendations requires in depth examination and necessary  consultation  with  the  various  stake  holders  by  the Government.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5141 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Shops at Platforms
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MEKAPATI RAJAMOHAN REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5141 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## SHOPS AT PLATFORMS

5141.  SHRI M. RAJA MOHAN REDDY: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:
2. (a) the procedure/guidelines/policy laid down for allotment or contracts for running various shops at railway platforms;
3. (b) whether the Government proposes to revise the procedure; and
4. (c)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  New  Catering  Policy  has  been issued  on  27 th   February  2017  which inter-alia stipulates that zonal railways shall manage  static  units (catering  stall  /milk  stalls/  trolleys  etc.)  except  base  kitchens  and kitchen units. The policy mandates the zonal railways to hand over the kitchens  managed  by  them  to  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC). Food Plaza, Fast Food Units and Food Court will continue to be managed by IRCTC. The procedure/guidelines/policy laid down for allotment or contracts for running various shops at railway platforms  inter-alia  include:- (i)  Allotment  of  General Minor Units at all

Contd..2/-

category of stations to be done through open, competitive, two-packet tendering system from the eligible bidders by railway divisions. (ii) Allotment of Special Minor units (reserved category) at all  category of stations to be done by divisions through open tendering system within the similar reserved category. The technical eligibility criteria has been simplified. (iii)  For the purpose of allotment, a Refreshment Room (at B and below category of stations) or a stall or a trolley to be deemed as one  unit.    As  such,  a  single  unit  is  to  be  awarded  through  a  single license.    (iv)  Tenure  of  all  static  units  (except  kitchen  units  and  Food Plaza) shall be 5 years only. (v) Tenure of Food Plaza shall be for a period of 9 years.

(b): No, Madam.

(c): Does not arise.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5138 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Mega City
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM CHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5138

TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL 05, 2017

MEGA CITY

No. 5138   SHRI HARISHCHANDRA CHAVAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  URBAN  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has revised the standard to declare a city as Mega City;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  changes  made  thereto  alongwith  the provision which were existing earlier;
- (c) the names of the cities which have been included under the list of mega cities after implementing the new standards, state-wise;
- (d) the benefits accrued to these cities after declaring them mega cities; and
- (e) the number of mega cities at present, State-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN

## DEVELOPMENT (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) & (b): No, Madam. There is no such proposal.

(c) & (d): Do not arise.

(e): As per Census of India 2011, there are three mega cities/urban agglomerations (UA) in India. These are as under:

|   Sl. No. | Mega City         | State       |   Population (in million) |
|-----------|-------------------|-------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | Greater Mumbai UA | Maharashtra |                      18.4 |
|         2 | Delhi UA          | Delhi       |                      16.3 |
|         3 | Kolkata UA        | West Bengal |                      14.1 |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5137 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Implementation of Rules
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT RAGHUNATH PATIL

No. 5137

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5137

TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL 05, 2017

## IMPLEMENTATION OF RULES

SHRI C. R. PATIL:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  enforcement  of  rules  in  Delhi  Metro  has  been  lax  and  a number  of  passengers  can  be  seen  sitting  on  the  floors  of  the coaches as well as on the steps in the station premises; and
- (b) if  so,  the  steps  taken  to  enforce  the  rules  by  Delhi  Metro  more rigorously?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a)to(b): No, Madam.  Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) has informed that regular drives are carried out in metro trains to counsel and penalize passengers for sitting on the floors of the coaches under section  59  of  The  Metro  Railways  (Operation  and  Maintenance)  Act, 2002.    Also,  regular  checks  are  done  by  Metro  station  staffs  in  the station  premise  and  passengers  found  sitting  on  the steps are counseled accordingly.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Investment from UAE
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5136 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## INVESTMENT FROM UAE

5136. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  been  conducting  negotiations with the UAE to seek investments for a UAE-India infrastructure  investment  fund  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof and the status of these negotiations;
- (b) the timeframe  within which  the Government  expects  to complete the negotiations; and
- (c) the  investments  received  by  the  National  Investment  and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) so far and its corpus?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) The  Government  of  the  Republic  of  India and  the Government of the United Arab Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 11 February, 2016 for establishing  a  framework  for  facilitating  the  participation  of  UAE institutional investors in infrastructure investments in India.
- (c) No investment has been received by the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) so far from any overseas sovereign/quasi-sovereign/multilateral/bilateral  investors.  The  initial corpus of NIIF is Rs 20,000 crore, which may be raised from time to time, as decided by the Ministry of Finance.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5135 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Corruption in Waqf Board
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: RODMAL NAGAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5135 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## Corruption in Waqf Board

## 5135. SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has received complaints regarding corruption in the works of the Waqf Board; and
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard, State-wise?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a) & (b): According to Section 32(1) of the Waqf Act, 1995 as amended, the general superintendence  of  all  Auqaf  in  a  State  is  vested  in  the  State  Waqf  Board established  by  the  State/UT  Government.    The  State  Waqf  Board  exercises  its power under this Act to ensure that Auqaf under its superintendence are properly maintained, controlled and administered.  As per available records in Central Waqf Council during 2016-17, complaints regarding irregularities/corruption in the functioning  of  the  Waqf  Boards  have  been  received  in  respect  of  Maharashtra, Himachal  Pradesh,  U.P.  Sunni  and  Shia  Waqf  Boards  and  the  same  have  been forwarded to concerned State Governments for taking necessary action. Follow-up action is also pursued on complaints.  Also, the Central Waqf Council has regulatory powers under Section 9(4) of the amended Waqf Act 1995 to issue directive to the Waqf Board, if  it  is  satisfied  that  there  was  prime  facie  evidence  of  irregularity  or violation of the provisions of the Act, which shall be complied with by the concerned Board under intimation to the concerned State Government.

*****