Lok Sabha Question No. 5541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-02
Subject: Development of Salt Industry
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5541. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 2 ND  APRIL,  2018.

## DEVELOPMENT OF SALT INDUSTRY

## 5541.  SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  Gujarat  produces  more  than  70  per  cent common salt and more than 57 per cent of total salt produced in India and for that Rs. 40 crore are spent each year by the State Government for the development of Salt Industry and various welfare activities of salt workers;
- (b) whether in August, 2012 a meeting was held between the Government of Gujarat and the Union Government to discuss Budget allocation for specific schemes/projects for development of salt  industry and agarias;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action  taken/being  taken  to  reimburse  the State  Government  for  its  expenditure  on  development  of  salt  industry  schemes/ projects and welfare schemes for the salt workers; and
- (d) whether the Union Government would consider to contribute 50 per cent amount of the State Salt Projects so that more projects and better activities can be taken up to enlarge salt producing areas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज् यमंत्री (श्री सी.आर. चौधरी) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a): Out  of  total  production  of  Salt  in  India,  Gujarat  contributes  around  81  per  cent. Details  of  Expenditure  by  Government  of  Gujarat  for  the  development  of  Salt Industry and various welfare activities of salt workers are at Annexure .
- (b): No meeting was held in August, 2012 between the Government of Gujarat and the Union Government to discuss the Budget allocation for specific schemes/projects for development  of  salt  industry  schemes/  projects  and  welfare  schemes  for  the  salt workers.
- (c): Does not arise.
- (d): Any  specific and concrete proposal as and when  received from the State Government will be examined.

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ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5541 FOR ANSWER ON 2 nd  APRIL, 2018.

Details of Expenditure by Government of Gujarat for the development of Salt Industry and various welfare activities of salt workers for last five years

(Amount in Rs. Lakh)

| No.   | Year    | Activity   | Activity   | Activity   | Activity   | Activity   | Activity   | Activity   | Total   |
|-------|---------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|---------|
|       |         | Roads      | Water      | Health     | Education  | Safety-kit | Cycles     | Others     |         |
| 1.    | 2013-14 | 1886.52    | -          | -          | -          | -          | 76.02      | 37.46      | 2000.00 |
| 2.    | 2014-15 | 500.75     | -          | 809.25     | 18.65      | -          | -          | 171.35     | 1500.00 |
| 3.    | 2015-16 | 60.83      | -          | 1208.43    | 1527.20    | 203.54     | -          | -          | 3000.00 |
| 4.    | 2016-17 | 179.61     | 136.07     | 12.90      | 1168.92    | -          | -          | 2.50       | 1500.00 |
| 5.    | 2017-18 | 1536.98    | 340.70     | 252.46     | -          | 456.00     | -          | 28.97      | 2615.11 |

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