opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: High Speed Corridors
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: A. Ganeshamurthi, T. R. Paarivendhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2186 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## HIGH SPEED CORRIDORS

†2186.  SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI: DR. T. R. PAARIVENDHAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Union  Government  is  in  the  process  to  build  six high-speed and semi-high speed corridors in various railway zones across the country;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Union  Government  has  any  proposal  to  include Chennai-New  Delhi  and  Chennai-Coimbatore  railway  line  in  the proposed six high-speed and semi-high speed corridors;
- (d)
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) and (b):  No,  Sir.  So  far,  Government  has  sanctioned  only  one such project namely Mumbai - Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project (508 Kms), which is being executed with the technical and financial cooperation of Government of Japan. However, Ministry of Railways has decided to undertake and prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) for  following  six  High  Speed  Rail  Corridors  with  an  objective  to ascertain  their  feasibility,  alternative  alignments,  traffic  demand, viability, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) etc.:
- (i)
- Delhi - Noida - Agra - Lucknow- Varanasi (815 kms)

- (ii)
- (iii)
- (iv)
- Delhi - Jaipur - Udaipur - Ahmedabad (886 kms)
- Mumbai - Nasik - Nagpur (753 kms)
- Mumbai - Pune - Hyderabad (711 kms)
- (v) Chennai - Bangalore - Mysore (435 kms)
- (vi) Delhi  -  Chandigarh  -  Ludhiana  -  Jalandhar  -  Amritsar (459 kms)

The work of undertaking DPR has been entrusted to National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL).

- (c): No, Sir.
- (d): Does not arise.
- (e): Identification of  new  Corridors  depends  on  many  factors especially passenger demand, market potential, alternative options and economic viability.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2185 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: UAVs for Minerals Exploration
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2185 ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## UAVs FOR MINERALS EXPLORATION

2185. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  started  using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for mineral exploration;
- (b) if so, the number of such UAVs being used for the  same; and
- (c) other ways through which mineral exploration is being undertaken in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):  Mineral  Exploration  Corporation  Limited  (MECL),  a  CPSU  of  Ministry  of Mines has once adopted Drone technology on Research and Development basis for faster  topographic  survey  for  a  reconnaissance  survey  [G-4  level]  in  Odisha  in  FY 2016-17.

Mineral exploration is carried out under various stages e.g. 'reconnaissance survey' [G4],  'preliminary  exploration'  [G3]  and  'general  exploration'  [G2]  following  the guidelines of United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) and Mineral Evidence and  Mineral  Content  Rules  (MEMC-2015).  The  mineral  exploration  work  involves large  scale  mapping  and  detailed  mapping  for  delineating  surface  manifestation followed  by  drilling  to  delineate  the  third  dimension  of  the  mineralized  zone  and chemical analysis of surface and drill core samples to define the grade of mineralized zone.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2184 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Trains from Shirdi to Delhi
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sadashiv Kisan Lokhande

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2184 TO BE  ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## TRAINS FROM SHIRDI TO DELHI

†2184. SHRI SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  considered/proposes  to  consider  to connect Shirdi city of Maharashtra to other cities especially to Delhi with any express/mail service;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  to  (c)  At  present,  22455/22456  Sai  Nagar  Shirdi-Kalka  Express provides direct connectivity between Sai Nagar Shirdi and Delhi area. Besides,  Sai  Nagar  Shirdi  is  connected  with  other  major  cities  like, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam etc. by direct train services. During the period 2014-2019, two pairs of trains originating from/terminating  at  Sai  Nagar  Shirdi  has  been  introduced.  Owing  to operational and resource constraints, presently, there is no proposal to  start  new  train  from  Sai  Nagar  Shirdi.  However,  introduction  of trains is an ongoing process on Indian Railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification, availability of resources etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2183 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Village Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Dharambir Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2183 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 4 TH  MARCH, 2020 VILLAGE COURTS

## †2183.  SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  open  village  courts  for  speedy disposal of justice to the people;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which such village courts are likely to be opened; and
- (c)  if  not,  whether  the  Government  is  required  to  open  village  courts considering the delay in disposal of justice to the people and the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c): The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 provides for establishment of Gram Nyayalayas at the grass roots level for the purpose of providing access to justice to the citizens at their door steps. As per Section 3 (1) of the above Act, the State Governments,  after  consultation with the High Court, are responsible for establishing Gram Nyayalayas. As per information available, 353 Gram Nyayalayas have been notified so

far by eleven State Governments, out of which 221 are operational. The State- wise details  of  number  of  notified  and  operational  Gram  Nyayalayas  are  as follows:

| Sl. No.   | State       |   Gram Nyayalayas Notified |   Gram Nyayalayas Functional |
|-----------|-------------|----------------------------|------------------------------|
| 1         | M P         |                         89 |                           87 |
| 2         | Rajasthan   |                         45 |                           45 |
| 3         | Karnataka   |                          2 |                            0 |
| 4         | Orissa      |                         22 |                           16 |
| 5         | Maharashtra |                         39 |                           24 |
| 6         | Jharkhand   |                          6 |                            1 |
| 7         | Goa         |                          2 |                            0 |
| 8         | Punjab      |                          2 |                            2 |
| 9         | Haryana     |                          3 |                            2 |
| 10        | UP          |                        113 |                           14 |
| 11        | Kerala      |                         30 |                           30 |
| Total     | Total       |                        353 |                          221 |

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 2182 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Demand of Copper
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Jyotsna Charandas Mahant

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2182

ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## DEMAND OF COPPER

2182. SHRIMATI. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT: Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state: (a)  whether it is a fact that copper is the third most used industrial metal today in terms of quantities consumed globally; (b)  if  so, the details thereof along with the expected increase of copper during the next three years; (c)  whether shutdown of copper plant by Vedanta Group at Thoothukudi in Tamil Naidu is likely to have wide ranging repercussion on India's copper industry and there would be upward pressure on import of copper; and (d)  if so, the steps Central Government propose to take for immediate opening of plant to

- meet the future demand of copper in India?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): As per United States Geological Survey (USGS), copper is the third most used industrial metal in terms of quantities consumed. As per International Copper Study Group, press release dated 23 rd October, 2019, the world apparent refined copper usage is  expected  to  increase  by  about  1.7%  in  2020.  The  Tuticorin  smelter  of  M/s  Vedanta Limited in Tamil Nadu, which has annual capacity of 4 lakh tonnes of refined copper, is closed since May 2018 on order of State Govt of Tamil Nadu.   Closure of the plant has affected the domestic production of refined copper. Presently, the M/s Vedanta Limited has filed a writ petition before Madras High Court during February 2019 challenging the orders of the State of Tamil Nadu and TNPCB and the matter is sub-judice.
- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2179 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Advocates
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Kaushal Kishore, Upendra Singh Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE

## DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

*****

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2179 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR ADVOCATES

2179 : SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE: SHRI UPENDRA SINGH RAWAT:

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

- (a) the  details  of  Welfare  schemes  being  implemented  by  different State  Bar  Council  and  All  India  Bar  Council  for  the  benefit  of Advocates, particularly in Uttar Pradesh; and
- (b)
- the way in which such schemes are being funded?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (b) The Bar Council of India has an Advocate Welfare Fund and all the  State  Bar  Councils  have  an  Advocate  Welfare  Fund  as  well.  All Advocates  at  or  after  enrollment  pay  subscription  amount  towards  a membership  of  Advocate  Welfare  Fund  which  is  later  on  utilized  by  Bar Council  of  India  and  State  Bar  Councils    as  and  when  applications  of welfare are placed/filed before them after due consideration of the same. Usually,  welfare  fund  is  utilized  for  medical  issues  and/  or  for  any  other emergent issues and an amount of ranging from Rs. 20000/- to 50000/- is generally paid in this respect. Furthermore, if the situation so demands an higher amount ranging from 1 lakh to 2 lakh can also be paid subject to a decision of the full House of the Council. Furthermore, the Bar Council of India  utilizes  the  fee  received  vide  for  college  approval  also  for  such purpose. Furthermore, State/ State Bar Council have also created a fund in the  name  of  Advocate  Welfare  Fund  Trustee  Committee  under  the Chairmanship  of  Advocate  General/  Chairman  of  State  Bar  Council  for providing financial assistance to the Advocates.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2178 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Housekeeping Facility in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ravindra Kushawaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2178 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## HOUSEKEEPING FACILITY IN TRAINS

## †2178.  SHRI RAVI KISHAN: SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  trains  running  with  in-house  keeping  facilities  at present;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to provide such facility in all long distance trains;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (d) On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) has been provided in nearly  1100  pairs  of  trains  including  Rajdhani,  Shatabdi  and  other important long distance Mail/Express trains (except overnight trains) for cleaning of coach toilets, doorways, aisles and passenger compartments during  the  run  of  the  trains.  This  includes  nearly  575 pairs of trains added since 2015.  Railway will continue to provide this service  in  such  important  long  distance  Mail/Express  trains  in  future also.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Railway Development in Kerala
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2176 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT IN KERALA

2176. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to develop Railways in Kerala;
- (b) if so, the details thereof during the last four years;
- (c) the  amount allocated for the railway development in this union budget 2020-21; and
- (d) the project-wise and amount-wise details in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2176  BY  ADV.  A.M.  ARIFF  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  04.03.2020  REGARDING  RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT IN KERALA

(a) to (d): Railway projects are not sanctioned State-wise, projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway wise. However, 09 projects (02 new line and 07  doubling)  covering  a  length  of  454  Km,  costing 8,317  crore, falling fully/partly in Kerala, are under different stages of planning/approval/execution. Details of these projects are as under:

02 New Line Projects are covering a length of 146 km, costing 3,293 crore. An expenditure of 299 crore has been incurred upto March, 2019 a budget estimated outlay of 2.0 crore has been provided for financial year 2019-20.

07  Doubling  Projects  are  covering  a  length  of  307  km,  costing 5,024 crore, out of which, 8 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of 672 crore has been incurred upto March, 2019. A budget estimated outlay of 265 crore has been provided for these projects for the financial year 2019-20.

The  project-wise  details  of  projects  including  expenditure  and proposed  outlay  are  made  available  in  public  domain  on  Indian Railways website i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in >Ministry of Railways >Railway Board >About Indian Railways >Railway Board Directorates >Finance  (Budget)>Railway-wise  Works  Machinery  &  Rolling  Stock Programme-2020-21.

Budget  Allocation  (for  the  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of Kerala)

Proposed Budget allocation (In Infrastructure projects & safety works)  for  the  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  the  state  of  Kerala  has increased  to 688  crore  (during  2020-21)  from 372  crore  (during 2009-14).  Thus,  the  proposed  budget  allocation  for  2020-21  is  85% more than average allocation during 2009-14.

## Commissioning of Projects

During  2009-14,  53  Km  (7  Km  of  New  line,  10  Km  of  Gauge conversion and 36 Km of Doubling projects) have been commissioned in the state at an average rate 11 Km per year.

Since 2014-19, 89 Km (29 Km of Gauge conversion and 60 Km of Doubling projects) have been commissioned in the state at an average rate  18  Km  per  year,  which  is  68%  more  than  commissioning  during 2009-14.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2174 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Short Supply of Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2174 TO BE ANSWERRED ON 04.03.2020

## Short Supply of Coal

## 2174. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

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

(a) whether thermal power plants have been closed down by the Government in the entire country including Uttar Pradesh due to short supply of coal; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c)  whether the Government has taken steps to check the shortage of coal in the country; and

- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d): Sufficient  domestic  coal  has  been  supplied  to  power  plants  of  the country  and  the  coal  stock  at  power  plants  end  has  increased  from  25.37 Million Tonnes (MT) as on 26.02.2019 to 36.78 MT as on 26.02.2020 which is sufficient for 21 days consumption. Also, there is sufficient coal at the end of coal  companies  and  as  on  26.02.2020,  the  pithead  coal  stock  with  the  Coal India  Limited  (CIL)  was  42.43  MT  and  that  of  Singareni  Collieries  Company Limited  (SCCL)  was  2.26  MT.   The  progress  of  coal  offtake  is  reviewed  on  a regular basis and the coal supplies to Power sector are monitored regularly by an  Inter-Ministerial  Sub  Group  comprising  representatives  of  Ministries  of Power, Coal, Railways, Shipping, CEA, NITI Aayog, CIL etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2171 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Storage of Drinking Water under MPLAD Fund
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: P.R. Natarajan, T. R. Paarivendhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2171 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## STORAGE OF DRINKING WATER UNDER MPLAD FUND

2171.  SHRI NATARAJAN P.R.: Dr. T. R. PAARIVENDHAR:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is having any proposal to include the  work  of  spilling  in  ponds  for  storage  of  drinking  water under Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION  AND  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF  PLANNING  (RAO  INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) to (c) The guidelines on Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme  (MPLADS)  provides for creation of durable  community  assets  based  on  the  locally  felt  needs which  also  includes  facilities  for  Drinking  Water.  The  list  of items permissible under MPLADS, which is not exhaustive but indicative,  is  available  at  Annexure  IV  E  of  guidelines  on MPLADS. Therefore, need has not been felt to include 'spilling in ponds for storage of drinking water' as specific item in the said list.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Reclamation of Abandoned Mines
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Deepak (Dev) Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2168

## LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## RECLAMATION OF ABANDONED MINES

2168. SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK (DEV):

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  evolved  any  policy  in  relation  to  reclamation  of abandoned mines;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of abandoned mines reclaimed/ rehabilitated during the last three years; and
- (d) the number of mine sites identified for reclamation?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d):  There  are  provisions  in  the  Mineral  Conservation and Development Rules, 2017  ('MCDR  2017')  prescribing  procedures  for  abandonment  of  mines  which  inter alia, require carrying out protective, reclamation and rehabilitation work in accordance with the mine closure plan. As per Rule 24 of MCDR 2017, a Final Mine Closure plan is required  to  be  submitted  by  the  lessee  to  the  Competent  Authority  for  approval  two years prior to the proposed closure of the mine. The Final Mine Closure Plan envisages type of land use proposed by the lessee after extraction which includes proposals for proper reclamation and rehabilitation of the area affected by mining to be completed within the specified time period.

The mine owner has the responsibility to ensure that the protective measures including reclamation and rehabilitation works have been carried out in accordance with the approved mine closure plan so that the land is restored, to the extent possible in which it was before commencement of the mining operations. After the mine closure, the land can be put to alternate use.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: BSNL Landline Connections
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Devusinh Jesingbhai Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2167 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  MARCH, 2020

## BSNL LANDLINE CONNECTIONS

## 2167.   SHRI DEVUSINH JESINGHBHAI CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  disconnect  landline  telephone  connections  of  Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in rural areas of Gujarat;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to make alternate arrangements for these disconnected landline telephones; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) No Sir. There is no such proposal.
- (b) to (d) Does not arise.

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