opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1599 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Tribunal for Direct and Indirect Cases
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Chhatar Singh Darbar, Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS ****

## LOKSABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1599

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 27 th  NOVEMBER, 2019

## TRIBUNAL FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT CASES

## 1599. SHRI CHHATAR SINGH DARBAR:

SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether certain tribunals constituted to dispose the cases of direct and indirect cases are taking excessive time in disposing the pending cases;
- (b) if  so,  the  number  of  cases  pending  before  each  of  such tribunal till date; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government for the quick disposal of pending cases?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

****

- (a): No Sir. The tribunals constituted to dispose of the cases of Direct and Indirect taxes viz . Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) and Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), respectively dispose the pending cases in reasonable timeframe.

(b): The number of cases pending before the ITAT and CESTAT as on November, 2019 is 90082 and 77635, respectively.

(c):  The  steps  taken  for  the  quick  disposal  of  the  pending  cases, inter alia , include:-

- (i) Continuous monitoring of expeditious disposal of old appeals;
- (ii) Filling  up  of  vacancies  in  the  benches,  registry  &  other allied officials;
- (iii) Utilization of modern technology tools like computerization and e-courts etc. to liquidate pendencies.
- (iv) Issue of instruction by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs  (CBIC)  dated  04.04.2018  for  withdrawal  of  all appeals filed by the Department involving revenue stake up to Rs.20 Lakhs. This has helped in reducing the proportion of cases in CESTAT.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1594 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Agreement with French Railways Agency
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1594 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## AGREEMENT WITH FRENCH RAILWAYS AGENCY

†1594.  SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  trilateral  agreement  has  been  signed  with French National Railways (SNCF) and French agency AFD;
- (b) if so, the complete draft of the agreement along with the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  maximum grant agreed upon by the French agencyAFD to provide assistance to IRSDC in the development of railway  stations  in  India  through  French  National  Railways (SNFC) as the technical partner?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(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.1594 BY SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA TO BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 27.11.2019 REGARDING AGREEMENT WITH FRENCH RAILWAYS AGENCY

(a)&(b): Yes, Sir.  Three party FEXTE (Fund for Technical Expertise and Experience Transfer) Partnership Agreement has been signed with  French  National  Railways  (SNCF),  French  agency  AFD  and Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC) on 10.06.2019.  The special features of the Technical assistance for this Agreement are:

- i) Training and capacity building
2. ii) Tender and bid preparation
3. iii) Selection of a partner, Advisory Support and Service Level Bench marking Study

SNCF offers  to  bring  in  the  Project  Manager  and  experts  in fields  of  Capacity  Building,  TOD,  Station  Management,  Retail  and Finance.

(c):  The  French  Agency  (AFD)  has  agreed  to  make  available  a financial contribution of maximum amount of Seven Lacs Euro to the French National Railways (SNCF) in kind as a technical partner to provide the assistance to IRSDC in the development of Railway Stations in India.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1590 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Contracts for Coking Coal Imports
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1590 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## Contracts for Coking Coal Imports

1590. DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the coal ministry is planning to get contracts for coking coal import  at  competitive  prices  instead  of  its  earlier  plan  to  go  for outright purchase of coal mines;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the quantity of coal imported during the last three years, variant-wise; and
- (d) whether  the  percentage  of  demand  of  coal,  variant-wise  is  met  by domestic supply, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF  PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a)&(b): No, Sir . As per the current import policy, coal is kept under Open General  License  (OGL)  and  consumers  are  free  to  import  coal  from  the source  of  their  choice  as  per  their  contractual  prices  on  payment  of applicable duty.

(c): The quantity of coal imported during the last three years is given below:-

| Import of Coal (MT)   | Import of Coal (MT)   | Import of Coal (MT)   | Import of Coal (MT)   |
|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| Year                  | Coking                | Non Coking            | Total                 |
| 2016-17               | 41.64                 | 149.31                | 190.95                |
| 2017-18               | 47.00                 | 161.27                | 208.27                |
| 2018-19 (P)           | 51.84                 | 183.40                | 235.24                |

(d ):  The entire demand of coal is not met from domestic production as the supply  of  high  quality  coal/  coking  coal  (low-ash-coal)  in  the  country  is limited  and  thus  no  option  is  left  but  to  resort  to  import  of  coking  coal. Further, coal imported by power plants designed on imported coal and high grade coal required for blending purposes cannot be substituted by domestic coal.

Domestic supply as a percentage of Total Demand/Supply (2018-19)

Quantity in Million Tonnes

|                            |   Total Coal |   Domestic Supply Coking |   % Share |   Domestic Supply Non- Coking |   % Share |
|----------------------------|--------------|--------------------------|-----------|-------------------------------|-----------|
| Total actual Demand/Supply |       969.14 |                     17.5 |      1.81 |                         716.4 |     73.92 |
Lok Sabha Question No. 1589 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Effect of Climate Change on Coal Industry
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Virendra  Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1589 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## Effect of Climate Change on Coal Industry

## 1589. DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the Government is planning to conduct or conducted any survey regarding the effect of climate change agreements on coal industry in India and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to maintain a balance between the commitments regarding climate change and the interests of the coal industry; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a): The  Government has not conducted any study/survey on the effect of climate change agreements on coal industry in India. The sectorial emissions are studied and covered in the Biennial  Updated  Report  (BUR)  prepared  by  Government  of  India  that  also  include emissions from the coal sector. As per India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), thrust is there to reduce the fossil fuel use and promote renewable energy resources with the objective to limit carbon emission intensity.

(b) & (c): Coal being the most reliable and cheap source of electricity, remains the prime mover for the country. However, in order to reduce carbon emission intensity, Government has an ambitious plan to implement renewable energy schemes. For sustainable development of coal sector, policy initiatives have  been  taken  for  implementation  of  clean  coal technologies like Coal Bed Methane/Coal Mine Methane and Coal Gasification.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1588 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Subsidy to Coal Industry
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Feroze Varun Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1588 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## Subsidy to Coal Industry

## 1588 .SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state:

(a) whether India has increased the subsidy it provides for coal industry in the past two years; and (b) if so, whether the Government has devised a plan of action on phasing out these subsidies

- gradually and decreasing India's dependence on coal fired electricity and the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a) Ministry  of  Coal  releases  fund  to  coal  companies  under  the  scheme  "Conservation  and Safety  and  Infrastructure  Development  in  Coal  Mines"  as  payment  against  collection  of  cess (excise  duty)  on  coal  and  coke  for  conservation  and  development  related  work  including infrastructure development. This cess, a specific purpose levy under the Coal Mines (Conservation and Development) Act, 1975, has now been subsumed under Goods and Services Tax. Releases under the scheme are classified as 'subsidies' in the budget of the Ministry for technical reasons. Fund release to coal industry under the central sector scheme of   "Conservation  and  Safety  and  Infrastructure  Development  in  Coal  Mines"  was  Rs.  182.40 Crore  in  FY  2018-19  in  comparison  to  Rs.  499.50  Crore  in  FY  2017-18.  Further,  there  is  a budget provision of 135 Crore in FY 2019-20 under this scheme.

(b):       Not applicable in view of point (a).

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1581 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Sensitive Posts
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1581

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## SENSITIVE POSTS

†1581. SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the number of posts kept under sensitive category in Railways along  with  the  time-limit  of  transfer  pertaining  to  sensitive  posts according to the transfer policy during the last three years and the current year;
- (b)    the  number  of  such  railway  officials  who  have  not  been transferred even after the completion of their tenure; and
- (c) the reasons therefor and the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERECE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) Approximately,  1,35,000  of  posts  have  been  identified  as sensitive  in  Railways.  Instructions  exist  for  rotational  transfer  of the officers/staff working on sensitive posts every four years.

(b)&(c)  Most  of  the  Railway  officials  working  on  sensitive  posts have  been  transferred  after  completion  of  their  tenure  and  others are  in  process.  The  matter  is  being  pursued  regularly  and  all concerned  have  been  directed  to  take  necessary  action  in  the matter in expeditious manner to clear the backlog.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1580 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Starting Jan Shatabdi Train
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1580 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019 STARTING JAN SHATABDI TRAIN

1580.  DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether there is any proposal to start Jan Shatabdi on the route Kishanganj-Patna-Kishanganj;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (c) Presently, 14 pairs of trains including    13247/13248 Guwahati - Rajendranagar Capital Express are adequately catering to the  needs  of  Kishanganj  -  Patna  sector.  At  present,  there  is  no proposal to introduce Jan Shatabdi services between Kishanganj and Patna  owing  to  operational  and  resource  constraints.  However, introduction  of  trains  is  an  ongoing  process  on  Indian  Railways subject to operational feasibility, resource availability, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1579 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Coal Distribution Policy
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Veena Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1579 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## Coal Distribution Policy

## 1579.SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI:

## Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  review  and  amend  the  Coal distribution  policy  in  order  to  ensure  supply  of  coal  to  the  small  and medium industrial units in view of re-allotment of coal blocks;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES

## (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (c): The New Coal Distribution Policy, 2007 (NCDP, 2007), provided for distribution of coal to those units/consumers in small and medium sector across  the  country  whose  requirement  was  less  than  4,200  tonnes  per annum  and  were  otherwise  not  having  any  access  to  purchase  coal  or concluded Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) for coal supply with coal companies. The earmarked coal quantity would be distributed through State Nominated  Agencies (SNAs) notified by the State Governments. This provision of the NCDP, 2007 has been amended on 27.09.2016 by which the annual  cap  of  4,200  tonnes  per  annum  for  sale  through  SNAs  has been increased  to  10,000  tonnes  per  annum  and  the  phrase  of  small  and medium sector as mentioned in NCDP, 2007 has been amended as small, medium and others.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1578 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Broad Gauge Tracks in Mizoram
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rajdeep Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1578 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

BROAD GAUGE TRACKS IN MIZORAM

1578. DR. RAJDEEP ROY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the laying of Broad Gauge (BG) tracks between Silchar to Sairang (Mizoram) has fallen much beyond the scheduled time; and

(b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  exact date of completion of this project?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1578 BY DR. RAJDEEP ROY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.11.2019 REGARDING BROAD GAUGE TRACKS IN MIZORAM

- (a): Silchar to Sairang Broad Gauge line comprises of 3 projects.  Status of these projects is as under:
- (i) Silchar - Katakhal section (19.71 km) is a part of main Gauge Conversion project [Lumding  Badarpur  Katakhal  Silchar (210 km), Badarpur  Kumarghat (118 km), Arunachal - Jiribam (50 km) and Material Modification for Gauge  Conversion  of Baraigram -Dullabcherra (29.40 km),  Karimganj -Maishashan (10 km) and Karimganj byepass line (3.50 km)].

Gauge Conversion of Lumding - Badarpur - Katakhal - Silchar section was commissioned in November, 2015 and the complete project has been commissioned in November, 2017.

- (ii) Katakhal - Bhairabi Gauge Conversion project (84 km) was commissioned in May, 2016.
- (iii) Bhairabi - Sairang New Line (51.38 km):  Project was sanctioned in 200809.  Latest  anticipated  cost  of  the  project  is ` 5021 crores.  An  expenditure  of ` 2672 crores has been incurred upto March, 2019. An outlay of ` 750 crores has been  provided  for  2019-20.  Construction  work  has  been  taken  up  throughout the length of the project.
- (b): Bhairabi  -  Sairang  New  Line  project  is  quite  challenging  as  it  passes through hilly area and is a Ghat section involving construction of tunnels and tall bridges (more than 70 meter height). Also there is scarcity of construction materials (i.e. sand, stone, chips etc.) which is transported from Assam.  Further,  around  54  Hectare  land  is  yet  to  be  acquired  by  the Government  of  Mizoram  for  construction  of  terminal  station  facilities  at Sairang Railway Station.

As such, confirmed completion time for project cannot be fixed at this stage.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1577 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Transgression in Indian Territory by China
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab, Rahul Ramesh Shewale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1577

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 th  November, 2019

## TRANSGRESSION IN INDIAN TERRITORY BY CHINA

1577. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  Chinese  soldiers  incursions  and transgressions into the border areas of the country including Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir;
- (b) if so, the number of such cases reported during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether the casualties have been reported in such incidents during the said period and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the matter of such incursions and transgressions has been discussed with the Chinese President during his visit to India in the recent past; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor and the other corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

<!-- image -->

- (a) There is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas between   India  and  China and  there  are  areas  along  the  LAC  where both  sides have

differing  perception  of  LAC.  Due  to  both  sides  undertaking  patrolling  upto  their respective  perception  of  the  LAC,  transgressions  do  occur.    Government  is  taking measures to ensure that defence forces are in a state of readiness to meet operational and security challenges.

(b)  Details of transgression of past three years and current year are as under:

- (i) 2016 - 273
- (ii) 2017 - 426
- (iii) 2018 - 326
- (iv) 2019 - Information is being collected

(c)  No Casualty has been reported.

(d) & (e):  During the recent visit of Chinese President to India, views were exchanged on  outstanding  issues,  including  on  the  boundary  question.    Issues  discussed  also included  efforts  to  arrive  at  a  mutually-agreed  framework  for  fair,  reasonable  and mutually acceptable settlement based on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles agreed by two sides in 2005.  There were talks on continued efforts to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas and additional Confidence Building Measures.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1576 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Import of Rubber Cup Lumps
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1576 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 th NOVEMBER, 2019

## IMPORT OF RUBBER CUP LUMPS

## 1576. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any representation from the manufacturing industry seeking permission for the import of rubber cup lumps into the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  or  plans  to  conduct  a  comprehensive  study  in  order  to understand the possible  impact  of  import  of  rubber  cup  lumps  on  the  domestic  rubber  plantation industry and the price of natural rubber in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details and the findings thereof?

## ANSWER

( ) okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h Jh ih;w'k xks;y

## THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) & (b):  Representations  from  block  rubber  processing  industry  has  been  received requesting  to  permit  import  of  rubber  cup  lumps.  Import  of  rubber  cup  lump  is  not permitted as only types and forms of rubber having technical standards by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or any other recognised body can be imported into the country as per Notification No.S.O.1205 (E) dated 12.12.2001. Further, since rubber cup lumps are unprocessed material, there are sanitary and phytosanitary concerns too.
- (c) & (d): There is no proposal under consideration to conduct a study on import of rubber cup lump.

****