opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 37 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Improvement in Rail Connectivity to Shirdi
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BHAGWANTH KHUBA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 37 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## IMPROVEMENT IN RAIL CONNECTIVITY TO SHIRDI

37.     SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA::

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  proposes  to  improve  rail  connectivity  in Nanded  via  Bidar  to  Shirdi  in  view  of  its  religious  and  historical importance;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) &  (b):  Survey  for  Bidar-Nanded  (154  Km)  new  line  has  been completed.  As per survey report, cost of the project is ₹ 2152 crore. Presently survey report is under examination.  Final decision will be taken  on  merits.    Nanded  to  Shirdi  are  already  connected  via Prabhani, Aurangabad and Manmad.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 36 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Green Card Applicants
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY, KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.36

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## GREEN CARD APPLICANTS

36. SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA: SHRI KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that there are a large number of Indian Green Card applicants;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the US Government is putting restrictions on the issue of green cards to the foreign nationals and thereby Indian aspirants are facing much difficulty in getting green cards;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has made any requests for relaxation of the norms for green cards on behalf of the Indian emigrants and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the response of the US Government thereon?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b) According to U.S. Government Statistics, the total number of Green   Cards   awarded   to   Indian   nationals   in   last   5   years   under   five categories (Employment-based; Family based; Diversity lottery; Refugees and Asylees; and Other) are as follows:

| Year                                   | FY2012   | FY2013   | FY2014   | FY2015   | FY201 6   |
|----------------------------------------|----------|----------|----------|----------|-----------|
| Green cards given to Indians nationals | 66,434   | 68,458   | 77,908   | 64,116   | 64,687    |

As per the information released by the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), as of May 2018, there are a total of 306,601 pending Green Card applications filed by Indian nationals under the EmploymentBased Preference Category. Information on Green Card applicants for other categories,   including   dependent   family   members   of   the   primary beneficiaries of Employment-Based Preference Category, is not available in public domain. (c) & (d) No   comprehensive   changes   have   been   made   by   the   US administration recently to the framework for issuance of green cards to foreign nationals. On 28 August 2017, USCIS  announced that it would expand  in-person   interviews   for:   (i)   adjustment   of   status   applications based on employment (employment based green card applications); and (ii)   petitions   seeking   refugee/asylum  status   with   effect   from   1   October 2017. (e) & (f) There are several proposals reportedly under consideration in the U.S. for reforming the immigration policy including the eligibility for Green   Cards.   The   Government   of   India   has   engaged   with   the   U.S. Administration   and   the   Congress   on   all   matters   relating   to   Indian immigrants and professionals working in the U.S..

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 35 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Vacant Posts of Judges in High Court in Kerala
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 35

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 18.07.2018

## Vacant Posts of Judges in High Court in Kerala

35. DR. P.K. BIJU:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a)   the number of sanctioned and vacant posts of Judges in High Court of Kerala; and (b)   the number of cases pending in Kerala High Court along with the details thereof

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

(a) : As on 12.07.2018 , against the sanctioned strength of 47 Judges, 35  Judges  are  working,  leaving    12  posts  vacant  in  the  Kerala  High Court. (b):  As  per  information  available  on  the  National  Judicial  Data  Grid (NJDG)  on  13.07.2018,  there  are  1,89,403  cases  pending  in  Kerala High Court.  Out of these, 81,407 are civil cases, 39,947 are criminal cases and 68,049 are Writ matters.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 33 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Rising Temperature
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 33

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2018

## RISING TEMPERATURE

33. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the average temperature in the country during the last ten years;
- (b) whether the average temperature has shown an alarmingly rising trend as compared to rest of the world; and
- (c) if  so,  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  tackle  this situation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) Madam, last ten years (2008 to 2017) average annual temperatureover the country as a whole was 26.20 0 C.
- (b) No, the latest IPCC report (2014) highlights that mean surface temperature of  the  globe  has  risen  by  0.85 0 C  ±  0.18 0 C.    However,  all  India  mean temperature  has  risen  nearly  around  0.64 0 C  (less  than  the  rise  in  global temperature) over the last 110 years.
- (c) Following  steps  have  been  undertaken  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  in  the area of Climate Change:
- i) Launched  a  high-priority  Programme  to  address  the  Science  issues  of Global and Regional Climate Change (GRCC) with a well-equipped stateof-the-art Center for Climate Change Research (CCCR) at Indian Institute of  Tropical  Meteorology  (IITM),  Pune  for  interdisciplinary  research  and training  in  the  area  of  science  of  climate  change.  The  Earth  System Model  (ESM)  has  been  developed  for  generating  future  climate  change scenarios. Currently, CCCR is leading 'Co-ordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX)' for the South Asian region under the aegis  of  the  World  Climate  Research  Program  (WCRP)  of  the  World Meteorological  Organisation  (WMO).  The  CORDEX  program  provides  an important  framework  for  a  co-ordinated  set  of  downscaled  regional climate  simulations  for  both  the  historical  past  and  future  decades. Training  workshops  are  also  conducted  for  end-users,  stakeholders  in the South Asian region.
- ii) The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) released in 2008 by Government of India. Outlines eight missions in specific areas of Solar Energy, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic knowledge for Climate Change. Eight National Missions form  the core  of the National Action  Plan,  representing multipronged,  long  term  and  integrated  strategies  for  achieving  key goals in the context of climate change.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 32 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Amendment in RTI Act
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 32

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018)

## AMENDMENT IN RTI ACT

## 32. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  considering  a  proposal  to  amend  the  Right  to  Information Act, 2005;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the present status of the said proposal;
- (c) whether  the  proposed  amendments  have  been  proactively  made  public  as  per  the  prelegislative Consultation Policy, 2014 and as per Section 4(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, whether the amendments will be placed in the public domain as per the said policy and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether any form of pre-legislative consultation has taken place while formulating this proposal and 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):      Yes, Madam.

(b)  to  (e):        A  notice  of  intention  has  been  given  to  introduce  'The  Right  to  Information (Amendment) Bill, 2018' in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and its passage during the current session  of  Parliament.  The  purport  of  the  amendments  proposed  is  to  provide  for  enabling provisions under the RTI Act to frame Rules regarding salaries, allowances and conditions of service  for  Chief  Information  Commissioners  and  Information  Commissioners  and  State Information Commissioners. Presently, there are no such provisions available under the RTI Act.

Consultations  with  Department  of  Expenditure,  Department  of  Legal  Affairs  and Legislative Department have been undertaken while preparing/ formulating the RTI (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 31 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Cancellation of 2 Plus 2 Meeting with US
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.31 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## CANCELLATION OF 2 PLUS 2 MEETING WITH US

31. SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   the   US   Administration   has   unilaterally   and   indefinitely postponed the proposed meeting of its Secretaries of State and Defence with the Indian Ministers of External Affairs and Defence and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether such abrupt announcement of postponement signifies that the US has put the diplomatic and strategic relations with India on the back-burner and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether issues   have   cropped   up   between   the   US   and   India   in connection with the imposition of sanctions by the US against Russia and Iran with whom India has trade and strategic relations and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether India is proceeding with its intended purchase of the S-400 Triumf Missile from Russia and oil from Iran as the discontinuance would be disastrous for India and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the US President is peeved over the fact that the Harley Davidson motorcycle imported from the US is subject to import duties on par with other such items and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (e) No. The meeting of Ministers of External Affairs and Defence with   U.S.   Secretaries   of   State   and   Defense   in   2+2   format   originally scheduled 06 July 2018, was postponed not unilaterally by the U.S. side, but after informing the Government of India. It was postponed at the request   of   US   Secretary   of   State,   Mike   Pompeo,   on   account   of   his unavoidable   and   unforeseen   commitments.   On   27   June   2018,   in   a telephone conversation with EAM, Secretary Pompeo expressed regret and sought   understanding   for   the   postponement.   On   28   June   2018,   U.S. Embassy in New Delhi in its press release stated that 'the scheduling change   was   prompted   by   reasons   entirely   unrelated   to   the   bilateral relationship....The U.S. remains firmly committed to a strong relationship with India'.  The two sides are in contact to identify mutually convenient dates for the meeting.

The postponement of 2+2 meeting is in no way related to any of the issues mentioned at c, d & e of the question.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 30 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Seawoods-Urban Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

- (a) & (b) :  No, Madam.

(c)  &  (d)  :  Periodic  meetings  are  held  between  CIDCO  and  Central  Railway  to monitor the progress of Belapur-Seawood-Uran Doubling Project. The last meeting was held on 26.06.2018.

The work is being implemented in two phases by CIDCO and Central Railway :

Phase  I:  Belapur-Seawood-Uran  (12.5  kms)  -  The  works  of  Central  Railway  are largely  completed.  The  works  of  Targhar,  Bamandongri  and  Kharkopar  stations are under execution by CIDCO.

Phase-II: Kharkopar (excluding) to Uran (14.5 kms) - Work has been taken up by Central Railway in this stretch except for 3 km length where 18 Hectare land is yet to be handed over .

Target date of completion cannot be fixed until station works are completed and land handed over by CIDCO.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 30 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## SEAWOODS-URBAN RAILWAY LINE

- † 30.   SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  the  construction  on  seawoods  to  urban  route  by  the  City  and Industrial  Development  Corporation  (CIDCO)  and  Central  Railway  has  been completed;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether any meeting has been held between CIDCO and the Central Railway for the movement of trains on this route and the time by which other works are likely to be completed; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
Lok Sabha Question No. 29 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Demand for Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 29 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## Demand for coal

## 29. DR. P. VENUGOPAL :

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether even in the most adverse scenario, as of second quarter of 2017, it  appears  that  the  demand  for  coal  in  India,  as  a  source  of  primary energy, shall expand until 2030 and perhaps beyond, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether this would be at lower compound annual growth rate of 3 per cent compared to 6 per cent in the last five years; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)to(c): Yes,  Madam.  As  per  study  report  of  M/s  KPMG  Advisory  Services entrusted for formulating ' Coal Vision 2030' for coal sector by Coal India Limited (CIL), as of second quarter of 2018, it appears that the demand for coal in India, as a source of primary energy, shall expand until 2030 and perhaps beyond. The report estimates overall coal demand to be 1300-1900 MT by 2030.

As  per  Coal  Vision  2030,  in  the  long  term,  the  overall  coal  demand  is expected  to  reach  1.46  BT  by  2030  at  a  CAGR  of  4.2%  from  2020  as compared to a CAGR of 5.4% achieved in actual demand during the last five years (from 2013-14 to 2017-18).

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 28 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Stoppage at Hatkanangale Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 28 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## STOPPAGE AT HATKANANGALE STATION

## 28. DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry has received representations from Railway users regarding stoppage of some trains at Hatkanangale  railway  station  under  Pune  railway  division, Central Railway;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Railways  is  considering  to  provide  stoppage  of trains at Hatkanangale station;
- (d) if so, the time by which order will be issued in this regard; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a)  to  (e):    Representations,  including  from  Hon'ble  Members  of Parliament,    have  been  received  for    provision  of  stoppage  of additional trains at Hatkanangale station.  The issue of provision of stoppage of trains at Hatkanangale station has been examined but was not found commercially viable.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 27 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Special Category Status
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY, KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.27 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

## 27.    SHRI  J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY: SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of States given special category status and the criteria adopted for providing such status;
- (b) the details of requests received and pending with the Union Government for providing special status;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to provide special status to Andhra Pradesh;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said status is likely to be provided; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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) The    11  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) nonviable nature of state finances. Special Category Status has been granted based on an integrated consideration of these criteria.

- (b) No proposal for grant of special category status is under consideration of the Government.

(c), (d) & (e) In the case of Andhra Pradesh, the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 are being implemented by the concerned Ministry/ Department and the Government of Andhra  Pradesh.      The  Central  Government  has  agreed  to  give  a  special  assistance  to  the 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 addition to the Central Government funding  externally aided projects  signed and disbursed by the state of Andhra Pradesh during the years mentioned.
Lok Sabha Question No. 22 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Houses at Concessional Prices
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.22

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  JULY, 2018

## HOUSES AT CONCESSIONAL PRICES

## 22. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  houses  at  concessional  prices  to serving and retired Army personnel and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Government has recently conducted any survey to provide houses to the  serving  and  retired Army personnel who belong to Karnataka and if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

- (a) No,  Madam.    There  is  no  such  proposal  to  provide  houses  at concessional  prices  to  serving  and  retired  Army  personnel.    However, Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO), an autonomous body (not an instrument of the Government) provides dwelling units to serving / retired Army personnel and their widows on 'no Profit No Loss' basis.
- (b) No, Madam.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 21 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Rail Line Between Chatra and Gaya
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 21 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## RAIL LINE BETWEEN CHATRA AND GAYA

†21.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any rail line is proposed between Chatra and Gaya;
- (b)  if so, whether a team of Railways has  surveyed the Chatra Rail line for  construction of platform and station, land acquisition, etc. and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  time  when  the  rail  line  was  proposed  and  the  details  of amount of budget allotted for the same till date;
- (d)  the  details  of  estimated  budget  required  for  completion  of Chatra-Gaya rail line and the current status of the said rail line; and
- (e) the time by which Chatra-Gaya rail line is likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (e):   Yes, Madam. Gaya-Chatra (97 Km) New Line project has been sanctioned in 2008-09 at a cost of ` 416 crore.  Final Location Survey has been completed and the report has been submitted on 14.12.2015. The project could not take off due to abnormal increase in cost of land and limited overall availability of funds for new line projects.  An  expenditure  of ` 15  crore  has  been  made  upto  March 2018 and an outlay of `0.10 crore has been provided in 2018-19. The latest anticipated cost of this project is ` 4543 crore. The target date of completion of this project has not been fixed.

****

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