opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1712 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: Functioning of Lokpal
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1712

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.09.2020)

## FUNCTIONING OF LOKPAL

## 1712. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Government has started  functioning with  Lokpal  which  has  appointed  the  top officers in place since last one and a half year;
- (b) the details of the cases registered under Lokpal for disposal till date;
- (c) the number of cases that have been resolved since its commencement;
- (d) whether the required staff has been nominated for functioning of the Lokpal; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## 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):   The institution of Lokpal has been functioning since the appointment of its Chairperson and eight Members in March, 2019.
- (b) & (c):   Lokpal is an independent statutory body established under section 3 of the Lokpal and  Lokayuktas  Act,  2013.  In  terms  of  Section  48  of  the  said  Act,  the  Lokpal  is  required  to present annually to the President a report on the work done by it, which is caused to be laid in both the Houses of the Parliament.
- (d) & (e):   The Government has sanctioned 124 posts for the Lokpal at various levels including that  of  the  Joint  Secretary,  Director/Deputy  Secretary,  Under  Secretary,  Section  Officer, Accounts Officer as well as secretarial and support staff.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1711 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: Amending Rubber Act
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Thomas Chazhikadan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1711 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st   SEPTEMBER, 2020

## AMENDING RUBBER ACT

## 1711.  SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any proposal to amend/repeal the Rubber Act 1947;
- (b) if so, the reasons for the same and the details of the proposed amendments;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  obtained  the  opinion  of  the  Rubber  Board,  representatives  of rubber planters, representatives of rubber Industries, and other interested parties on the proposed amendments to the Rubber Act and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is considering a reduction in budget allocation to the Rubber Board in the form of various subsidies such as new plantation, replantation etc during the current financial year and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the rubber planters have great concern over the abovementioned factors and if so, the steps being taken by the Government for redressal of their grievances?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y )

## THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b): There is no proposal to repeal the Rubber Act, 1947. However, to bring the provisions of the Rubber Act, 1947 in tune with the current environmental realities, Rubber Board has proposed certain amendments in the Rubber Act, 1947, on issues like applicability of the Act to whole of India, including Jammu & Kashmir, repealing of sections relating to cess on rubber on account of being subsumed in GST etc.

(c):       The amendments were discussed and recommended at the 179 th meeting of the Rubber Board held on 05.11.2019.  The Board constituted under Section 4 of the Rubber Act, has representation of various  stakeholders  of  the  rubber  sector.  The  meeting  was  also  attended  by  special  invitees representing stakeholder associations from the rubber sector.

(d) & (e): The budget allocation / release for the Rubber Board for the year 2019-20, inclusive of a supplementary grant of Rs.41.20 Crore in addition to the BE amount of Rs. 170 Crore, was Rs. 211.20 Crore. The budget allocation of the Board for the year 2020-21 under BE is Rs. 221.34 Crore. Thus, there is no decrease in the allocation. The Medium Term Framework  (2017-18 to 2019-20) Scheme, has been extended till 31 st March, 2021, for the benefit of the sector.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: Rocket Launching Port
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: P. Ravindhranath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1710 ROCKET LAUNCHING PORT

1710.  SHRI P. RAVEENDRANATH KUMAR:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  status  of  setting  up  of  our  country's  second  space  rocket launching  port  by  ISRO  in  Kulasekarapattinam,  located  in Tamil Nadu;
- (b) the details of number of launch pads that are being proposed at the said space port; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Union  Government  to  increase  India's share  in  the  global  space  sector  market  size  keeping  in  view the policy decision by the Union in opening up the space sector to the private sector?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As  per  the  request  of  Department  of  Space,  Government  of Tamil  Nadu  has  identified  961.66.90  hectares  in  Thoothukudi district.  Land  survey  is  completed  for  431.87.74  hectares  and preliminary notification has  been  issued. Survey  work  for balance area is in advance stage.

(b) At  present,  one  Launch  Pad  is  being  proposed  at  the  second launch port at Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu. (c) Center's  policy  decision  of  opening  up  of  space  sector  for private players enables them to develop various space qualified subsystems and systems along  with building  of  satellites  and launch vehicles. They are also permitted to establish facilities and  provide  launch  services  and  other  space  based  services. Many of these services and products will definitely find global customers, which will increase India's share in the global space sector market.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1709 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: e-Commerce Policy
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Margani Bharat

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1709. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 21 ST   SEPTEMBER, 2020.

## e-COMMERCE POLICY

## 1709.  SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

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

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) the aims and objectives of e-Commerce Policy including the areas which the above policy is proposed to focus on;
- (b) whether the said policy is likely to help in attracting startups, investment and creation of new jobs in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  suggestions  received  from  stakeholders  and  others  on  the  draft e-Commerce Policy;
- (d) whether any decision has been taken by RBI in the first week of September, 2020, to treat loans given to startups as priority lending loans in order to assist these startups; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a) & (b): On 23 rd February, 2019, the first draft of the National e-Commerce policy was placed  in  public  domain  for  comments/  suggestions.  The  draft  National e-commerce  policy  seeks  to  create  a  facilitative  regulatory  environment  for growth of e-commerce sector. It is aimed at empowering domestic entrepreneurs and to encourage Make in India while safeguarding interests of the consumers and facilitating job creation.

The draft policy acknowledges the need of supporting start-ups by facilitating access  to  data,  inviting  investment  in  the  e-commerce  infrastructure  and creation of employment.

- (c) Comments  from  over  100  stakeholders  (companies  both  Indian  and  foreign, Industry  associations,  think  tanks,  foreign  governments)  have  been  received and are received from time to time, on aspects of definition of e-commerce, role of  customs  in  exports,  anti-counterfeit  and  anti-piracy  provisions,  free  cross border flow of data and related liability on e-commerce companies.
- (d) & (e): As per RBI Master Directions on Priority Sector Lending dated  September 4, 2020,  loans  up  to ₹ 50  Crore  to  Start-ups,  as  per  definition  of  Ministry  of Commerce  and  Industry,  Govt.  of  India,  are  eligible  for  classification   under Priority Sector.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1707 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: JIRIBAM -IMPHAL Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ranjan Singh Rajkumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1707 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.09.2020

JIRIBAM - IMPHAL RAILWAY LINE

1707.  DR. RAJKUMAR RANJAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the progress of ongoing crucial infrastructure project of 110 Km. long Jiribam-Imphal railway line as on date;
- (b) whether  the  deadline  for  completion  of  Jiribam-Imphal  railway project which was set as December, 2020 has been postponed; and
- (c) if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(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 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1707 BY DR. RAJKUMAR RANJAN SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 21.09.2020 REGARDING JIRIBAM - IMPHAL RAILWAY LINE

(a): Jiribam-Imphal (110.625 km) new line project has been included in Budget in 2003-04.  The latest anticipated cost of the project is ` 12,264 crore. An expenditure of ` 10,089 crore has been incurred upto March, 2020 and an outlay of ` 800 crore has been provided for financial year 2020-21.

12km length from Jiribam to Vangaichungpao has been completed and commissioned in March, 2017 and work has been taken up in the available land.

Mining  of  46  nos.  tunnels  out  of  total  47  tunnels  have  been completed.  Mining of 47.40 km tunnel has been done during 2014-19, which is 110% more than tunnel mining done during 2009-14 (22.52 km).

5 out of 11 major bridges, 108 out of 128 minor bridges, 3 out of 5 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and 2 out of 12 Road Under Bridges (RUBs) have been completed.

(b) and (c):      Completion of any Railway project depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance  by  officials of forest department,  shifting of infringing utilities,  statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project site, number of working months in a year for particular project site  due  to  climatic  conditions  etc.  and  all  these  factors  differ  from project to project and affect the completion time of the project.

Jiribam-Imphal  new  line  project  is  a  challenging  project  in  the hilly  terrain  of  young  Himalayas  having  47  nos.  tunnels,  156  nos. bridges including 141 metre high pier bridge etc.  In addition, COVID-19 pandemic has also adversely affected the progress of the work at site. As such, firm completion time of the project cannot be ascertained at this stage.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: Restructuring the Railway Board
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sushil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1704 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.09.2020

## RESTRUCTURING THE RAILWAY BOARD

## 1704.    SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has recently restructured the Railway Board;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the benefits of such restructuring;
- (d) the status of unification of all Group 'A' railway services into one service; and
- (e) the  deadline  by  which  the  whole  unification  of  services  is likely to take place?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b)  Yes, Sir.  Railway Board has recently been re-organized on  functional  lines  headed  by  Chairman,  Railway  Board  &  Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and comprising 4 other members namely:-
- i) Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board
- ii) Member {Traction & Rolling Stock (T&RS)}, Railway Board

- iii) Member  {Operations  &  Business  Development  (O&BD)}, Railway Board,
- iv)      Member (Finance), Railway Board.

The  posts  of  Members  of  the  Board  are  now  open  to  all  eligible Officers of Railways regardless of the Organised Service Cadres to which they belong.

- (c) The objective of reorganization of Railway Board on functional lines  is  to  put  Railways  firmly  on  the  path  of  modernization  by energizing the cadre of Railway Officers to work unitedly and singlemindedly  with  a  vision  to  transform  Indian  Railways  into  a  world class railway system.
- (d) Alternate mechanism and Committee of Secretaries have been formed to consider and finalise the modalities of formation of Indian Railway Management Services (IRMS).
- (e) Government had set a time frame of one year from 24.12.2019 to complete the process of unification of all Group 'A' services into one service.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1701 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: New Private Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rebati Tripura

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1701

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.09.2020

## NEW PRIVATE TRAINS

1701. SHRI REBATI TRIPURA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to start new private trains;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  funds  allocated  and  used, mechanism put in place and nodal officials appointed in this regard, State-wise; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a)  to (c)  Ministry of Railways (MoR) has invited applications for investment and induction of modern rakes over select routes through Public Private Partnership (PPP)  to  provide  world  class  services  to  the  passengers.  As  part  of  this initiative, MOR has issued 12 Requests for Qualification (RFQs) on 1 st  July, 2020 for operation of passenger trains over approximately 109 origin-destination pairs (divided  into  12  clusters)  through  PPP  on  Design,  Build,  Finance  and  Operate ('DBFO') basis. The routes are spread across the entire Indian Railway network which cut across state boundaries and the list is available in the public domain namely, http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/IndicativeRoutesfor12clusters.pdf. The responsibility of train operations and safety certification rests with Indian Railways.

At  present,  no  funds  have  been  allocated  for  operation  of  passenger train  services  through  PPP  mode.  Under  the  initiative,  the  private  operators, selected through a transparent bidding process, are to invest around ₹ 30,000 crore  in  the  project  clusters  for  inducting  modern  rakes  and  for  setting  up maintenance depots. The  project  clusters  are  not  organized  state-wise  and  the  identified train services cover the Indian Railways network straddling across the boundaries  of  the  States.  Accordingly,  state  wise  nodal  officers  are  not contemplated for the project.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1700 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: Trains from Gandhidham to Delhi
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1700 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.09.2020

## TRAINS FROM GANDHIDHAM TO DELHI

†1700.   SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  people  of  Jalor  district  centre  have  no  direct  rail  service from  Jalor  to  Delhi  and  Jaipur  even  after  ten  years  of  broad-guage conversion due to which they have to cover a journey of 200 kilometers to Jodhpur to board train to reach Jaipur and the people belonging to Sancher, Raniwada, Bhinmal, Jalor have to cover a distance of about eight hundred miles  in  private  buses  to  reach  Delhi  which  is  expensive  and  causes difficulty particularly to children and women;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  a  train  from Gandhidham to Delhi via Jalor (Samdadi-Bhildi); and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  to  (c)  Prior  to  discontinuation  of  passenger  train  services  to  prevent spread of COVID-19 pandemic, Samdhari (59 km from Jalor) was connected to  both  Delhi  and  Jaipur  by  01  pair  and  02  pairs  of  Mail/Express  services respectively. Passengers of Jalor desirous of travelling to Delhi and Jaipur may avail services of these trains by a single changeover at Samdhari.

At  present,  all  regular  passenger  train  services  are  under  cancellation  in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, there is no immediate proposal for introduction of trains between Gandhidham and Delhi via Jalor.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1699 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: Reforms in MMDR Act
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1699

ANSWERED ON 21.09.2020

## REFORMS IN MMDR ACT

## 1699. SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government has proposed reforms to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation)Act,  wherein  any  violation  within  the  mining  lease  area  over-extraction  of minerals beyond the mining plan or by flouting environmental and forest laws will no longer be considered illegal mining;

(b) if so, the details and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether it is also a fact that the time given for comments and suggestions from the general public,  States  and  Union  Territories,  industry  and  other  stakeholders  is  just  10  days  -  a fraction of the 30-day minimum window under the pre-legislative consultation policy and if so, the details and the reasons therefor; and

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  also  proposed  amendments  to  auction  partially  explored mining blocks thereby risking larger minerals deposits getting auctioned at lower prices and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b)  Hon'ble Finance Minister on 16.05.2020 has made announcement for reforms in minig  sector  under  Atma-nirbhar  Bharat  Scheme  for  enhancing  private  investments  in  the Mineral  Sector  and  increasing  employment  in  the  sector.  In  order  to  implement  the announcements, Ministry of Mines has proposed composite reforms that are available on the website of the Ministry of Mines for consultation.

(c)  The  said  Policy  relates  to  legislative  amendments.  Comments/Suggestions  on  the proposed reforms including legislation were invited from State Government on 07.08.2020. A notice dated 24.08.2020 along with a note explaining the provisions of proposals was hosted on the website of the Ministry of Mines for seeking comments / suggestions from the General Public, Mining Industry, Stake Holders, Industry Associations and Other Entities concerned within a period of 10  days initially,  i.e.,  by  03.09.2020  and  the  time  for  seeking comments was further extended upto 10.09.2020. The details of the proposed reforms are still on  the  Ministry's  website  and  all  comments  including  from  State  Governments  being received even beyond 10.09.2020 will be considered upto 24.09.2020. A notice to this effect also been placed on the website of Ministry of Mines.

(d) Proposals related to mining reforms are available on the website of the Ministry of Mines for consultation.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: Train Services
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pradan Baruah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1696 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.09.2020

## TRAIN SERVICES

1696. SHRI PRADAN BARUAH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  time  by  which  the  people  of  Northern  bank  including  Arunachal Pradesh are likely to have regular and multiple train options for travel to rest of India; and

(a) the  time  by  which  the  services  between  Dhemaji  and  Guwahati  are likely to be resumed post covid-19 pandemic?

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b) Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, three long distance  train  services  including  one  Rajdhani  Express  were  already connecting the Northern Bank with the rest of country. With a view to contain  the  spread  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  Indian  Railways  has discontinued the regular passenger train services w.e.f. 23.03.2020. At present, only special trains with limited stoppages are being operated by Indian Railways keeping in view the concerns and suggestions of the  State  Governments.  Resumption  of  train  services,  including  the train  services  between  Dhemaji  and  Guwahati,  is  a  gradual  process keeping in view the pandemic situation and the recommendations of the State Governments concerned.

*****