opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 769 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Train Accidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 769 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## TRAIN ACCIDENTS

## †769.   SHRI RAVINDRA SHYAM NARAYAN SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of 22 points action plan and the action taken so far to curb train accidents by implementing this plan;
- (b) the details of work likely to be done through this 22 points action plan; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government so far to run the system and the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all possible steps are undertaken on a continuous and ongoing basis to ensure  safe  running  of  trains.    However,  no  separate  22  point  action plan has been  notified. Indian Railways have taken several key measures, as a result of which the consequential train accidents have decreased from 135 in 2014-15 to 59 in 2018-19. These are lowest ever figures in the history of Indian Railways.

Steps  are  being  undertaken  on  continuing  basis  for  upkeep  of tracks  to  prevent  accidents,  which  include  replacement  of  over-aged assets  and  adoption  of  suitable  technologies  for  up-gradation  and maintenance of track. Safety drives and inspections at regular intervals are  carried  out  to  monitor  and  educate  staff  for  observance  of  safe practices.  Different  preventive  and  predictive  maintenance  measures are also being undertaken to ensure safe train operations. Indian Railways has already adopted technological upgradation in safety  aspects  of  coaches  and  wagons  by  way  of  introducing  Modified Centre  Buffer  Couplers,  Bogie  Mounted  Air  Brake  System  (BMBS), improved  suspension  design  and  provision  of  Automatic  fire  &  smoke detection system in coaches. These modifications are being provided in newly manufactured coaches and wagons on a regular basis. Zonal Railways have been advised to ensure proper compliance of maintenance  instructions/guidelines  to  ensure  safe  running  of  Rolling Stock.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 767 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Broadband Service Ranking
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 767 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JUNE, 2019

## BROADBAND SERVICE RANKING

## 767. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Indian Telecom Companies ranks low in rolling out broadband services in the Asia-Pacific region;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (c) As per the TRAI report of March 2019, India has 544 million mobile broadband connections  and  18  million  fixed  line  broadband  connections.    As  per  latest  International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data, amongst all countries of the Asia Pacific region:

- i. India has second highest number of mobile broadband connections
- ii. During 2017 India added third highest number of mobile broadband connections.

*************
Lok Sabha Question No. 766 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Fishermen in Pakistan’s Custody
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.766 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## FISHERMEN IN PAKISTAN'S CUSTODY

## †766. SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of fishermen in Pakistan's custody;
- (b) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  get  these fishermen released; and
- (c) the number of fishermen released during each of the last three years?
- ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

- (a) As per available information, currently 209 Indian and believed-to-be-Indian fishermen are in Pakistan's custody.
- (b) & (c) Government of India has consistently taken up the issue of  early  release  and  repatriation  of  Indian  fishermen  along  with their boats from Pakistan's custody. As a result of persistent efforts, release and repatriation of 1447 Indian fishermen has been secured since 2016. This includes 355 Indian fishermen who have returned this year. The year-wise details are as below:

| Year                      |   2016 |   2017 |   2018 |   2019 (till 20 June 2019) |
|---------------------------|--------|--------|--------|----------------------------|
| Indian Fishermen released |    410 |    508 |    174 |                        355 |

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Fiberised Mobile Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 765 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JUNE, 2019

## FIBERISED MOBILE TOWERS

## 765. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of fiberised towers in the country against the total number of telecom towers in the country;
- (b) the  planned  investment  by  the  Government  towards  increasing  fiberisation  of  telecom towers;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to employ an incentive structure for telecom operators in order to encourage the growth and penetration of fibre infrastructure;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) Sir, various Telecom Service Providers fiberise their network at any specific tower site. As per details provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) total no. of 2,19,949 TSP sites out of total 7,06,948 TSP sites have been fiberised.
- (b) to (e) The  infrastructure  and  equipment  used  for  providing  mobile  communications, belong  to  various  Telecom  Service  Providers  (TSPs)  and  the  decisions  regarding  providing connectivity  to  the  TSP  sites  through  fiber  or  through  other  means  is  taken  based  on  various techno-commercial considerations including network capacity required at that particular physical site (tower).

Further, Government is facilitating the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) for laying fibre by means of addressing Right of Way (RoW) challenges and creating a collaborative institutional mechanism between Centre, States and Local Bodies for Common  Rights of Way, standardisation of costs and timelines; and removal of barriers to approvals.

Further under BharatNet, which is one of the biggest rural telecom projects of the world, as  on  30.05.2019,  3,33,195  km  Optical  Fibre  Cable  has  been  laid  connecting  1,28,118  Gram Panchayats by Optical Fibre Cable (OFC).

*************
Lok Sabha Question No. 763 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Industrial Park for Rubber Units
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.763.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 26 TH  JUNE, 2019.

## INDUSTRIAL PARK FOR RUBBER UNITS

## 763.   ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

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

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether Government is considering opening more industrial parks for rubber based units under 'Make in India' programme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, whether Government is likely to consider the same; and
- (d) the  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  help  the  farmers struggling for survival?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग मंत्री (श्री पीयूष गोयल) THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a): No  proposal  of  opening  industrial  parks  for  rubber  based  units  is  under consideration of the Government.
- (b) & (c): Not applicable.
- (d): Developmental and research activities for supporting natural rubber sector for the  welfare  of  growers  are  carried  out  through  Rubber  Board  through  the scheme 'Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector' in the Medium Term Framework (MTF) (2017-18 to 2019-20). The development activities include financial and technical assistance for planting, supply of quality planting materials, support for grower forums and training and skill development programme.  Natural Rubber (NR) prices have been at relatively  low  levels  during  the  recent  years  in  domestic  and  international markets.    The  domestic  NR  prices  are  highly  sensitive  to  import  of  NR. Hence, to regulate the import of NR, the Government has increased the duty on import of dry rubber from '20% or Rs. 30 per kg whichever is lower' to '25%  or  Rs.  30  per  kg  whichever  is  lower'  with  effect  from  30.4.2015  in order to create demand for locally produced rubber. The Government has also reduced  the  period  of  utilization  of  imported  dry  rubber  under  advance licensing scheme from 18 months to 6 months.
- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 761 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Industrial Incentives
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 761.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 26 TH  JUNE, 2019.

## INDUSTRIAL INCENTIVES

## 761.   SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

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

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  extend  the  scheme  of  package  of industrial incentives for promoting industrialisation in the State of Karnataka;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the funds allocated/utilised during the last three years; and
- (d) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  enhance  industrialization  in Karnataka?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग मंत्री (श्री पीयूष गोयल) THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

Department for  Promotion  of  Industry  and  Internal  Trade  administers 'Industrial  Infrastructure  Up-gradation  Scheme  (IIUS)/  Modified  IIUS (MIIUS)'  to  upgrade  common  industrial  infrastructure  in  industrial clusters/areas/estates  across  the  country.  Under  this  scheme  three projects have been sanctioned in the state of Karnataka. The details of the  projects  are  at  Annexure  I.  Rs.  13.272  crore  has  been  released under MIIUS during the last three years

*********

- (a) to (d):

## ANNEXURE - I

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO    PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 761 FOR ANSWER ON 26.06.2019.

Projects  sanctioned  for  the  State  of  Karnataka  under  Industrial  Infrastructure  Upgradation Scheme (IIUS)/ Modified IIUS (MIIUS)'

(Rs. in crore)

|   S. no. | Name of the Scheme   | Name of Project                  | Date of approval   |   Project Cost |   Total Central grant | Central grant released   | Status                  |
|----------|----------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------|----------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------|
|        1 | IIUS                 | Foundry Cluster Belgam           | 28.10.2004         |          24.78 |                 18.58 | 18.02                    | Completed on 30.09.2010 |
|        2 | IIUS                 | Machine Tools Cluster, Bangalore | 28.10.2004         |         135.5  |                 49.12 | 47.65                    | Completed on 30.08.2011 |
|        3 | MIIUS                | Kolhar Industrial Area, Bidar    | 10.08.2015         |          96.66 |                 18.96 | 18.96*                   | Under Implementation    |

*Out of Rs. 18.96 crore, Rs. 13.272 crore has been released during the last three years.

- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 757 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Appointment of Retired Judges
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.757

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 26 TH  JUNE, 2019

## Appointment of Retired Judges

## 757      SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY:

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

- (a) whether the retired Judges of Supreme Court/High Courts are appointed as    Governor  of  States  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the reasons for appointments;
- (b) whether the retired Judges of Supreme Court/High Courts appointed as Chairmen/Members of various  Tribunals/Commissions  are  allowed  to provide legal advice by charging huge fees; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS &   INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) Yes, Article 155 of the Constitution, which relates to the appointment of a Governor, provides that Governor of a State shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.  As per Article 157 relating to qualification for appointment  of  Governor,  'No  person  shall  be  eligible  for  appointment  as Governor unless he is a citizen of India and has completed the age of thirty-five

years.'  Thus, any citizen including retired Judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts,  who  meet  the  qualifications  prescribed  in  Article  157,  can  be  appointed Governor of a State.  Shri Justice (Retired) Palanisamy Sathasivam, who was Chief Justice of India, is presently the Governor of Kerala.

(b) & (c) Retired Judges of Supreme Court/High Courts appointed as Chairmen/Members of various Tribunals/Commissions are not allowed to provide legal advice by charging fees.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Lok Sabha Question No. 754 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: New Peninsular Railway Zone
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.754 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## NEW PENINSULAR RAILWAY ZONE

## 754. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has  received  any  proposal  for the formation of a new peninsular railway zone headquartered at Ernakulam;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has constituted any committee or group to study the feasibility of this proposal;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a):  Yes,  Sir.  Requests  for  formation  of  a  new  peninsular  railway  zone headquartered  at  Ernakulam  have  been  received  from  time  to  time  from various fora.
- (b) to (d): A Committee of senior Railway officers was constituted in 2017 to  examine  requests  for  creation  of  new  zones  and  divisions  received during the period from 2014 to 2017. The Committee, inter-alia, did not find it operationally feasible to create a new peninsular railway zone.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Securing Jobs of Indian Workers Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.752

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## SECURING JOBS OF INDIAN WORKERS ABROAD

## 752. SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken into account the increased rate at which Gulf Arab countries are nationalising jobs which has  emerged  as  a  direct  threat  for  Indian  expatriates  in  the region;
- (b) if so, the action taken by the Government to ensure and secure the jobs of Indian workers in Gulf countries;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  analysed  the  import  of  jobs nationalisation  over the  job  loss  of  Indian  workers  in  various countries;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  ready  to  rehabilitate  the  people who have lost jobs in Gulf countries on this account; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

- (a)      To  increase  the  employment  opportunities  for  their  own citizens, GCC  countries are following a policy of making it mandatory for employers to reserve a certain proportion of jobs for their own nationals. The Government of India follows the developments  in  this  area  and  their  impact  on  Indian  expatriate workers.

(b)  to  (d)  Such  policies  are  not  specifically  directed  at  Indian nationals, and apply uniformly in respect of all foreign nationalities. In high level meeting with these countries, the Government of India discusses  about  the  interests  and  welfare  of  Indian  workers. Specific  issues  cases  are  suitably  brought  to  the  attention  of  the concerned country/countries.

The  Government  is  working  in  close  coordination  with  the  GCC countries  towards  safeguarding  the  interests  and  welfare  of  the resident  Indian  workers,  and  extends  all  possible  assistance  to them.

(e) & (f) With regard to rehabilitation of workers who  have returned,  this  issue  is  primarily  under  the  purview  of  the  State Governments.  The  Government  stands  ready  to  extend  necessary cooperation to the States in this regard.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 751 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Vincent H Pala

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.751

ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## THE MINES AND MIENRALS (DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION) ACT

751. SHRI VINCENT H. PALA:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  exempt  The  Mines  and  Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act in the Sixth Schedule area and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b)  whether the Government is intending to use Para 12(A)(b) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for the State of Meghalaya and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a): No, Sir. At present,  no proposal  for  exempting  the  Mines  and  Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 in the Sixth Schedule area is under consideration in the Ministry of Mines. (b): As per information received from Ministry of Coal, a decision has been taken by Government  of  India  that  unless  the  Government  of  Meghalaya  resolves  the  issue relating  to  consolidation  /  amalgamation  of  land,  being  a  pre-requisite  condition  for ensuring environmentally safe, secure and scientific mining of coal, at this stage there is no plan for exempting the State of Meghalaya from certain provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957 by way of issuance of Presidential Notification under para 12(A)(b) of the
- sixth schedule to the Constitution of India.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 749 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Coal Emission
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 749 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## Coal Emission

## 749.  SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU :

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state :

- (a) the amount of investment by the Government in research and development of clean coal in the last five years;
- (b) whether Government has failed to adequately invest in reducing emissions from coal by increasing efficiency since coal emissions have risen in 2018-19;
- (c) if so, the details and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether coal is still the major electricity producer in India; and
- (e) if so, the reasons for the Government's coal imports rising by 13% in 2018-19?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS,  COAL AND MINES ( SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a) : The amount of investment by Government in research and development of clean coal in the last 5 years is INR 53.72 Crores.
- (b) to (c) : Government has taken multiple steps to address reducing emissions from coal by setting the following targets:
- 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 with the help of transfer of technology and low cost international finance including from Green Climate Fund (GCF).
- 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.
- (d) : Yes Sir. Coal is contributing to about 73% of electricity generation in India.
- (e) : During 2018-19, India's coal import  have increased due to following reasons:
1. Huge difference in demand and actual supply of coking coal to steel sector resulting in import of coking coal.
2. Sudden surge in the demand of power, resulting raised in coal consumption evident from rise in PLF to boost up the power generation by the generators.
3. Shortfall in power generation from other renewable source of energy.
4. More  supply  to  power  sector  and  less  supply  to  non-power  sector  resulting  in import by the non-power sector consumers.

\_\_\_\_\_
Lok Sabha Question No. 747 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Monthly Cap on Booking of Tickets
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 747 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## MONTHLY CAP ON BOOKING OF TICKETS

747. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Union  Government  is  considering  to  increase  the monthly cap on tickets booked on the IRCTC portal from 6 to 12 for passengers who have linked account with their Aadhaar Number;

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) and (b): The limit of booking 6 Railway tickets in a month through Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism  Corporation  (IRCTC)  has  been revised  to  12  Railway  tickets  in  a  month.  It  is  for  those  individual users  who  have  linked  their  IRCTC  user  ID  with  their  respective Aadhaar number and ensured that at least one of the passengers in the passenger list is verifiable through Aadhaar.

(c): Does not arise.

*****