opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 48 (STARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Coal Linkages
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: RITI PATHAK, DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*48

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 6.02.2019

## Coal Linkages

## *48. SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK: SHRI DEVAJIBHAI G.FATEPARA:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  coal  linkages  provided  to  State Government  companies  or  MSME  organisations  through  PSUs  like  BCCL, CCL, ECL and MCL under CIL are not being operated by them and instead coal is being fraudulently sold to other big companies at a higher price;
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to take any steps to check the said corrupt practices in the coal linkages; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question  No.48  for  answer  on  06.02.2019  asked  by  SHRIMATI  RITI PATHAK and  SHRI DEVAJIBHAI G. FATEPARA: (a)  to  (c):  The  New  Coal  Distribution  Policy,  2007  and  its  subsequent amendment  provide  for  distribution  of  coal  to  those  units/consumers  in small, medium and other consumers across the country whose requirement is  less  than  10,000  tonnes  per  annum  and  are  otherwise  not  having  any access to purchase coal or conclude Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) for coal supply  with  coal  companies.  The  earmarked  coal  quantity  would  be distributed through State Nominated Agencies (SNAs) notified by the State Governments. The quantity earmarked for distribution to SNAs is 8 Million Tonnes (MT) annually. The SNA so notified by the State Government is required to enter into FSA with the coal company. Coal India Limited (CIL) allocates coal to SNAs based on  the  recommendation  received  from  the  concerned  department  of  State Governments. The SNAs are free to devise their own distribution mechanism which  inspires  public  confidence  and  results  in  coal  distribution  in  a transparent manner. The allocation of coal to SNAs is non-discriminatory in nature as the price charged  to  SNA  is  the  same  notified  price  as  applicable  to  other  FSA consumers.  The  SNA  is  entitled  to  charge  actual  freight  and  up  to  5% margin  as  service  charge,  over  and  above  the  notified  price,  from  their consumers. The  concerned  State  Government  having  administrative  control  over  the SNA would be responsible to ensure that coal allotted is distributed to the targeted consumer in a fair and transparent manner and that appropriate action is taken to prevent its misuse. Any complaint received at CIL in this regard  is  forwarded  to  the  concerned  State  Government  for  appropriate action.  Further  action,  if  any,  required  to  be  taken  is  based  on  the recommendation of the concerned State Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 46 (STARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Defence Corridors
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.46

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## DEFENCE  CORRIDORS

## *46. SHRI  KAUSHALENDRA  KUMAR:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether defence corridors are being set up in the country for defence equipment production;
- (b) if  so,  the  details of the locations where the said corridors are being set up along with the amount of funds estimated to be spent thereon;
- (c) the present status of the defence corridors;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to set up at least one defence corridor in Bihar in view of the backwardness of the State; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jherh  fueZyk lhrkje.k )

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

******

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 46 FOR ANSWER ON 6.2.2019

(a) to (e): The  Government  of  India  has  identified  Tamil  Nadu  and  Uttar Pradesh  for  establishment  of  Defence  Industrial  Corridors.    Six  nodal points  in  Uttar  Pradesh  namely  Aligarh,  Agra,  Chitrakoot, Jhansi,  Kanpur and  Lucknow  have  been  identified  for  this  purpose.    Similarly  for  Tamil Nadu  Defence  Industrial  Corridor,  five  nodal  points  namely  Chennai, Coimbatore,  Hosur,  Salem  and  Tiruchirappalli  have  been  identified.    Six stakeholders  interactions  have  been  organized  in  Tamil  Nadu  and  five stakeholders  interactions  in  Uttar  Pradesh,  with  investments  by  DPSUs  / OFB  and  private  industries  being  announced  in  Tamil  Nadu  and  Uttar Pradesh to the tune of Rs.3100 crore and Rs.3700 crore respectively. The  preparation  of  detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  for  the  above  two corridors  has  been  entrusted  by  Government  of  India  to  a  consultant, which is currently in progress.  At present there is no proposal for setting up of  any more Defence Industrial Corridors.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 690 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: e-Ticket Online
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: NALIN KUMAR KATEEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 690 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## E-TICKET ONLINE

690. SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has launched a scheme allowing a person to get an insurance cover of upto Rs. 10 lakh on booking a train ticket online by paying less than on rupee;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said facility is reserved for passengers of the Railways who book e-Ticket and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has received any suggestions to incorporate  other  passengers  who  book  ticket  through  traditional methods; and
- (e) if so, the response of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

( SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN )

(a)  to  (c):  Yes,  Madam. An Optional Travel Insurance Scheme with a cover  of  upto ` 10  lakh  was  launched  w.e.f  01.09.2016  for  the Confirmed/RAC railway passengers who book online e-ticket through official  website  of  Indian  Railway  Catering  &  Tourism  Corporation (IRCTC) which is a wholly owned undertaking of Ministry of Railways.

W.e.f 01.10.2018, the premium  for the scheme  is ` 0.49/(inclusive of all taxes) per passenger per trip.

Under the scheme, in case of death/injury of reserved passengers due to train accident/untoward incidents as defined under section 123 read with Sections 124 and 124A of the Railways Act, 1989, the sum assured is paid to the victim/family or legal heir of the victim as the case may be.

The  insurance  coverage  is  valid  from  the  actual  departure  of train  from  the  originating  station  to  actual  arrival  of  train  at  the destination  station  including  'process  of  entraining'  and  'process  of detraining' the train.

The sum assured given to the victim/family  or  legal  heir  of  the victim is as follows:-

- 10 lakh,
- (i) In case of Death-`
- (ii) Permanent Total Disability -` 10 Lakh,
- (iii) Permanent Partial Disability  upto-` 7.5 Lakh,
- (iv) Hospitalization Expenses for Injury -` 2 Lakh,
- (v)Transportation of mortal remains -` 10 Thousand.

Presently, IRCTC is providing this insurance facility through 3 Insurance Companies namely (i) M/s Bharti Axa General Insurance Co. Ltd.,  (ii)  Bajaj  Allianz  General  Insurance  Co.  Ltd.,  &  (iii)  Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd.

(d) and (e): No, Madam. Optional Travel Insurance Scheme is being run on a pilot basis w.e.f. 01.09.2016 and the scheme has been extended up  to  31.08.2019.  The  scheme  is  available  only  to  Confirmed/RAC railway  passengers  who  book  their  online  e-ticket  through  Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 689 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Meetings of MPs with Concerned GMs
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 689 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## MEETINGS OF MPs WITH CONCERNED GMs

## 689.  SHRI KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that the advisory Committee meetings being held with concerned railway GMs and Members of Parliament has displayed dissatisfaction  among  MPs  as  none  of  the  advices  have  been taken  into  consideration,  while  taking  up  railway  projects  in their respective States;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to achieve fruitful results of such meetings in future?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to  (c):  The  suggestions  given  by  Hon'ble  Members  of Parliament  (MPs)  during  the  meetings  of  Divisional  Committee held with Zonal Railways are duly noted and considered while planning/executing  projects  which  are  subject  to  feasibility, need and availability of funds.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Special Category Status
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: MURALI MOHAN MAGANTI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 688 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

## 688. SHRI  M. MURALIMOHAN:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of States that have been granted Special Category Status (SCS);
- (b) the criterion followed for granting SCS; and
- (c)  the reasons for not granting special status to the State of Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a)  &  (b)  Eleven  States  granted  Special  Category  Status  are  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Assam, Himachal  Pradesh,  Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Manipur,  Meghalaya,  Mizoram,  Nagaland,  Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand.  Special Category Status for plan assistance has been granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to some States that are characterized by a number of features necessitating special consideration.  These features include: (i) hilly and difficult  terrain  (ii)  low  population  density  and  /  or  sizeable  share  of  tribal  population  (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of state finances. Special Category Status has been granted based on an integrated consideration of these criteria.
- (c)    The  Fourteenth  Finance  Commission  recommended  the  transfer  to  the  states  by devolution  and  grants-in-aid  for  the  period  2015-20  which  was  accepted  by  the  Central Government. The Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) in its recommendations has not made any distinction between General Category States and Special Category States in the horizontal distribution  of  shareable  taxes  amongst  the  States.  As  per  the  recommendationsof  the Fourteenth Finance Commission, the States' share of Central taxes has increased from 32% earlier  to  42% for the period 2015-2020. Also, post-devolution revenue deficit grants have been  provided  to  States  where  devolution  alone  could  not  cover  the  assessed  gap.  The 14 th Finance  Commission  has recommended Revenue Deficit Grant of  Rs.22,112 crore to Andhra Pradesh for the period 2015-20.

Even though special category status has not been conferred to the state of Andhra Pradesh,  the  Central  Government  has  agreed  to  give  a  special  assistance  measure  for Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  for  five  years,  which  would  make  up  for  the  additional Central share the State might have received during these years i.e, 2015-16 to 2019-20. This will be in the form of Central Government funding for externally aided projects for the state of Andhra Pradesh signed and disbursed during these years.

----
Lok Sabha Question No. 686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Attack on Army Camps
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: LAXMAN GILUWA, RAMA DEVI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.686

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## ATTACK  ON  ARMY  CAMPS

686. SHRI  LAXMAN  GILUWA: SHRIMATI  RAMA  DEVI:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Indian  soldiers  are  being  killed  in  terrorist  attacks  on  army  camps  in Kashmir;
- (b) if so, the month-wise number of soldiers killed during the last one year till date;
- (c) the details of various security measures taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) the success achieved as a result of the action taken?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

j{kk jkT; ea=h

¼Mk . lqHkk'k Hkkejs½

- (a) & (b): One terrorist  attack  on  Army  Camp  has  been  recorded  in  the year 2018 in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.  Terrorists carried out one suicide attack at Army Camp Sunjuwan, Jammu on 10 th February, 2018 in which Army personnel sustained six fatal and six non fatal casualties.
- (c) & (d): The Defence Services have taken up number  of actions including risk categorization  of military bases; appraisal and  upgradation of intelligence gathering capabilities; strengthening and streamlining of the response mechanism; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); periodic security audit  of  all  military  installations  etc.    The  Army  also  carries  out  indepth analysis of the terrorist incidents and security breaches that are identified with various incidents.  Perimeter security projects of all the three Armed Forces have been sanctioned by  the  Government.  Many  works  for strengthening  the  security  infrastructure  of  Defence  establishments  have been completed.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 683 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Delay of Trains due to Fog
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.683 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## DELAY OF TRAINS DUE TO FOG

†683. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether Duranto, Rajdhani, Shatabdi and other premium trains are reaching  their  destinations  very  late  even  after  clearance  of  foggy conditions;
- (b)  if  so,  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  action  taken  against  those committing such negligence; and
- (c) the measures proposed for running premium trains on time?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)   A large number of trains including Duranto, Rajdhani, Shatabdi and other premium trains are affected every year during foggy weather in the winter months in Northern parts of the country.
- (b) and (c) Following measures  are being taken for safety of passengers and trains during foggy weather: (i)    Extensive  footplate  inspections  by  Officers  and  Supervisors, particularly during night hours are being ensured. (ii) There are directives for Loco Pilot that during fog, when Loco pilot feels that visibility is restricted due to fog, he shall run at a speed at which he can control the train so as to be prepared to stop short of
- any obstruction.

Also  punctuality  of  passenger  carrying  trains  including  Duranto, Rajdhani, Shatabdi  and  other premium  trains  is  being  monitored rigorously on a daily basis at Divisional, Zonal and Railway Board levels by  Divisional  Railway  Managers  (DRMs),  General  Managers  (GMs)  and Railway  Board  Members  and  Senior  officers.    To  ensure  running  of these  trains  right  time  when  pairing  trains  are  running  late,  scratch rakes are inducted and rakes are standardized to the extent operationally feasible. Also various steps have  been  initiated to improve punctuality such as prioritization of preventive maintenance of assets  to  minimize  asset  failures,  capacity  enhancement  projects  by construction of additional loop lines at stations, doubling, construction of  third  line  corridors,  automatic  signalling,  construction  of  limited height subways to replace level crossings, Road Under Bridges (RUB) and  Road  Over  Bridges  (ROB)  etc.  Besides,  punctuality  drives  are launched from time to time and staff involved in train operations  are sensitized. In addition, Zonal Railways have also been advised to have better  coordination  with  Civil  and  Police  authorities  of  States  to  deal with situations arising out of law and order problems.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 680 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Delay in Kollam Station Development Works
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.680

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## DELAY IN KOLLAM STATION DEVELOPMENT WORKS

## 680. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  present  status  of  the  development  works  at  the  Kollam Railway  Station  along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to complete various works at the above station in a time bound manner;
- (b) whether it is a fact that delay in execution of the various works is causing much hurdles to the passengers and if so, the action taken in this regard;
- (c) the details of the action taken by the Government to complete the construction  of  second  entry  works  at  the  above  station  in  a  time bound manner;
- (d) whether delay in sanctioning funds is the main reason for delay in carrying  out  the  railway  developmental  works  and  if  so,  the  action taken for timely release of the funds; and
- (e)  the  other  measures  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  ensure  that such  delays  do  not  adversely  affect  the  completion  of  various developmental works at the above station?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  to  (e)  The  Structural  works  of  Second  Entry  Arch  has  been completed  at  Kollam  Railway  Station  &  ornamental/finishing  is  in

progress.    The  work  of  Second  Entry  building  and  development  of circulating area is in final stage of completion. The work of Foot Over Bridge connecting Second Entry to Platform No.2/3 to Platform No.1 has been planned for completion in 2019-20. Works for two escalators and two lifts is also sanctioned and shall be completed after completion of Foot Over Bridge works. There has been no delay on account of shortage of funds as adequate funds have been provided for completing all the developmental works at Kollam Station. Besides this, reviewing pending/ongoing projects is a continuous process taken up with the concerned authorities to assess impediments  affecting  the  projects  and  their  mitigation  to  expedite progress of the projects. To expedite completion of projects, a number of  initiatives  have  been  taken  to  speed  up  the  works  like  increased allocation  of  funds,  funding  through  loan  from  institutions  like  Life Insurance Corporation, execution of projects through Special Purpose Vehicles, etc. In  addition,  the  progress of  works is being monitored at divisional as well as headquarter level for early completion.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 678 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Representation of the People Act
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 678

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 06 th  FEBRUARY, 2019

## REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT

†678. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken or proposes to take any steps to make provision in The Representation of the People Act to de-register those political parties which came to power after registering win in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections but failed to fulfil the promises made in their election manifesto during the third year of their rule as well as failed to fulfil 75 per cent of promises made in the election manifesto; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): No, Madam.

- (b): Does not arise.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 677 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Zone-wise Audit of Rakes
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD, MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 677

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## ZONE-WISE AUDIT OF RAKES

677. SHRI D.S. RATHOD:

## SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  zone-wise  audit  of  daily,  biweekly or tri-weekly passenger/express rakes of their lie-over period after reaching their destinations;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if  not, the reasons for not exploring the same for revenue generations for further  nearby  extensions  which  could  also  be  considered  as  additional trains in the vicinity; and
- (d) the time by which the Government would come with a comprehensive plan for extension of trains to nearby destinations during their lie over period?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a)  to  (d)    Indian  Railways,  in  its  constant  endeavors  to  make  optimal utilization  of  rolling  stock,  regularly  reviews  the  utilization  of  the  Coaching stock and makes effort to gainfully utilize the lie-over periods by extending existing trains services and by operating special trains during the festivals/winter/summer periods. Besides, the lie-over periods are also utilized for running new trains, whenever feasible.  During 2018-19, Indian Railways, have  been  able  to  gainfully  extend  51  pairs  of  trains  utilizing  their  lie-over period at the destination stations to augment revenue earning and convenience of passengers. Indian Railways have recently decided to extend additional 22 pairs of trains utilizing their lie-over periods.

*****