opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3079 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: National Highways Excellence Awards
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam, Rebati Tripura, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Dhanush M Kumar, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Vijay Kumar Dubey

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recently conferred the 'National Highways Excellence Awards';
- (b) if so, the details and the objectives thereof along with the expenditure incurred thereon;
- (c) the details of categories of awards and the criteria fixed for selection of winners;
- (d) the number of applications received and the number of applicants declared as winners;
- (e) the achievement made by the Government by giving away such awards; and
- (f)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  create  a  healthy  environment  of  competitiveness amongst all the stakeholders involved in the development of highway infrastructure and encourage them to contribute to the larger goal of expanding the road network in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## ( SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI )

- (a)  Yes  Sir.  The  Government  has  recently  conferred  the  National  Highways  Excellence  Awards, 2019.
- (b)  National  Highways  Excellence  Awards  has  been  instituted  in  2018  with  the  objective  of incentivising exemplary work and encouraging best industry practices in the Highway development sector.

Estimated expenditure on the National Highways Excellence Awards, 2019 is about Rs1.58 Crores.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3079

ANSWERED ON 12 TH  MARCH, 2020

## NATIONAL HIGHWAYS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

3079. SHRI SELVAM G.: SHRI REBATI TRIPURA: SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON: SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR: DR. HEENA GAVIT: SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

- (c) National Highways Excellence Awards, 2019 had following 7 award categories:-
- i. Project Management (PPP & EPC )
- ii. Operation & Maintenance
- iii. Toll Management
- iv. Highway Safety(Plain Terrain, Hilly Terrain)
- v. Green Highway
- vi. Innovation
- vii. Outstanding Work in Challenging Conditions

The best performers were selected based on multiple rounds of rigorous assessment including field assessment of their project profiles by independent agency & jury.

- (d)   Out of total 104 nominations received, 12 were conferred awards.

(e) & (f) The Government is constantly committed towards the larger objective of strengthening and augmenting the road infrastructure in the country. Acknowledging companies who are performing exceptionally well and delivering finest quality services during construction, operation, tolling and maintenance stages of the highway project would encourage all companies in the sector to improve the quality of service.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3077 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Measures to avoid Delay of Flight
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh

3077.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL A VIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3077 (To be answered on the I2th March 2020)

## MEASURES TO AVOID DELAY OF FLIGHT

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state: -

- equipments to avoid of flights due to in this winter season and if the details thereof; and SO, delay fog
- {he chuthey sueciaigh tech equipments have been installed at any other airports in the country specially in Patna and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a): Sir; Indira Gandhi International Airport is the Pilot is rated and machine is certified accordingly; provided Yes, fully fog,

has the nodal point for nationwide Air Traffic Flow as initiatives such as implementation of Airport Collaborative various other by Fog/ Bad Weather/ Poor Visibility conditions Delhi, Jaipur, during
Lok Sabha Question No. 3076 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Guidelines for Payment at Duty Free Zone
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Manoj Rajoria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

3076

(To be answered on the March 2020) 12th

## GUIDELINES FOR PAYMENT AT DUTY FREE ZONE

3076. DR MANOJ RAJORIA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the guidelines with respect to the payment of the items purchased from the duty free zones at international airports during the visits made by the Indians; and foreign
- (b) whether these passengers have to make payments in currency for the items purchased from duty free zone and if so, the details thereof? foreign

## ANSWER

Minister 0f State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a): Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) under Ministry of Finance has issued a Circular No.31/2016-Customs dated 06.07.2016 and has subsequently modified it vide Circular No.50/2017- Customs dated 18.12.2017 stipulating the guidelines for incoming and outgoing passengers in respect of payment for items purchased from duty free zones in international airports in India.

(b): As per the CBEC Circular 50/2017-Customs dated 18.12.2017, the prices of all goods on sale at duty free are to be mandatorily displayed in Indian Rupees only: The Circular also permits passengers for making payments in Indian Rupees through an INR CreditiDebit Card at duty free shops, without any need for conversion of foreign currency into Indian free shops located at arrival hall is subject to 4 limit of Rs.25,000/- for an incoming passengers:   Payments through an INR Credit Debit Card at duty free shops located at departure hali is without limit for an outgoing passengers. shops
Lok Sabha Question No. 3075 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: North-South and East-West Corridors
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Rajdeep Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3075

ANSWERED ON 12 TH  MARCH, 2020

## NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST CORRIDORS

## 3075.  DR. RAJDEEP ROY:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## सड़क प रवहन और राजमाग मं ी

be pleased to state:

- (a) the  present  status  of  North-South  and  East-West(NS-EW)  corridors  connecting Srinagar to Kanyakumari and Porbandar to Silchar;
- (b) the present status of the project from Shrirampur to Silchar along with the time-frame set to complete the project; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) The  total  length  of  North-South  and  East-West  (NS-EW)  corridors  connecting Srinagar to Kanyakumari and Porbandar to Silchar is 7,142 km, out of which 6,768 km length has been completed.
- (b) The total length from Shrirampur to Silchar of East-West corridor is about 637 km out of which approximately 610 km length has been completed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The expected completion of length is December, 2020 except 25 km length for which Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been initiated post foreclosure/ termination of previous awarded works.
- (c) Various  steps  have  been  taken  to  complete  the  projects  at  the  earliest  such  as streamlined  land  acquisition,  revamped  disputes  resolution  mechanism,  close  coordination with other Ministries and State Governments etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3074 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Retendering Process of Polavaram Project
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3074 ANSWERED ON 12 .0 3.2020

## RETENDERING PROCESS OF POLAVARAM PROJECT

## 3074. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of retendering process of Polavaram project;
- (b) whether it is true that the successful bidder is now asking money separately for expenses
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d ) the details of time and cost overrun of the retendering of the said project; and
- (e) the status of Polavaram Project till date?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) to (e) As informed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP), an Expert Committee constitut it in June, 2019 suggested togo for fresh tenders for balance works of Irrigation Project. T were called by the State for balance works of main dam package and left side connectivities of headwo in August, 2019.

As reported by the State Government, an agreement has been concluded for construction headworks of PIP (including works incorporated in the agreement regarding sand policy) with M/s Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited in November, 2019 for Rs.1548.13 Cr by December, 2021. agreement has been concluded for the completion of balance work of Left Side Connectiviti Works  with  M/s  MAX  Infra  (I)  Limited  i n  November,  2019  for  Rs.231.47  Cr.  by  end  of  May  2021 Further, GoAP has also accorded permission to pre - close the contract of Package no. 5&6 of Polavar Left Main Canal for inviting tenders under reverse tendering process.

As reported by Govt of Andhra Pradesh, the project is planned for completion by Dec, has achieved overall progress of 69.54% upto 27th Feb 2020.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3073 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Cases of Road Accidents
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3073 ANSWERED ON 12 TH  MARCH, 2020

## CASES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS

## 3073.  SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Indian roads account for the highest road accident fatalities in the world and if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the number of deaths on road accidents rose nearly 5 per cent to 1.46 lakh in 2015 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether 400 deaths per day or one death every 3.6 minutes occurred in India during 2015 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the total number of cases of road accidents pending as on date, State-wise; and
- (e) whether  disposal  of  road  accidents  cases  takes  five  to  ten  years  and  if  so,  the  reasons therefor along with the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) As per World Road Statistics, 2018 report of Indian Road Federation, India ranks highest in number of person killed in road accidents across the 199 countries.
- (b) to  (c)   As per available information, total number of road accidents and the persons killed in  the  country  on  all  roads  including  Highways  during  the  calendar  year  2015  to  2018  are  as under:-
- (d) to   (e)     This comes under the jurisdiction of State.

| Year     | Total Accidents   |   Number of persons killed |
|----------|-------------------|----------------------------|
| 5,01,423 | 1,46,133          |                       2015 |
| 4,80,652 | 1,50,785          |                       2016 |
| 4,64,910 | 147,913           |                       2017 |
| 4,67,044 | 151,417           |                       2018 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3072 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Madurai Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3072 (To be answered on the March 2020) 12th

## MADURAI AIRPORT

3072. SHRI S. VENKATESAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether there is any proposal to develop and upgrade the Madurai Airport; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not; the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a) & (b): Development and upgradation of airports is a continuous and ongoing process: Airports Authority of India has undertaken extension of apron and allied works at Madurai Airport at an approved cost of Rs. 25.71 crore.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3071 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Credit Rating for MSMEs
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Ravindra Kushawaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.   3071 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2020

## CREDIT RATING FOR MSMEs

## 3071. SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  a  good  credit  rating  is  necessary  for  the  Micro,  Small  and  Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to obtain loans at concessional rates;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  MSME  Units  pending  for their credit rating and the number of pending applications; and
- (c) whether the policy of providing loans at concessional rates to MSMEs on the basis of credit rating is logical and if so, the extent to which it has been successful?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI  NITIN GADKARI)

(a)to(c): RBI has deregulated the interest rate on advances and these interest rates are  determined  by  banks  with  the  approval  of  their  respective  Board  of  Directors subject to extant guidelines of RBI. Loans to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are provided as per the interest rate structure of the bank. The interest rate is finalized  based  on  various  factors  which  inter-alia  include,  cost  of  funds  to  the institution, credit rating of the unit, tenure of loan, purpose of loan etc.

The rating of MSEs under erstwhile Performance & Credit Rating Scheme of this Ministry to provide a third party opinion on their capabilities and creditworthiness so  as  to  create  awareness  amongst  them  about  the  strengths  and  weakness  of  their existing operations has been discontinued w.e.f  December, 2018.

Further,  under  the  Interest  Subventions  Scheme  for  Incremental  Credit  to MSMEs 2018 offers 2% interest subvention on fresh or incremental loans upto Rs.1 crore to MSMEs.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3069 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: India Sports Summit-Fitness : $ 10 BillionOpportunity
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Kuruva Gorantla Madhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3069 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2020

India Sports Summit-Fitness : $ 10 Billion Opportunity

3069. SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV :

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the India Sports SummitFitness : $10 Billion Opportunity was a successful initiative;
- (b)  if so, the details of the targets achieved through it; and
- (c)  the  quantum/amount  of  funds  that  have  been  allocated  and utilized under this initiative?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI KIREN RIJIJU]

- (a) to (c): India Sports Summit is an annual event organized by the Confederation  of  Indian  Industry  (CII)  in  partnership  with  other organizations.  For  the  year  2019,  the  theme  of  the  Summit  was ' Fitness -A  $10  Billion  Opportunity ' which  was  organised  on  10 th October, 2019. This Summit was not organised by the Government and no funds were allocated by the Government for organising this summit.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3067 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Financial Health of Civil Aviation Sector
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIQN NO. : 3067 (To be answered on the March 2020) 12th-

## FINANCIAL HEALTH OF CIVIL AVIATION SECTOR

3067.

SHRI G.M, SIDDESHWAR

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

- civil aviation companies in the country;
- whether the Government has taken any steps to make civil aviation sector financially more viable; and

be pleased to state:-

- (6) ifso,the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
2. (d) if the details thereof and if not; the reasons therefor? SO,

## ANSWER

Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a) & (b) The Goverument keeps a constant watch on the functioning of the the functioning of Air India and its subsidiaries in detais'

i) Provide airport infrastructure through Airports Authority 0f India and the private operators

(c) & () The steps taken by the Government to make the the civil aviation sector financially more viable include the following:-

- ii) Provide an efficient Air Navigation System in the Country
- iii) Coordinate with all stakeholders to resolve their issues through interactions. regular
- iv) Provide Viability Funding and other concessions to selected airline operators under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) as per the scheme document Gap
- Provide financial assistance to Air India as per the approved Plan
- vi) Reduction of Central Excise Duty applicable on ATF from 14% to 11%
- vii) Rationalization of Goods and Services Tax provisions
- iii) Rationalization of Category-I routes under Route Dispersal Guidelines on the basis of criteria given in National Civil Aviation Policy 2016.
- ix) The requirement for 5/20 is modified and all airlines can commence international operations provided that they deploy 20 aircraft or 20% of total capacity (in terms of average number of seats o all departure put together) whichever is higher for domestic operations.
- Liberalization of domestic code share points in India within the framework of Air Service Agreements.
- xi) With a view to modernize existing airports So as to establish high standards and ease demand pressures on them; 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under automatic route has been allowed in brownfield airport projectsThis would facilitate the development of domestic aviation infrastructure. FDI for Scheduled Air Transport Servicel Domestic Scheduled Passenger Airline has been allowed upto 49% under automatic route. For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), 100% FDI will continue to be allowed under automatic route. Foreign airlines are allowed to invest in capital of Indian companies operating scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services up to the limit of 49% of their up capital, Such investment is subject to the condition; inter alia, that Scheduled and Non-Scheduled Operator's Permit would be granted only to a company the substantial ownership and effective control of which is vested in Indian nationals: paid
Lok Sabha Question No. 3066 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: New Building at Leh Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhola Singh, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sukanta Majumdar, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

3066.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED 3066 (To be answered on the 12 March 2020)

## NEW BUILDING AT LEH AIRPORT

DR: JAYANTA KUMAR ROY SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO SHRI BHOLA SINGH SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (2) whether the Government has proposed to build new building at Leh Airport in Union Territory of Ladakh and if the details thereof;
2. thereof; and
3. dherother steps being taken by the Government to improve the air connectivity in the Country?

## ANSWER

Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

biidirports Authority Of India (AAI) has undertaken construction of new domestic terminal of Rs. 480.33 crore

- Jammu Airport at an approved cost of Rs 77.00 crore runway at
- (c): connectivity in the country include:
- i) Introduction %f Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik)
- 3 Riationalization % Category-I routes under Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDGs) on the basis
- ii) Revival %f un-served or under-served routes under RCS UDAN:
- iv) The requirement for 5/20 is modified and all airlines can commence international provided that seats 0n all departure together) whichever is higher for domestic operations. they put
Lok Sabha Question No. 3064 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Grid Stability
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3064 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2020

## GRID STABILITY

3064. SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  bundle  renewable  with  conventional power to address the issue of grid stability;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether over 20,000 megawatt of power assets in India have been stranded since last one year for various reasons; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  POWER,  NEW  & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

( SHRI  R.K. SINGH)

(a) to  (b) :   Ministry of Power on 5 th  April 2018 had issued a mechanism to provide flexibility  in  generation  and  scheduling  of  Thermal  Power  Stations  to  reduce emissions. Under the mechanism, the thermal power generating company has the flexibility  of  using  its  thermal  power  or  renewable  power  to  supply  firm  power under existing contractual agreements.

This  flexibility  provides  the  generators  an  opportunity  to  optimally utilize generation from RE sources and also help in reducing emissions. Beneficiaries  of  the  power  will  also  get  the  firm  power  including  Renewable power, which will help them to meet their RPO obligations. The net gain realized, if any, from supply of RE power in place of thermal power under existing PPA shall be passed on to the beneficiary in the ratio of 50 (Beneficiary) : 50 (Generator).

……….2.

(c) & (d) : There  were  34  coal  based  thermal  power  projects  with  capacity  of 40,130  MW  which  were  under  stress  as  per  data  provided  by  Department  of Financial Services. Out of these, 14 projects with a total capacity of 16,450 MW have since been resolved. The following major reasons have been indentified for stress in power  sector by  the  High  Level  Empowered  Committee  (HLEC) constituted by Government of India.

- (i) Issues related to coal supply
- (ii) Slow growth in power demand
- (iii) Delayed payments by Discoms
- (iv) Inability of the Promoter to infuse the equity and service debt
- (v)      Slow implementation of project by the developers
- (vi) Issues related to Banks/Financial Intermediaries (FIs)
- (vii)    Aggressive Tariffs quoted by bidders in competitive bidding process
- (viii)   Regulatory and contractual disputes
- (ix)     Legal issues related to auctioned coal mines.

************