opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2774 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Gross State Domestic Product
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2774 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 28 th  December, 2018 7 PAUSHA, 1940 (SAKA)

## Gross State Domestic Product

## 2774. SHRI ARVIND SAWANT:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a) the  reasons  for  the  declining  Gross  State  Domestic  Product  (GSDP)  of  Kerala,  which consistently stood above the national average, but has began to show a declining trend from 2012-13 onwards; and
- b) the  details  of  the  expenditure  of  the  Union  Government  on  account  of  the  Kerala Infrastructure  Investment  Fund  Board  (KIIFB),  apart  from  Rs.  4,270  crore  granted  to KIIFB  as  part  of  the  Rs.1  lakh  crore  grant  from  the  Union  Government  before  the repayment period?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a) & (b) The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation publishes the estimates of  Gross  State  Domestic  Product  (GSDP) of the States. As per information recieved from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Kerala at current prices (with 2011-12 as base) are showing increasing trend from Rs. 4.12 lakh crore in 2012-13 to Rs. 6.22 lakh crore in 2016-17

The  Ministry  does  not  provide  any  fund  to  the  Kerala  Infrastructure  Investment  Fund  Board (KIIFB).

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: MoU between India and Sri Lanka
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 2773 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH DECEMBER, 2018

## MOU BETWEEN INDIA AN D SRI LANKA

## 2773. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

Will  the  Minister of AYURVEDA,  YOGA  AND  NATUROPATHY,  UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is planning to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India  and  Sri  Lanka  for  cooperation  in  areas  of  trad iti nal  systems  of  medicine  and homoeopathy;

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  details  of  resources  proposed  to  be  financed  for  research,  training,  confere meetings?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a)& (b) : Both the governments have agreed on draft Country to Country MoU for cooperation in areas of traditional systems of medicine an d Homeopathy and Cabinet also approved the proposal.

The  Memorandum  of  Understanding  envisages  the  following  salient  areas  for cooperation between the two Countries in the field of Traditional Medicine and Homeopat

- i. Promotion  including  the regulation  of  teaching,  practice,  drugs  and  drugless therapies, Traditional Medicine and Homeopathy
- ii. Exchange ofexperts for training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, tea professionals and students in Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeop athy
- iii. To Accommodate interested scientists, practitioners, paramedics and students institutions  for  research,  educational  and  training  programmes  on  Traditi Medicine
- iv. Mutual  recognition  of  officially  recognised  systems  of  medicine,  educatio qualifi cations in Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy, pharmacopoeias and formularies
- v. Academic Collaborations on Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy
6. (c) : Total budget allocated under Central Sector Scheme for promotion of International Cooperation of Ministry of AYUSH is 13.00 crores in the financial year 2018 - 19. As such there is no  bifurcation for different activities.

…………….
Lok Sabha Question No. 2771 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Ban on Polythene
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.  2771

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Ban on Polythene

## 2771. SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether  the  Government  has  formulated  or  proposes  to  formulate  any  effective scheme to effectively control or monitor the polythene manufacturing companies so as to implement the ban on polythene;
- (b) If so, the details thereof;
- (c) If not, whether the Government proposes to prepare a special programme for the daily monitoring of all such factories;
- (d) If so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)&(b) The Central Government has notified Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, which inter  alia regulates  manufacture,  sale,  distribution  and  use  of  plastic  carry  bags includingplastic sheets for packaging or wrapping. The use of plastic carry bags, including polyethylene carry bags, with thickness less than 50 micron is prohibited. Further, the use of plastic packaging for gutkha, tobacco and pan masala is also prohibited. The rules mandate prior-registration of manufacturers and producers of plastic carry bag, multi-layered packaging or recyclers of plastic, with concerned State Pollution Control Boards, Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/ PCCs) or with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as the case may be. The SPCBs/ PCCsare required to issue or renew registration to plastic waste recycling/ processing units based on valid consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974); Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981) and Certificate of Registration issued by the District Industries Centre or any other authorised  Government  agency.  Further,  Producersare  mandated  to  set  up  plastic  waste management  system,  duly  endorsed  by  the  Secretary,  Urban  Development  of  the  State Government, for the purpose of issuance or renewal of registration.

TheCentral  Government  is  not  considering  ban  on  the  use  of  polythene  bags completely throughout the country, however, many State Governments and local bodies have imposed ban on plastic carry bags, irrespective of its thickness, in order to prevent littering of plastic.

(c)&(d) Question does not arise in view of (a) and (b) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2770 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Priority PMMY Loans to PMKVY Trained Candidates
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SANJAY(KAKA) RAMCHANDRA PATIL

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

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 2770 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28th, 2018 / PAUSHA 07, 1940(SAKA)

## Priority PMMY Loans to PMKVY Trained Candidates QUESTION

2770: SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a ) whether any instruction has been given to the banks regarding giving priority for sanctioning of loan under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) to the candidates who have completed training under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether leading banks have issued rules and regulations for this purpose and if so, the details thereof and if not; the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

- (a) & (b) Lead District Managers (LDMs) of Banks in each District have been asked to visit the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) , where skill training is provided to candidates under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), in the District once a month, to impart financial training and provide guidance to candidates on how to apply for a loan including under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) Performance of LDMs in this regard and of banks in ensuring credit linkage of trained candidates in these centres are reviewed by the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC):
Lok Sabha Question No. 2769 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Samadhan Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No 2769 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  DECEMBER 2018/ PAUSHA 7, 1940 (SAKA) SAMADHAN SCHEME

## 2769 : SHRI KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to come up with Samadhan Scheme for Asset Management and Debt Change Structure to propose sale or takeover of the stressed assets of the power plants to prevent their liquidation, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  task  has  been  assigned  to  State  Bank  of  India  to  finalise  the scheme, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  the  power  plants  which  have  been  identified  to  bring  under Samadhan scheme; and
- (d) whether the consent of the promoters of the power plants has been taken in this regard, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

- (a)  &  (b)  No,  Madam. A  Scheme  of  Asset  Management  and  Debt  Change Structure  (SAMADHAN)  has  however  been  proposed   by  State  Bank  of  India (SBI)  for  the  purpose  of  resolution  of  stressed assets  in  power  sector  in  a transparent  price  discovery  process  with  an  aim  to  maximise  recovery  efforts from such assets.
- (c)  The details of power plants identified by SBI for the Scheme are annexed.
- (d)   As informed by SBI, the plan envisages implementation of the scheme with cooperation and consent of promoters.

*****

Annexure

|   S No | Project Name                            |
|--------|-----------------------------------------|
|      1 | Coastal Energen Private Ltd             |
|      2 | Prayagraj Power Generation Co Ltd       |
|      3 | KSK Mahanadi Power Co Ltd               |
|      4 | SKS Power Generation (Chhattisgarh) Ltd |
|      5 | Jaypee Power Ventures Ltd               |
|      6 | GMR Chhattisgarh Energy Ltd             |
|      7 | Jhabua Power Ltd                        |
|      8 | Meenakshi Energy Ltd                    |
|      9 | Rattan India (Amravati) Ltd             |
|     10 | RKM Powergen Ltd                        |
|     11 | Ideal Energy Ltd                        |
|     12 | Ind Bharath Utkal Ltd                   |
|     13 | Lanco (Anpara) Ltd                      |
|     14 | Jindal India Thermal Power Ltd          |
Lok Sabha Question No. 2768 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: GST Exemption for ICTT
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE *****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2768

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 28 TH  DECEMBER, 2018 PAUSHA  7, 1940 (SAKA)

## GST EXEMPTION FOR ICTT

## 2768. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government received request from the State Government of Kerala to exempt the International Container and Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), Vallarpadam  from  the  purview  of  Goods  and  Services  Tax  (GST)  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  considered  the  same  and  taken  any  decision thereon and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) and (b): The decisions regarding GST rates are taken by GST Council after due deliberations where both Centre and States are represented. Based on the recommendation of the Council, the Government makes changes in tax rates. GST Council has not made any recommendation to exempt the International Container and Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), Vallarpadam from the purview of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2767 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Pending Cases of Pensions
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: ANUPAM HAZRA

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2767

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 28th DECEMBER, 2018 7 Paush, 1940 (SAKA)

## Pending Cases of Pensions

## 2767: DR: ANUPAM HAZRA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of pending cases of pensions, if any, on superannuation, disability, family and others up to March 2018 under the Departments of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Central Excise; and
- (b) the specific reasons for pending of such pension cases dragging for more than six months?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE [SHRL SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA]

- The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House
Lok Sabha Question No. 2766 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Atal Pension Yojana
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

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

*****

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 2766 TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 28, 2018/PAUSHA 7, 1940 (SAKA) ATAL PENSION YOJANA

2766. Shrimati P.K. Sreemathi Teacher

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to modify the Atal Pension Yojana (APY); and
- (b)   if  so,  the  details  of  money  one  needs  to  park  every  month  in  the  APY  to  reach  the monthly income goal at age 60 and the pension they are eligible for?

## ANSWER

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla)

(a) to (b) Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA) has submitted a proposal to increase the age of entry and enhancing the monthly pension under APY to the Government. The issue is under examination.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: PMMY Benefits to MSMEs
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

- (a)

about 5.77 such units exist in the country:

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 2765 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28th DECEMBER, 2018 / PAUSA 7, 1940 (SAKA)

## PMMY Benefits to MSMEs'

2765

Shri Ramsinh Rathwa

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state

- (a) whether the lack of institutional funds is the biggest hurdle before the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the banking scheme Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) has proved very beneficial for the MSMEs and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

- Inadequatellack of access for non corporate small business segment within Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has been widely acknowledged as a hurdle to the growth and sustenance of such enterprises: As per National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) estimates in 2013, crore

b) Yes, Madam: An independent assessment of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in 2016 indicates that borrowers value three attributes of PMMY namely no requirement of a guarantor or  collateral, simple documentation and quick processing: As per this study, PMMY has made a positive impact on bottom line of MSMEs: 84% of PMMY borrowers surveyed accepted that loans had helped increase their revenues by 20% to 30%
Lok Sabha Question No. 2764 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Impact of Globalisation
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2764

## TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 28, 2018

IMPACT OF GLOBALISATION

2764. SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the impact of globalisation on the domestic industry, agriculture and

- employment in the country; and
- (b) the basis of Government findings and conclusions in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PON RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a) & (b) Indian economy is an open economy, as reflected in the growth in volume of trade in goods and services; trade to GDP ratio; and rising capital inflows and outflows, etc. As per the data from World Economic Outlook database of International Monetary Fund, the growth in volume of  trade  in  goods  and  services  of  India  was  5.4  per  cent  in  1980s,  9.2  per  cent  in 1990s  and  10.5  per  cent  during  2000-2017.  India's  agricultural  products  exports  have increased  from  US$  2.8  billion  in  1980  to  US$  39.5  billion  in  2017,  and  the  manufactures product exports has increased from US$ 5 billion in 1980 to US$ 208 billion in 2017 (World Trade  Organization  data).  The  increasing  openness  offers  opportunities  for  exports  of agricultural and industrial products, and consequently more employment in the labour intensive sectors.  However,  the  growth  of  a  sector  depends  on  various  factors, inter-alia ,  including global  growth,  trade  openness,  competitiveness  of  the  economy,  exchange  rate,  growth  in trading  partner  countries,  structural,  fiscal  and  monetary  factors,  etc,  hence  it  is  difficult  to pinpoint the impact of any one particular factor on specific sector's performance.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2763 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Current Account Deficit
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN, V. SATHYABAMA, R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2763

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 28, 2018

## CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT

2763. SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN: SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA: SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any concrete steps to check and control Current Account Deficit (CAD) which is expected to breach the 2.5 per cent mark in FY 2019;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereon; and
- (c) whether the Government has announced a five step formula to address rising CAD levels and if so, the details thereof and the manner in which it is likely to reduce the CAD and trade deficits?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PON RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a) to (c) The value of rupee and the current account deficit (CAD) are determined by market conditions.  Government,  however,  monitors  the  CAD  to  moderate  it  to  sustainable  levels through  various  policies/measures  taken  from  time  to  time.  Government  through  a  press briefing in September 2018, announced "five steps" to address the depreciation of rupee and rising  current  account  deficit.  They  include,  review  of  mandatory  currency  hedging  for infrastructure, easier rules for manufacturing entities to raise funds overseas, review of debt investment limits for FPIs, exemption from withholding tax for masala bonds, and removal of restriction on Indian Banks's market making of masala bonds.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2762 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Protection of Taj Mahal
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MAULANA BADRUDDIN AJMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2762

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Protection of Taj Mahal

## 2762. SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  despite  restriction  and  prohibition  by  the  Supreme  Court,  the  Government  is allowing  industries  in  vicinity  of  Taj  Mahal  which  is  leading  to  rise  of  pollution  levels resulting in great damage to the world heritage monument;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  action  plan  formulated  by  the  Government  to  protect  beauty  and  legacy  of  the  Taj Mahal?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) The Taj Trapezium Zone Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, constituted under directions  of  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court,  is  empowered  to  take  decisions  for  environmental management  of  the  Taj  Trapezium  Zone  (TTZ)  including  the  decision  for  granting  the permission for setting up of the industries as per rules/norms.  The Commissioner, Agra Division is the Chairperson of the Authority.  According to theTaj Trapezium Zone Pollution (Prevention and  Control)  Authority,  no  permission  has  been  issued  to  establish/operate  air  polluting industries in the vicinity of Taj Mahal.
- (b) Does not arise.
- (c) The  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  has  formulated  scientific  cleaning  and conservation plan to protect the surface of Taj Mahal from deposited pollutants. Accordingly, all four  minarets,  eight  facades,  four  pedestal  marble  walls,  interior  portion  of  periphery  up  to human height  &  four  Chhatries  at  roof  top  of  main  Mausoleum,  has  already  been  cleaned  & treated.

The other measures taken for protecting the natural environment in and around the Taj Mahal inter-alia  include,  constitution  of  Taj  Trapezium  Zone  Pollution  (Prevention  and  Control)

Authority  and  imposition  of  moratorium  on  setting  up  of  new  industries  and  expansion  of existing industries in Taj Trapezium Zone except white category of industries by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, monitoring of air quality by 08 air quality monitoring stations established by Central Pollution Control Board, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) & Archaeological Survey of India in  and around Taj  Mahal  and implementation of short term and long term action plan prepared by the UPPCB for improvement in the air quality of Agra etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 239 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-27
Subject: Highways in West Bengal
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.  239

ANSWERED ON 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## HIGHWAYS IN WEST BENGAL

## *239.   SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

## WILL THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has decreased the allocations for the construction of roads and highways in West Bengal and sanctioned only Rs. 153 crores against the demand submitted by the State Government for Rs. 1500 crores;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  funds  allocated  to  West  Bengal  towards  development  of  highways,  roads  and  bridges between 2015 and 2017;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to allocate a special tranche of funds for the development of roads in West Bengal; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (e)  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *239 FOR ANSWER ON 27.12.2018 ASKED BY SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR REGARDING HIGHWAYS IN WEST BENGAL.

(a) & (b) Development & maintenance of National Highways is a continuous process. The works for development & maintenance of National Highways including those in the State of West Bengal are accordingly taken up from time to time as per traffic density, inter-se priority & availability of funds. The allocation of funds for construction of National Highways through State PWD during 2018-19 is Rs. 970 crore against Rs. 1195 crore for the previous year.

(c) The Ministry had allocated Rs. 615 crore and Rs. 1333.62 crore for the State of West Bengal for development of National Highways for the years 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively.

(d) & (e) There is no such proposal.

*****