opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 131 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: National Statistical Office
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *131

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## NATIONAL STATISTICAL OFFICE

## 131.    DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  regarding  restructuring  of  statistical  system  by merging the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)  with  the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to form the National Statistical Office (NSO);
- (b)  the details of impact of merger on the independence of NSSOgenerated statistical information system and the current status of the National Statistical Commission, particularly following the resignation of two such statisticians; and
- (c) whether the centralization of data is likely to affect the timely release  of  the  statistics  for  public  research  and  debate,  if  so,  the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPNDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPNDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(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. *131 for 27.11. 2019.

- (a) In pursuance to the decisions of the Union Cabinet on 19.05.2005, the Government, through its resolution dated 01.06.2005, decided to set up the National Statistical Commission.   It  also  decided  to  merge  the  National  Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) and Central Statistical Organisation (CSO)  into  a  single  entity  called  the  National  Statistical  Office (NSO).
- (b) The national statistical  system  in  India  is  decentralised  at  the Central and State Government level, and works in an ecosystem of  independence  and  autonomy  in  its  statistical  processes  and generation of statistical products. The Government also adopted the  United  Nations  Fundamental  Principles of  Official  Statistics (UNFPOS) in May, 2016, which strengthens the national statistical  system  in  producing  reliable  data  by  adhering  to internationally agreed professional and scientific standards. The merger of CSO and NSSO to form the NSO leverages the strength of  the  two  organisations  in  meeting  the  increasing  demands  of quality statistics. The National Statistical Commission has been re-constituted  by  the  Ministry  vide  its  Notification  dated  18th July, 2019, appointing a part-time Chairman and three part-time Members with effect from 15.07.2019.
- (c) The  key  statistical  products  produced  by  the  Ministry  are released  as  per  the  Advance  Release  Calendar.  Further,  the Ministry has also made available all primary data collected to the public free of cost since April, 2019.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 127 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Hindi Medium for Competitive Examinations
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Giridhari Yadav, Rama Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING)

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 127

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019)

## HINDI MEDIUM FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS

## †*127. SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV: SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  competitive  examinations  held  for  the Indian Forest Service, Indian Economic Service, Indian Statistical Service, Geological and Engineering Service cannot be written in Hindi medium due to their technical nature;
- (b) if  so,  whether the Government has ever selected Hindi as a medium for such technical education related competitive examinations;
- (c) if  so,  the  basis  on  which Hindi has been deprived as a medium for such examinations; and
- (d) the reaction of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

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

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE PARTS (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  127  FOR  ANSWER  ON  27.11.2019  RAISED  BY SHRI  GIRIDHAR  YADAV  &  SHRIMATI  RAMA  DEVI,  MP  REGARDING  HINDI MEDIUM FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS

(a)  to  (d):  The  Union  Public  Service  Commission  (UPSC)  conducts  the  Indian  Forest  Service Examination, the Indian Economic Service / Indian Statistical Service Examination (a clubbed examination), the Combined Geo-Scientist and the Geologist Examination and the Engineering Services Examination as per the Rules of the Examinations framed and notified by the Nodal Departments/Ministries of the Government of India.

UPSC and the respective cadre controlling authorities of these services are seized of the matter.  In  fact,  UPSC  had  constituted  a  High  Level  Standing  Committee  to  examine  the modalities of implementing the Parliamentary Resolution on Official Languages dated 18.01.1968. The Committee had, in its Report submitted in the year 2012, which was accepted by UPSC, underlined certain constraints such as practical/operational difficulties in getting the precise Hindi translation of question papers; especially in technical papers (Engineering, Medical Science etc.); growth of Hindi and other languages in the higher educational system, which are existing as of today.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 126 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Ban on Sand Mining
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Manoj Kumar Tiwari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 126

## ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## BAN ON SAND MINING

- *126. SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to ban all the sand mining activities in the Yamuna river in the near future;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  including  the  plan  outlay  and  implementation  procedure  thereof, especially in Delhi/NCR; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

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

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  of  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  126  FOR  ANSWER  ON  27.11.2019  ASKED  BY  SHRI MANOJ TIWARI REGARDING BAND ON SAND MINING.

(a)  to  (c):  Sir,  Sand  is  a  minor  mineral  under  Section  3(e)  of  the  Mines  and  Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957. Section 15 of the MMDR Act, 1957, empowers the  State  Governments  to  make  rules  for  regulating  the  grant  of  minor  mineral concessions.  Moreover,  Section  23C  of  the  MMDR  Act,  also  empowers  the  State Governments to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals and for the purposes connected therewith. Thus, minor minerals are regulated at  the  level  of  State  Government.  Ministry  of  Mines  has  prepared  a  'Sand  Mining Framework'  in  consultation  with  Mining  Departments  of  the  States  incorporating  best practices  amongst  States  and  suggestions  based  on  the  objectives  of  sustainability, availability, affordability and transparency in sand mining. The 'Sand Mining Framework' was circulated to all the States for necessary action.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 122 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Recruitment in Army
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Harish Dwivedi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 122

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 th  November, 2019

## RECRUITMENT IN ARMY

## *122. SHRI HARISH DWIVEDI:

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

- (a) whether the recruitment in the Army is conducted on the basis of the population of a State;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the percentage of population of a State eligible to be recruited along with the reasons therefor;
- (c) the time since when the said rule has been in place;
- (d) whether the said rule is uniformly applicable to all the States; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

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## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SHRI RAJNATH SINGH)

j{kk ea=h

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(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.  122  FOR  ANSWER  ON  27.11.2019 REGARDING 'RECRUITMENT IN ARMY'.

- (a)  to  (e):  Recruitment  in  the  Indian  Army  is  based  on  annual  wastage  rate,  the Recruitable  Male  Population  (RMP)  of  States/UTs  as  well  as  intake  pattern  of

previous years into the Army. RMP is reckoned as 10% of the total male population of the State/UT, based on the Census  of  India  Report  2011.  RMP  Factor  for  a  State/UT  is  calculated  as  the proportion of RMP of the State/UT to the RMP of India. This  policy  is  being  implemented  since  1966  and  is  uniformly  enforced  in  all  the States/UTs.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1610 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Facilities for 5G Network
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Vinod Chavda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1610 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH   NOVEMBER, 2019

## FACILITIES FOR 5G NETWORK

## 1610. SHRI VINOD L. CHAVDA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  provided  adequate  facilities  to  operate  5G  network  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps 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) The  radio  spectrum  and  the  telecom  licenses  being  awarded  by  the  Government  are technology  neutral  and  can  facilitate  deployment  of  any  network/services.  The  standards  for  IMT 2020 (International Mobile Telecommunications 2020), also known as 5G technologies in industry, are being finalised. After finalisation of  IMT 2020 standards, question of adequate facility will arise.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1609 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Revival of Sirkali Power Project
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Thirumaa Valavan Thol

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1609 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## Revival of Sirkali Power Project

## 1609.        SHRI THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOL:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)        whether NLC India Ltd. which conceived a 4000 MW coal based power project at Sirkali in Nagappattinam district of Tamil Nadu in 2010 has dropped the same in 2017 and started new project in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)        whether dropping of power project at Sirkali has deprived jobs and development to the region;
- (c)          if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  received  request  for  revival  of  the  Sirkali  Power project; and
- (d)       whether the Government is considering to revive the project, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES

## (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a  &  b) NLC India Limited (NLCIL) had proposed to establish a coal based Thermal Power Project of 3960/4000 MW in two phases at Sirkali in the District of Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu. Talabira II & III coal blocks in the State of Odisha was allotted to NLCIL for meeting the coal requirements of NTPL (a subsidiary company of NLCIL) and the Sirkali Power Project.

The Sirkali Power Project was conceived in 2010, Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed  in  2011  and  land  was  not  sanctioned.  In  the  changed  scenario,  when  the  merit  order generation is emerging as a market imperative, demanding cost competitiveness on the part of a power generator to produce / provide cheaper power, it was felt that establishment of a pithead power station of equal capacity (4000 MW) in the vicinity of Talabira Mines in Odisha would avoid transportation of huge quantum of coal for a long distance and thereby reducing the cost of generation of power. Accordingly, power project at Sirkali was dropped at the initial stage only.

- (c)        No, Sir.
- (d)         Does not arise in view of (c) above.

* * * *
Lok Sabha Question No. 1608 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Revenue Generation through Advertisement
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ajay (Teni) Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1608 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## REVENUE GENERATION THROUGH ADVERTISEMENT

†1608.  SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISRA TENI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken a decision to use/book trains for advertisement with a view to generate additional revenue;
- (b) if so, the additional revenue likely to be generated through this new scheme; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): In order to generate additional revenue for Indian Railways, Railway Board has empowered General Managers to permit advertising on trains through vinyl wrapping under the windows. A fixed rate of ` 25 lakhs per year per rake for EMU/DMU/MEMU and fixed rate of ` 50 lakhs per year per rake for other coaching  trains has  been  fixed for Central/State  Governments  and  other  Public  Sector  Undertakings  for 0the  same.  By  following  these  guidelines  Indian  Railways  has  earned ` 1.50  cr.  and ` 1  cr.  during  2018-19  &  2019-20  (upto  October,  2019) respectively.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1606 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Train Accidents due to NonAvailability of LHBs
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ganesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1606 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## TRAIN ACCIDENTS DUE TO NON- AVAILABILITY OF LHBs

## †1606. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  more  train  accidents  are  taking  place  due  to  nonavailability of LHB coaches in trains;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  behind  the  scarcity  of LHB coaches;
- (c)  the details of the trains passing through West Central Railway and Satna Railway Station in Central Railway and the number of trains out  of  them  which  has  not  been  provided  with  LHB  coaches; and
- (d)  the time by when Mahakaushal Express and Howrah-Mumbai Mail would be fitted with LHB coaches?

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

- (a) No, Sir.
- (b)   Does not arise.

(c)      Of  the  79  pairs  of  trains  presently  passing  through  Satna station,  33  pairs  are  being  operated  with  Linke  Hofmann  Busch (LHB) coaches.

(d) 12189/12190 Jabalpur-Hazrat Nizamuddin Mahakaushal Express  is  being  operated  with  LHB  coaches  w.e.f.  21.11.2019. 12321/12322  Howrah-Mumbai  (CSMT)  Mail  is  presently  running with Integral Coach Factory (ICF) design coaches. Conversion of the rakes of this train into LHB coaches is a part of the on-going process  on  Indian  Railways  of  replacing  ICF  design  rakes  with LHB rakes in a phased manner.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1605 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Railway Line between Dehri on Sone to Banjari
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Chhedi Paswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1605 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN DEHRI ON SONE TO BANJARI

†1605. SHRI CHHEDI PASWAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has proposed to construct railway line from Dehri on Sone to Banjari in East Central Railways;
- (b) if so, the details and the present status thereof;
- (c) whether all the formalities have been completed by the Government  to  construct  this  36.04  Km.  long  railway  line  that  was proposed and sanctioned in the Budget 2008-09;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government contemplates to expedite the construction of this railway line for transportation of the people of this region and passengers of far flung areas; and
- (f)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to  (f)  :    Yes,  Sir.  Dehri-On-Sone-Banjari  (35  Km)  New  Line  is  a sanctioned project having latest anticipated cost as ₹ 1002.92 Cr.

The Final Location Survey (FLS) & Soil testing for this project has been completed.

Work of land acquisition & forestry clearance has been taken up.

Application for land acquisition for 37 villages out of 45 villages has been  submitted  with  State  Government.  So  far,  possession  of  9.915 acre land in 01 village has been taken over.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1604 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Expanding Supreme Court Bench
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: M V V Satyanarayana

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1604

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 27.11.2019

## Expanding Supreme Court Bench

1604.  SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

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

- (a) whether Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice suggested for expanding the Supreme Court bench or separate bench in Chennai on trial basis; and
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Union  Government  is  considering  to  open  a separate bench of Supreme Court at Chennai or Visakhapatnam or Vijayawada  in  Andhra  Pradesh  or  in  any  southern  parts  of  the country?

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a):  Yes,  Sir.  A  suggestion  has  been  received  in  Department  related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in its meeting held on 04.10.2019 for establishment of regional benches of the Supreme Court.

(b): The Government has been receiving representations at various times from  various  quarters  for  establishment  of  Benches  of  Supreme  Court  in various parts of the country. The Law Commission, in its 229th Report had also  suggested  that  a  Constitutional  Bench  be  set  up  at  Delhi  and  four Cassation Benches be set up in the Northern region at Delhi, the Southern region  at  Chennai/Hyderabad,  the  Eastern  region  at  Kolkata  and  the Western  region  at  Mumbai.  The  idea  of  a  separate  Bench  of  Supreme Court outside Delhi has not found favour with the Supreme Court of India.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Chinese Submarine
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kapil Moreshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1602 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## CHINESE SUBMARINE

## †1602. SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether a Chinese submarine run on atomic energy stationed at Colombo International Container T erminal is a security threat for India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether   India   has   raised   its   concern   to   Sri   Lankan   Government regarding presence of increasing Chinese forces in the area;
- (d) if so, the reaction of Sri Lankan Government in this regard; and
- (e) the   corrective   measures   adopted/proposed   by   the   Government immediately in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) There have been no recent reports of Chinese submarines docking at Sri Lankan ports.

Government keeps a close watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and economic interests, and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it. India and Sri Lanka share a strong and multi-faceted relationship and cooperate closely on various issues including defence and security aspects. India is confident about the strength and enduring nature of its bilateral ties with Sri Lanka.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1601 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: 4G Services by BSNL and MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Keshari Devi Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1601 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH   NOVEMBER, 2019

## 4G SERVICES BY BSNL AND MTNL

## †1601. SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to launch 4G services in BSNL and MTNL;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the reasons for delay in launching of 4G services in BSNL and MTNL; and

(d) whether  the  Government  has  discriminated  against  the  public  sector  telecom  companies  in order to promote their private counterpart?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) While BSNL has introduced 4G services in its network on limited scale at few places using its existing spectrum, the Cabinet in its meeting held on 23.10.2019 has approved the revival plan for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) which inter-alia includes administrative allotment of spectrum to BSNL and MTNL for providing 4G services through capital infusion by the Government. To support BSNL and MTNL, the revival plan for  BSNL/MTNL  also  includes  measures  to  reduce  the  staff  cost  through  a  Voluntary  Retirement Scheme (VRS) to the employees of age 50  years  and  above,  monetisation  of  assets  of  BSNL  and MTNL,  debt  restructuring  by  raising  of  sovereign  guarantee  bonds  and  in-principle  approval  for merger of BSNL and MTNL

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