opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 369 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Higher Education Commission
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rajan Baburao  Vichare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 369 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.06.2019

## Higher Education Commission

## †369. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  a  proposal  for  setting  up  of  a  Higher Education Commission in place of UGC regulating the universities of the country; and

- (b) if so, the details and the terms of reference thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) & (b): The Ministry is considering the Higher Education Commission of India Bill to repeal  the  University  Grants  Commission  Act,  1956  and  the  All  India  Council  for Technical  Education  Act,  1987,  and  for  establishment  of  the  Higher  Education Commission of India for promoting the quality of academic instruction, maintenance of academic standards and encouraging autonomy of good performing higher educational institutions for free pursuit of knowledge, innovation, incubation, skills and entrepreneurship, and for facilitating access, inclusion and opportunities to all, and also providing for a comprehensive and holistic growth of higher education and research in a competitive global environment.

- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 368 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Ponzy Schemes
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  368 ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 24 TH  JUNE, 2019 [ASHADA 3 , 1941 (SAKA)]

## PONZY SCHEMES QUESTION

368: SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

कॉर्पोरेट कार्य मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government proposes to bring a campaign programme to alert public  against  falling  prey  to  the  ponzy  schemes  and  other  monetary malpractices;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  time  by  which  the  said  campaign  is  likely  to  be  implemented  by  the Government?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER FOR FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS वित्त एिं कारर्पोरेट कार्य मंत्री

(Ms. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

( श्रीमती निमयला सीतारमण )

(a) to  (c): Investor  Education  and  Protection  Fund  Authority  ( IEPF ) organizes Investors  Awareness  Programmes  (IAPs)  in  the  rural  areas  through  Common Service  Centers  (CSC)  set  up  under  Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information Technology with the objective of creating awareness amongst the investor about fraudulent  schemes  and  facilitating  informed  investment  decisions.  The  IAPs cover  various  topics  such  as  importance  of  savings,  basics  of  capital  market, Do's  and  Don't's  of  investment  etc.  including  one  module  on  basic  information about ponzi schemes and how not to fall prey to such schemes. In addition to this,  the  Authority  also  carries  out  Investor  Awareness  and  education  through electronic media. As on 31.05.2019, CSC has conducted 26409 programmes for IEPF  Authority  since  beginning  of  FY  2018-2019.  At  present,  no  specific campaign is under consideration in respect of ponzi schemes.

Ministry of Corporate Affairs also organizes Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs)  in  partnership  with  the  three  Professional  Institutes,  namely  Institute  of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI),  and  Institute  of  Cost  Accountants  of  India  (ICoAI),  with  the  objective  of creating  awareness  amongst  the  investors  about  fraudulent  schemes  and facilitating informed investment decisions.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Mechanism to check Safety and Security
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 367 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.06.2019

## MECHANISM TO CHECK SAFETY AND SECURITY

## 367. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether the Government has any mechanism to check safety and security of labourers across industries in Delhi on regular basis and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  spread  awareness  among labourers  regarding  the  new  initiatives  of  Government  on  PM
- MAANDHAN Yojana and increased compensation for labourers; and
- (c)the  implementation  status  of  PM  MAANDHAN  Yojana  in  Delhi  and the number of labourers registered under the scheme in Delhi since its inception?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): The Government of India has enacted a comprehensive legislation i.e.,  the  Factories  Act,  1948,  for  ensuring  the  occupational  safety, health & welfare of the workers employed in the factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948. The Act and the State Factories Rules framed there under are enforced by the respective States/UTs through the  Chief  Inspectorates  of  Factories  (CIF)/  Directorates  of  Industrial Safety  and  Health  (DISH)  and  accordingly  the  Govt.  of  NCT  of  Delhi within its jurisdiction through its Chief Inspectorate of Factories/Director Industrial Safety and Health, Labour Department, is entrusted  with  the  enforcement  of  the  Factories  Act,  1948  and  the Delhi Factories Rules, 1950.

Further, in case of violation of any of the provisions of the Act and the  Rules  framed  thereunder,  actions  are  initiated  by  the  Director Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), Government of NCT of Delhi against the occupier and manager of factories as under the Factories Act, 1948 and the Delhi Factories Rules, 1950.

(b): Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi  Maandhan  (PM-SYM)  Yojana  was launched  by  the  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  in  a  grand  event  held  on  5 th March,  2019  at  Ahmedabad,  Gujarat.  In  order  to  bring  awareness amongst  the  target  beneficiaries,  the  launch  ceremonies  also  took place  at  State/  UTs,  District  level  through  approximately  500  labour offices  of  the  Central  and  State/UT  Governments.  As  this  scheme  is implemented through 3.15 lakh Common Service Centres (CSC) across the country, the awareness campaign was also held at CSCs level and also  advertised  in  the  Television,  Radio  and  Print  Media  for  wider publicity.

(c): As on 18.06.2019, the total beneficiaries enrolled under PM-SYM in National Capital Territory of Delhi are 6143.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 366 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: National Pension System
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 366 TO BE ANSWERED ON DJUNE 24, 2019/ /ASHADHA 3, 1941 (SAKA) NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM

366. Shrimati Raksha Nikhil Khadse

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state

- (a) whether the Government proposes to enhance the contribution which is presently at 10 percent to National Pension System (NPS) to make the retirement income scheme more attractive;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has notified this change;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) ifnot, the date proposed for the notification of the new scheme?

## ANSWER

Finance Minister (Smt Nirmala Sitharaman)

(a) to (c) Government has increased the mandatory contribution by Central Government from 10% to 14% of the basic paytDA for all the Central Government employees covered under National Pension   System Tier-I. The    employees contribution rate would remain at the existing 10% of the basic pay+DA  This has been notified vide Gazette Notification No. 1/3/2016 PR dated 31.01.2019, and has come into force with effect from 01.04.2019.

- (d) Does not arise in view of reply given to (a) to (c) parts

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 365 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Redressal of Investors’ Grievances
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 365 ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 24 TH  JUNE, 2019 [ASHADA 3 , 1941 (SAKA)]

## REDRESSAL OF INVESTORS' GRIEVANCES

## QUESTION

365: SHRIMATI RATHVA GITABEN VAJESINGBHAI

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS कॉर्पोरेट कार्य मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the companies independent mechanism to redress investors' grievances has yielded the desired results;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) the  details  of  action  initiated  against  the  companies  on  the  ground  of  nonredressal of investors, grievances during the last three years, year-wise; and
- (d) whether a number of companies are in default of payment of dues to the small investors are still actively trading in the stock exchanges and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER FOR FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS वित्त एिं कारर्पोरेट कार्य मंत्री

(Ms. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN) ( श्रीमती निमयला सीतारमण )

(a) to  (c):  Section  178(5)  &  178(6)  of  the  Companies  Act,  2013  mandate  that every company having more than 1000 shareholders, debenture holders, deposit holders and any other security holders shall constitute a Stakeholders Relationship  Committee  to  consider  and  resolve  the  grievances  of  the  security holders of the company. Action has been initiatedagainst 95 companies in 201617,  101  companies  in  2017-18  and  75  companies  in  2018-19  under  various provisions of the Companies Act.

(d):  As  per  information  received  from  Securities  and  Exchange  Board  of  India (SEBI), during the last three years  they  have  initiated  action  against  22 companies under section 15-I (Adjudication Proceedings) of the SEBI Act, 1992 and against 211 companies under section 11B (Issue of Directions to Companies)  of  the  SEBI  Act,  1992.  During  the  year  FY  2018-19  SEBI  has received 2453 complaints for non-payment of dues and resolved 2746 complaints which include complaints pertaining to previous years also.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 364 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Scheduled Tribes List
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya

## MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SH. ARJUN MUNDA)

- (a) to (c) Proposals for inclusion of communities in Scheduled Tribes list are received from various State Governments/ Union territories.

The  Government  of  India  on  15.6.1999  (further  amended  on  25.6.2002)  has  laid  down  the modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion in, exclusion from and other modifications in Orders specifying Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists. As per the modalities, only those proposals which have been recommended and justified by the concerned State Government / UT Administration and  concurred  with  by  Registrar  General  of  India  (RGI)  and  National  Commission  for  Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are to be considered and legislation amended.

All action on the proposals are taken as per these approved modalities.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 364 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.06.2019

## SCHEDULED TRIBES LIST

## 364. SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI  KUNDARIYA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether there is a huge demand from the States to include a few castes in the Scheduled Tribes (STs) list for the sake of benefits of being an ST, including reservation and fee concession and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether this would undermine the real intention of ST status as many ineligible communities will find space in the ST list and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)   the details of the precautions the Ministry is taking while tweaking the structure of the ST list?

## ANSWER
Lok Sabha Question No. 363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Incidents of Child Labour
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Nalin Kumar Kateel

## 363. श्री नऱीन क ु मार कटीऱ:

क्मा श्रम और रोजगार भंत्री मह फताने की क ृ ऩा कयेंगे कक:

- (क) क्मा सयकाय इस फात से अवगत है कक देश भें फार भजदूयी, फंधुआ भजदूयी औय फेगायी की कई घटनाएं रयऩोटट नहीं की जा यही हैं;
- (ख)   मदद हां, तो तत्संफंधी ब्मौया क्मा है;
- (ग) क्मा सयकाय फार भजदूयी, फंधुआ भजदूयी औय फेगायी की रयऩोटट नहीं की गई घटनाओं
- (घ)
- का  ऩता  रगाने  औय  ऐसी  गततववधधमों  को  सभाप्त  कयने  क े   लरए  आवश्मक  कायटवाई सुतनश्श्ित कयने क े  लरए कोई उऩाम कय यही है; औय
- मदद हां, तो सयकाय की इस संफंध भें क्मा प्रततकिमा है?

## उत्तर श्रम और रोजगार राज्य मंत्री (स्वतंत्र प्रभार) (श्री संतोष कु मार गंगवार)

(क) से (घ): फार श्रभ, फंधुआ श्रभ एवं फरात श्रभ ववलबन्न साभाश्जक-आधथटक सभस्माओं जैसे गयीफी, आधथटक वऩछडाऩन औय तनयऺयता का ऩरयणाभ हैं।

फार श्रभ क े  उन्भूरन हेतु, क े न्र सयकाय ने फार श्रभ (प्र ततषेध एवं ववतनमभन) संशोधन ककमा है जो 01.09.2016 से प्रवृत्त ह ु आ। संशोधधत अधधतनमभ किमाओं ततफंध तथा 14 से 18 वषट की आमु सभूह क े  ककशोयों का

अ धधतनमभ, 2016 अ धधतनम लभत भें अन्म फातों क े  साथ-साथ 14 वषट से कभ आमु क े  फच्िों का सबी व्मवसामों एवं प्र भें तनमोजन अथवा कामट ऩय ऩूणट प्र जो खखभकायी व्मवसामों अथवा प्र किमाओं भें तनमोजन ऩय प्रततषेध का प्रावधान है। इस संशो धधत

## भारत सरकार

## श्रम एवं रोजगार मंत्राऱय ऱोक सभा

अतारां ककत प्रश्न संख्या 363

सोमवार, 24 जून, 2019 / 3 आषाढ़, 1941 (शक)

## बाऱ श्रम की घटनाएं

अ धधतनमभ भें इस अधधतनमभ क े  उऩफंधों क े  उल्रंघन हेतु तनमोक्ताओं क े लरए कठोय दंड का बी प्रावधान है तथा इस अऩयाध को संऻेम फनामा है।

सयकाय फार श्रलभकों क े  ऩुनवाटस क े  लरए याष्ट्रीम फार श्रभ ऩरयमोजना(एनसीएरऩी) स्कीभ का कामाटन्वमन बी कय यही है। एनसीएरऩी स्कीभ क े  अंतगटत, 9-14 वषट क े  आमु सभूह क े फच्िों को कामट से फिामा/छ ु डामा जाता है तथा एनसीएरऩी ववशेष प्रलशऺण क े न्रों भें नाभांककत ककमा जाता है, जहां उन्हें औऩिारयक लशऺा ऩधतितत की भुयधमधाया भें राने से ऩहरे रिज ज लशऺा, व्मावसातमक प्रलशऺण, भध्माह्न बोजन, वजीपा, स्वास््म देखयेख, आदद उऩरब्ध कयामे जाते हैं। 5-8 वषट क े  आमु सभूह क े  फच्िों को सवट लशऺा अलबमान (एसएसए) क े  तनकट सभन्वम क े भाध्मभ से सीधे औऩिारयक लशऺा ऩधतितत से जोडा जाता है।

फंधुआ श्रभ ऩधतितत (उत्सादन) अधधतनमभ, 1976 द्वाया प्रततस्थावऩत ककए गए फंधुआ श्रभ ऩधतितत (उत्सादन) अध्मादेश क े  अंतगटत 25 अक्तूफय, 1975 से ववधध द्वाया सभस्त देश भें फंधुआ श्रभ ऩधतितत को सभाप्त कय ददमा गमा है। जफ बी फंधुआ श्रलभकों क े  होने का ऩता िरता है, ऩुनवाटस हेतु ऐसे व्मश्क्तमों की ऩहिान की जाती है। फंधुआ श्रलभकों की ऩहिान औय ऩुनवाटस का उत्तयदातमत्व  संफंधधत  याज्म  सयकायों  का  है।  क े न्र  सयकाय  'फंधुआ  श्रलभकों  क े   ऩुनवाटस  हेतु के न्रीम  ऺेत्र  की  मोजना-2016'  क े   अंतगटत  प्रततऩूततट  क े   रूऩ  भें  याज्म  सयकायों  को  तनधधमां उऩरब्ध कयाती है।

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 361 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Skill Development in Colleges
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 361 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.06.2019

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN COLLEGES

## 361. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

## Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  schemes  to  impart  training  for  Skill Development along with education in all the colleges of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  launch  any  new  programme  in  the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI R. K. SINGH)

- (a) to (d) Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship through National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is supporting the University Grant Commission for three schemes namely Community College, Bachelor of Vocational course (BVOC) & Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Kaushal Kendras which are being introduced in different colleges and universities. Currently there are 613 colleges/universities  under  these  schemes  (326  BVOC  colleges,  219  Community Colleges and 68 DDU  Kaushal  Kendra  Colleges). Further,  NSDC  has  also collaborated with Ministry of Human Resource Development for the following:
- i. Restructuring of BVOC  by  rolling out embedded  apprenticeship  under National  Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS).  BVOC  has  multiple  exits  at Certificate, Diploma, Advance  Diploma and Degree level. Through this, the employability of the general graduates is enhanced considerably as the student can have professional experience on the shop-floor, along with their graduation.
- ii. Graduate  students  passing  out  in  the  academic  year  2018-2019  would  be directly channelled into industry apprenticeship for a period of 6 months to one year depending on the sector chosen.  Such apprenticeship would be assessed as per the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and a certificate at the appropriate  NSQF  level  would  be  given  to  the  successful  students,  apart  from  a monthly stipend depending on the location.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: MDMS for Class 12 Students
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 360 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.06.2019

## MDMS for Class 12 Students

## †360.  SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ::

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to provide food under Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) up to the 12th class students;
- (b) if so, the time by which it is likely to be implemented; and
- (c)  the details of suggestions if any, received from States regarding expansion of this scheme?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) to (c): No, Sir. As per the provisions of National Food Security Act, 2013, children upto class VIII or within the age group of 6-14 years are entitled to one mid day meal free of charge,  every  day  except  on  school  holidays,  in  all  schools  run  by  local  bodies, Government and Government aided schools so as to meet nutritional standards specified in  the  Act.    However,  State  Governments  can  extend  the  Mid-Day  Meal  programme beyond class VIII also.   The State Government of Telangana is providing mid-day meal to children of classes IX -X and the State Governments of Karnataka in some schools and Andhra  Pradesh  as  well  as  UT  Administrations  of  Puducherry  and  Lakshadweep  are providing mid-day meal to children of classes upto XII, from their own resources.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 358 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Entertainment Tax
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

*****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.358

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY THE 24 TH  JUNE, 2019 ASHADHA 3, 1941 (SAKA)

## ENTERTAINMENT TAX

## 358.  SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the entertainment tax levied by the State Governments has been subsumed in  Goods  and  Services  Tax  (GST)  but  local  bodies  have  been  allowed  to  levy entertainment tax along with GST;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that such multiplicity of taxes is impacting cinema exhibitions and tax amounting to as much as 48 percent in some cities and associations have been demanding to set-off Local Body Entertainment Tax;
- (d)  if  so,  whether  any  consultations  have  been  held  with  the  GST  Council  to  bring  it down; and
- (e) if so, the outcome of the same?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FINANCE (Ms. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a):  Yes,  sir.  The  entertainment  tax  levied  by  the  State  Governments  has  been subsumed  in  Goods  and  Service  Tax  (GST).  However,  the  Constitution  allows State  governments  to  make  laws  with  respect  to  'taxes  on  entertainments  and amusements to the extent levied and collected by a Panchayat or a Municipality or a Regional Council or a District Council' [Entry 62 of List II in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution]
- (b): The reason for the same is to leave some fiscal space of taxation for the local bodies.
- (c): Levy of taxes on entertainments and amusements by local bodies is a State subject.  The  details  of  entertainment  tax  levied  by  State  Governments  are  not available with the Union Government.
- (d): Yes, sir. Detailed deliberations on the issue of reduction of tax on entertainment industry were held in the 14th GST Council meeting on 19.05.2017, 16th GST Council meeting held on 11.06.2017 and 31st GST Council meeting held on 22.12.2018.
- (e):  The  31st GST Council meeting held on 22.12.2018 has reduced GST rate on cinema tickets from 28% to 18%(if ticket price is more than Rs 100) and from 18% to  12%(if  tickets  price  is  less  than  Rs  100).  As  stated  in  reply  to  part  (c),  the change  in  tax  rates  levied  by  local  bodies  are  not  available  with  the  Union Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 353 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: PNG as Safe Fuel
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 353 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.6.2019 PNG as Safe Fuel

## 353. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS पेट्रोल ियम और प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that indoor cooking through traditional chulha stoves and  solid  fuels  is  a  major  health  hazard,  resulting  in  about  5  lakh  deaths  per  year  due  to respiratory and cardiac diseases, according to the WHO and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is also aware that the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) network which supplies natural gas for domestic consumption is more efficient, economical, and safer than the Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders which are being provided to replace traditional chulha stoves and solid fuels and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government would consider extending the City Gas Distribution network for supply of uninterrupted eco-friendly cooking PNG to cities such as Thiruvananthapuram ;
- (d)  if so, the details thereof including the time by which this is likely to be achieved; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) Air pollution is one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases,  though  there  is  no  conclusive  data  available  in  the  country  to  establish  direct correlation of  deaths exclusively due to indoor domestic air pollution caused by traditional chulha stoves and solid fuels.
- (b) Cleaner fuels viz. Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) are being  supplied  to  households  in  the  country  as  per  availability,  to  reduce  dependence  on

polluting fuels, including biomass fuels (wood, dung or agricultural residues), kerosene, coal etc.

(c)  to  (e)  Petroleum  &  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board  (PNGRB)  is  the  authority  to  grant authorization to the entities for the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in Geographical  Areas  (GAs)  as  per  PNGRB  Act,  2006.  PNGRB  identifies  the  GAs  for  the development of CGD network depending on the natural gas pipeline connectivity/natural gas availability and techno-commercial feasibility.  PNGRB  has  authorized  228  GAs  for development  of  CGD  network  across  the  country.    Thiruvanathpuram  has  also  been authorized to M/s Consortium of AG&P LNG Marketing Pte Ltd. & Atlantic Gulf & Pacific in the 10 th CGD bidding round.