opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 212 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Mobility Partnership Agreement
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.212

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## MOBILITY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

† 212. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI: SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   the   migration   and   mobility   partnership   agreement   signed between India and France has been approved;
- (b) if   so,   the   details   thereof   and   the   duration   of   this   agreement   and whether any task force has been set up to operate this; and
- (c) if so, the details of its framework and the areas wherein both countries are likely to cooperate with each other?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) The  Migration   and   Mobility   Partnership   Agreement   between   the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of France  was   signed   on   10   March,   2018   during   the   State   Visit   of   French President to India. It shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of receipt of the last notification of the completion by each of the Parties of the required constitutional and legal procedures. The formalities of entry into force are yet to be completed.
- (b) The Agreement shall remain valid for a period of 7 years from the date of coming into force. Unless terminated by any Party, the Agreement shall be automatically   renewed   for   similar   successive   periods. The   Agreement provides   a   formal   mechanism   to   monitor   the   implementation   of   the Agreement through a Joint Working Group.
- (c) The   Agreement   aims   at   enhancing people-to-people   contacts, fostering   mobility   of   students,   academics,   researchers   and   skilled professionals and strengthening cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking between the two sides.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 211 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Women in Defence
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: PARESH RAWAL, DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.211

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  JULY, 2018

## WOMEN IN DEFENCE

211. SHRI PARESH RAVAL:

SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE

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be pleased to state the details of women working in defence services?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

The  held  strength  of  women  officers  in  the  Defence  Services  is tabulated as under:

| Army: (excluding AMC, ADC & MNS)        | 1561 (as on 1.1.2018)   |
|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| Air Force: (excluding Medical & Dental) | 1610 (as on 1.7.2018)   |
| Navy: (excluding Medical & Dental)      | 489 (as on 1.1.2018)    |

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 209 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Holding of Spectrum
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 209 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th   JULY, 2018

## HOLDING OF SPECTRUM

## 209. SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to amend the spectrum norms to enable the Telecom Service Providers to hold Higher Spectrum; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) & (b) Yes,  Madam.  An  Inter-Ministerial  Group  (IMG)  on  'Stressed  assets  in Telecom  Sector'  had  recommended  revison  of  spectrum  cap  norms  to  enable  the Telecom  Service  Providers  to  hold  Higher  Spectrum.  Recommendations  of  Telecom Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  were  sought  in  the  matter.  Based  on  the recommendations of TRAI, the Union Cabinet approved the proposal to relax spectrum cap norms on spectrum holding by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) as follows:

-  The overall spectrum cap be revised from 25% to 35%.
-  The intra-band cap be removed. Instead, there would be a cap of 50% on the combined spectrum holding in the  sub-1  GHz  bands  (700  MHz,  800  MHz  and 900 MHz bands).
-  There would be no cap for individual or combined spectrum holding in above 1 GHz band.
-  The  revised  spectrum  cap  limits  may  be  revisited  after  Final  Acts  of  World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) 2019.

The above changes have been incorporated in the service licenses.

New  spectrum  cap  will  facilitate  efficiency  and  consolidation  in  the  telecom industry  through  merger  and  acquisition,  spectrum  trading  and  sharing.  Revised spectrum cap will increase the spectrum holding capacity of TSPs which will allow them to  acquire  additional  spectrum  in  order  to  provide  better  services.  It  is  expected  to promote competition in the market and it would encourage more participation in future auctions as well.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 208 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Supplier Association in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RITI PATHAK

(a): No, Madam.

(b): Does not arise.

(c):  No,  Madam.  The  procurement  policy  of  Indian  Railways  has  been framed in line with provisions contained in General Financial Rules and

instructions issued by Central Government from time to time.

(d): Does not arise.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 208 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## SUPPLIER ASSOCIATION IN RAILWAYS

## †208.    SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  presence  of  suppliersassociation supplying materials in the Railways;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  being  taken  by  the Government  to  exclude  these  suppliers  association  from  the Railways supply;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  likely  to  make  policy  changes  in  the present system of procurement by the Railways; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Harassment of Diplomats
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.205

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## HARASSMENT OF DIPLOMATS

## 205. SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the harassment faced by the diplomats of India and Pakistan as a retaliatory action and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the arrangement to follow 1992 Code of Conduct (CoC) to end the harassment and intimidation of diplomats also seems to be on the brink of collapse and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the manner in which the Govemment proposes to resolve such issues in order to protect the diplomats from harassment and intimidation?

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

(a) to (c) Government of India has, from time to time, taken up the incidents of harassment, aggressive surveillance and intimidation of the officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and also the obstacles placed in the early completion of residential complex for the Indian High Commission officials. The Pakistan side was asked to resolve these issues and ensure safety and security of our diplomatic Mission and its diplomatic and consular officials.

The   Government   has   made   it clear   that   respective   diplomatic Missions should be allowed to function normally in keeping with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 and the bilateral Code of Conduct signed by the two countries in 1992.

On 30 March 2018, India and Pakistan mutually agreed to resolve matters related to the treatment of diplomats and diplomatic premises, in line with the 1992 Code of Conduct for the treatment of diplomatic/consular personnel in India and Pakistan. The implementation of this understanding is regularly followed up through diplomatic channels.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 203 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Satellite Navigation System Like GPS
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.203

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 18.07.2018

## SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM LIKE GPS

## 203. SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  ELECTRONICS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  have  its  own  GPS  like    Satellite navigation system and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether a joint working group was constituted to identify the funding  mechanism and institutions for developing NavIC chips and their use in various devices;
- (c) whether it is also true that the Government will promote start-ups and MSMEs to enter this area which will help in enhancing competence of the domestic market; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken so far in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a) :   Yes, Sir. The NavIC System which is India's own Satellite Navigation System, is already in place and providing GPS-like services. The NavIC services comprises of a total of seven satellite of which three are in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) while the remaining are in Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO). A ground network for monitoring the satellites and ensuring integrity of navigation messages is also in place. Together, the space and ground segments provide navigation signals to a variety of user receivers/ devices.

(b):   Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has not constituted any Joint Working Group on the subject.

(c)  and  (d):  Government  has  worked  out  an  enabling  mechanism  to  support  eligible participants  including  Indian  start-ups  and  Micro,  Small  &  Medium  Enterprises (MSMEs) to  enhance competence in domestic market.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 201 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Expansion of Rail Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 201 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## EXPANSION OF RAIL NETWORK

201.   SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Railways is  considering  expanding its  reach  to the remote regions of the country;
- (b) if so, the State-wise details thereof; and
- (c) the estimated/tentative time of completion of these projects?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (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.  201  BY  SHRI  ANURAG  SINGH THAKUR  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  18.07.2018 REGARDING EXPANSION OF RAIL NETWORK

(a) & (b): Railways have taken up 180 New Line projects in various States which are in various stages of execution. This includes 18 in Andhra Pradesh, 15 in Assam & Northeast Region, 34 in Bihar, 08 in Chattisgarh,  01  in  Delhi,  04  in  Gujarat,  07  in  Haryana,  04  in Himachal Pradesh, 01 in Jammu & Kashmir, 14 in Jharkhand, 16 in Karnataka, 02 in Kerala, 12 in Maharashtra, 08 in Madhya Pradesh, 10 in Odisha, 06 in Punjab, 10 in Rajasthan, 08 in Tamil Nadu, 09 Telangana, 03 in Uttarakhand, 15 in Uttar Pradesh and 18 in West Bengal. Some of the projects fall in more than one State. Most of the  new  line  projects  have  been  taken  up  primarily  on  socioeconomic  considerations  in  backward  and  remote  areas  for  the speedy development of economically backward areas.

(c):    The  completion  of  railway  projects  requires  clearances  from various  departments  of  State  Government  and  Central  Ministries like acquisition of land, statutory clearances like forestry and wild life, shifting of utilities etc.  Therefore, it is not feasible to fix time lines for completion of all the projects.

.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Renovation of Railway Colonies and Quarters
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAUSHAL KISHORE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.198 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## RENOVATION OF RAILWAY COLONIES AND QUARTERS

†198. SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  renovation  works  like  tile  flooring,  washbasin  repairing, P.O.P.,  kitchen  upgradation  are  not  being  carried  out  in  the  quarters  in several railway colonies including the ones in Sarojini Nagar and Shakurbasti after their allotment;
- (b)  if so, the reasons therefor and the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  a  forest  like  stretch  has  developed  in  Shakurbasti  railway colony due to lack of maintenance and cleanliness and also due to nondevelopment of a park causing great inconvenience to the residents living there; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  details  of  guidelines  given  for development of park there?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to  (d):  The  renovation  works  like  tile  flooring,  washbasin  repairing,

P.O.P  (Plaster  of  Paris),    kitchen  upgradation  are  carried  out  in  the quarters  in  Railway  colonies  including  Sarojini  Nagar  and  Shakurbasti

depending  upon  the  requirements  as  per  entitlement  of  occupant  and availability  of  funds/resources.  There  are  three  parks  in  the  Shakurbasti railway colony for residents living there. Maintenance and cleanliness of colony is a regular process. As such, there is no forest like stretch in the Shakurbasti railway colony.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: New Coach Factories
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH, M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.197 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## NEW COACH FACTORIES

197. DR. A. SAMPATH: SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  railways  has  done  any  assessment  of  coaches required in the near future and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  on  the  basis  of  this  assessment  the  railways  has decided to set up new coach factories in the country;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  locations,  identified  for the purpose;
- (d) whether  the  Railways  has  any  proposal  to  start  the  pending projects in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) Annual  requirement  of  coaches  assessed    for  the  current year and next two years are as under:-

| Year    |   Number of coaches |
|---------|---------------------|
| 2018-19 |                5489 |
| 2019-20 |                4941 |
| 2020-21 |                4839 |

These are inclusive of all types of coaches.

- (b) Based  on  the  assessed  requirement,  Railways  has  not  felt need to set up new factories, for manufacture of mainline coaches, in near future.
- (c) Does not arise.
- (d) Presently,  the  Railways  do  not  plan  to  start  the  pending projects for mainline coach manufacturing.
- (e) Sufficient  manufacturing  capacity  is  available  in  Railway Production Units to cater to requirements.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Income Disparity
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

## 195. SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the gap between the percentage increase in the incomes of poor and the rich has grown during the past few years;
- (b) if so, the details of the percentage of increase registered in the income of 10% of the poorest and 10% of the richest people during the last three years;
- (c) whether the economic policy of the country is responsible for the said disparity in the income; and
- (d) if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard?

## 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) & (b) In India, the data on class distribution of income is not compiled centrally. However, household consumption expenditure data collected by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) could be used as a proxy to capture the economic inequality in terms of consumption expenditure. The latest data of Large Sample Survey on Household Consumer Expenditure has been collected by NSSO in its 68 th  round conducted in 2011-12. The disparities in the class distribution of consumption expenditure are measured by the Lorenz ratio  from  the  NSSO  data  on  Consumer  Expenditure. Based  on  consumption  expenditure  data,  the  Gini coefficient (measuring the inequality between different expenditure classes of the population) in rural areas is observed to be almost same in 2004-05 and 2011-12 at 0.27 and 0.28 respectively. In the urban areas, the Gini coefficient has increased marginally from 0.35 in 2004-05 to 0.37 in 2011-12.

(c) & (d) The primary policy objective of the Government is development of all segments of the population. The Government is implementing a number of targeted programmes in this regard, like Pradhan Mantri Awaas  Yojana  (PMAY),  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Act  (MGNREGA), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya  Grameen  Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDU-GKY),  Shyama  Prasad  Mukherji  Rurban Mission (SPMRM), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana,  Atal  Pension  Yojana,  Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Yojana,  Stand  Up  India  Scheme,  etc.  These interventions  are  expected  to  yield  better  results  over  time  towards  overall  balanced  development  in  the country.

-----

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 195 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## INCOME DISPARITY
Lok Sabha Question No. 193 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: EMS Services between India and Japan
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 193 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th   JULY, 2018

## EMS SERVICES BETWEEN INDIA AND JAPAN

†193.  SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  started  'cool  EMS  service'  between  India  and Japan;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the benefits of this scheme and the manner in which the said system is likely to be operated; and
- (c) the efforts made so far by the Government to ensure that the common citizens get the benefit of the said facility?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b) Yes Madam. The Cool EMS Service between India and Japan has started from 29 th  March, 2018. Under this service, the Japanese food items permissible under Indian  regulations  are  transported  in  cool  boxes  from  Japan  to  India  (one  way  only) through postal channel. Currently this service is available in Delhi only.
- (c) Efforts have been made by the two Governments through their Embassies to create awareness about this limited service among citizens in both countries.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 190 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Observatory for Gravitational Waves Study
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.190

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## OBSERVATORY FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVES STUDY

- 190 . SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  develop  any  observatory  to  study  the phenomenon of gravitational waves and if so, the details thereof including the time by which the said observatory is likely to be operationalised; and
- (b) the progress made by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Yes,  Sir.    The  Government  of  India  has  given  'In-Principle'  approval  for Construction and  Operation  of Laser Interferometer Gravitational  Wave Laboratory  -  India  (LIGO)  in  India  in  collaboration  with  LIGO  Laboratory, United  States  of  America.    This  is  the  third  observatory  identical  to  the  two LIGO observatories in USA.  An MoU has been signed between DAE-DST of India  and  National  Science  Foundation  of  USA  on  30.03.2016.    LIGO-India Observatory is scheduled to be operational in 2024.
- (b) Of  the  various  sites  surveyed  for  this  project,  the  site  in  Hingoli  District  of Maharashtra  has  been  selected  as  the  primary  site  and  the  process  of acquiring land for the project is in advanced stage.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Status of Bharat Net Project in Krishna District
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: SRINIVAS KESINENI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 189 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th   JULY, 2018

## STATUS OF BHARAT NET PROJECT IN KRISHNA DISTRICT

189. SHRI KESINENI SRINIVAS:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether not a single gram panchayat has been made operational under Bharat Net Project in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the reasons for the delay in implementation of the phase II of the said project;
- (c) the expected timeline for completion of the said project; and
- (d) whether the aforesaid project will be completely made operational within the time frame  fixed  by  the  Government  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b) BharatNet Project is being implemented in a phased manner and Krishna District is being implemented in phase-II under State led model by the Andhra Pradesh Government. All the Gram Panchayats of Krishna District are to be covered in Phase-II. Tenders  for  Phase-II  have  been  floated  and  bids  have  been  received  by  the  State. Phase-II  of  the  project  was  approved  by  the  Cabinet  on  19.07.2017.  The  State's Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  for  the  Phase-II  was  approved  by  the  Telecom Commission on 08.09.2017. After that, bidding process has been initiated by the State.
- (c) & (d) The project is expected to be completed by March 2019.

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