opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3893 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Foreign Law Firms
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Amol Ramsing Kolhe

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3893 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## FOREIGN LAW FIRMS

## 3893. Dr: DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

DR. HEENA GAVIT:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

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

- (a) whether the Bar Council of India, the governing body regulating legal practice in India has accorded its permission to allow foreign law firms to participate in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the government has taken into consideration the adverse Impact of such a move on indigenous law firms, and  if so,  the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  Government  would  stipulate  pre-condition  that  for  setting  up  and legal practice in India the foreign legal firms should employ at least 3/4 th of Indians to do the legal and paralegal work; and
- (e) if so, the status of the proposal at present ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a)  &  (b)  The  information  is  being  collected  and  will  be  laid  on  the  table  of  the House.
- (c) to (e) The matter regarding entry of foreign law firms  is under consideration of Government.  The  266 th Report  of  Law  Commission  and  the  Supreme  Court Judgment dated 13.03.2018 in the case of Bar Council of India Vs A.K. Balaji and Ors, which deals with the issue, are also under consideration of Government.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3891 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Mobile Connectivity in Kodarma District
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Annpurna Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3891 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH   JULY, 2019

## MOBILE CONNECTIVITY IN KODARMA DISTRICT

## †3891. MS. ANNPURNA DEVI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  mobile  connectivity  and  network  facility  is  not  available  in  Kodarma  district  of Jharkhand due to shortage of BSNL mobile towers;
- (b) the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (c) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  has  informed  that  as  on  31.05.2019,  2154 Base  Transceiver  Stations  (BTSs)  for  2G  and  1118  BTSs  for  3G  are  working  in  Jharkhand  State. These include 34 BTSs for 2G and 17 BTSs for 3G in Kodarma district.
- 70  BTSs  (2G/4G)  are  approved  for  installation  in  Kodarma  district  for  providing  mobile connectivity  in  Left  Wing  Extremism  (LWE)  affected  areas  at  locations  identified  by  Ministry  of Home Affairs (MHA) under scheme funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3888 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Policy on Offset Clause
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva, Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3888

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th JULY, 2019

## POLICY ON OFFSET CLAUSE

3888. SHRIMATI RATHVA GITABEN VAJESINGHBHAI: SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

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

- (a) the policy on Offset Clause for the acquisition of Defence  equipment from foreign manufacturers;
- (b)  whether  the  main  objectives  of  the  Offset  Clause  is  to  promote  the  domestic manufacturing and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  the  relaxation  of  the  Offset  Clause requirement in defence equipment procurement and if so, the details and the reasons thereof; and
- (d)  whether the Government is aware of the media reports raising apprehension of a potential  conflict  of  interest  between  the  Government  and  the  offset  contracts company, especially in regard to the Rafale deal and if so, the details thereof and  the reaction of the Government thereto?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

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(a) to (c):  Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 contains Defence Offset Guidelines which  stipulate  provisions  for  the  offsets  obligations  in    specified    categories  of Defence Acquisitions as a policy.  The key objective of the Defence Offset Policy is to

leverage  the  capital  acquisitions  to  develop  Indian  Defence  Industry.    The  Defence Offset Guidelines were amended from time to time based on the experience gained in implementation  and  made  more  industry  friendly.    The  offset  discharge  avenues available to vendors have also increased gradually.

(d)    As  per  Defence  Offset  Guidelines,  the  Original  Equipment  Manufacturer (OEM)/Vendor/Tier-I Sub-vendor is free to select the Indian Offset Partner (IOP) for implementing the offset obligations provided the IOP has not been barred from doing business by the Ministry of Defence. Government of India has no role in the selection of IOP which is a commercial decision of the OEM.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3887 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Information under RTI Act
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3887

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019)

## INFORMATION UNDER RTI ACT

## 3887. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that in many cases the Government/departments do not provide timely information under Right to Information (RTI) Act;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the total number of pending cases in the Central Information Commission for more than one year; and
- (c) the action taken by the Government for the effective implementation of RTI Act?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) & (b):   As on 10.07.2019, total number of pending second appeals/complaints in the Central Information Commission for more than one year is 9075. No such data is maintained centrally in respect of other Governments/Departments.

- (c):    (i)    For  speedy  disposal  of  pending  cases  the  Government  has  taken  several  steps  like capacity  building  through  training  of  Central  Public  Information  Officers  (CPIOs)/ Public  Information  Officers  (PIOs)  and  issue  of  guidelines  for  PIOs  and  First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), so as to enable them to supply information/dispose of first appeal effectively, resulting into less number of 'First Appeals' and 'Appeals' to the Information Commission.

Online applications can be made to offices under Central Government. Currently, systems of 2242 Public Authorities have been aligned to receive, process and reply to Online RTIs from the applicants.

- (ii)  DoPT provides funds to various State Governments for establishing helpline in order to facilitate obtaining of the information by the RTI applicants.
- (iii) Funds  are  provided  each  year  to  various  state  Administrative  Training  Institutes (ATIs) by the Government to help generate awareness about RTI among the citizens of the country through measures like Distance learning  programmes  and  Online certificate  course  in  regional  languages,  publishing  of  handbooks  on  RTI  and distribution of the same among the public. State Information Commissions (SICs) are also provided funds for celebration of RTI week.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3885 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Cyber Security
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Manoj Kumar Tiwari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3885

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## CYBER SECURITY

## 3885.    SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state  the  details  of  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  establish  cyber  Courts across the country in near future?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

The Information Technology Act, 2000 provides adequate provisions for justice mechanism to  deal  with  cyber  contraventions  and  cyber  crimes.  Section  46  of  the  Act  provides  for adjudication mechanism for cyber contraventions. Secretaries of Department of Information Technology of each State and Union Territory have been appointed as Adjudicating Officer. The  appeals  are  dealt  by  Telecom  Dispute  Settlement  and  Appellate  Tribunal  (TDSAT). Cyber crime cases are dealt by appropriate competent courts. Presently there is no proposal with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to establish separate cyber courts.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3884 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Survey for Coal Exploration
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3884 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## Survey for Coal Exploration

## 3884.  SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state:

- a. whether the Government has engaged any agency to conduct a survey with regard to coal exploration during the last year;
- b. if so, the details thereof;
- c. whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  coal  industry  through  mining  in Rajasthan; and
- d. if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a&  b): Geological  Surveys  of  India  (GSI),  Central  Mine  Planning  and  Design  Institute (CMPDI)  and  Mineral  Exploration  Corporation  of  India  Limited  (MECL)  are  the  agencies engaged  by  Government  of  India  for  exploration  of  coal  through  Central  Sector  Scheme  of Exploration of Coal and Lignite.

- (c& d): As per the Reserves estimated by Geological Survey of India, coal has not been found in Rajasthan and as such there is no plan for coal mining in the state.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3881 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Telecom Connectivity in Rural Areas
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy, Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3881 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH   JULY, 2019

## TELECOM CONNECTIVITY IN RURAL AREAS

## 3881.   SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY: SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to accelerate telecom connectivity in rural and remote areas across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether  any  such  areas  have  been  identified  by  the  Government  in  the  State  of  Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether any time-frame has been chalked out by the Government for this purpose and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) To  accelerate  telecom  connectivity  in  rural  and  remote  areas  across  the  country, following projects are being implemented by the Government:

- (i) Under Left Wing Extremism affected areas Phase-II project, Government has approved installation of mobile towers for providing mobile connectivity.
- (ii) A  Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  for  mobile  connectivity  in  the  North Eastern Region to provide mobile coverage in uncovered villages, along with National Highways and to strengthen transmission network.
- (iii) Laying  of  submarine  optical  fibre  cable  between  Chennai  and  Andaman  &  Nicobar Islands for providing connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- (iv) Satellite Bandwidth Augmentation upto 4 Gbps for Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

- (v) Mobile connectivity to cover uncovered villages and along National Highway (NH 223) in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- (vi) Providing mobile connectivity in 361 villages of uncovered border areas,  Ladakh and Kargil Region and other priority areas.
- (vii) Augmentation  of  Satellite  bandwidth  from  318  Mbps  to  1.71  Gbps  for  Lakshadweep Islands.
- (viii) Under BharatNet project to provide broadband connectivity in all the Gram Panchayats (approx 2.5 lakh) in the country.

(c) & (d) According  to  the  data  collected  from  the  telecom  service  providers  in  2018,  it  was estimated that out of 16,158 inhabited villages (as per census 2011) in the State of Andhra Pradesh, there  were  2745  villages  which  are  not  covered  by  mobile  services.  Mobile  coverage  in  these uncovered villages is being provided in a phased manner including connectivity to Gram Panchayats under BharatNet project and coverage under Left Wing Extremism affected areas Phase-II project.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3880 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Issuance of PIO Cards
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Hasnain Masoodi

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3880 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

ISSUANCE OF PIO CARDS

3880 . SHRI HASNAIN MASOODI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the number of Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards issued to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir State who are citizens of other countries; and

(b) the number of pending applications for issue of PIO cards?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) Under the PIO card scheme of 2002, PIO cards were issued to foreign nationals of Indian origin. The erstwhile PIO card scheme of 2002 has been rescinded vide MHA's notification dated 9 th   Janaury 2015 and has  been   merged   with   OCI   card   scheme   launched   by   MHA   in   2005. Accordingly,   only   OCI   cards   are   being   issued   at   present.   As   per information available with MHA, till date 935 foreign nationals, who have mentioned their present address as the State of Jammu & Kashmir in the application, have been granted registration as OCI cardholders.

(b) Does not arise, as PIO card scheme has already been rescinded. However, as on a date a total number of 32,97,472 OCI cards have been issued while total number of applications are pending.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 3879 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Reservation in Sainik Schools
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3879

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th JULY, 2019

## RESERVATION IN SAINIK SCHOOLS

3879. SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

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

- (a)    whether  Article  16  (4-a)  of  the  Constitution  regarding  reservation  rules  are  not being followed in the admission of children in Sainik Schools as a result of which the underprivileged are deprived of the opportunities;
- (b)  if  so, the details thereof  and the reasons therefor along with the steps proposed to be  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  implementation  of  reservation  in  Sainik Schools including the school in Ambikapur;
- (c)    whether  the  OBCs  as  mentioned  in  the  State  and  Centre  lists  are  being  given reservation  in Sainik Schools; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

(a) to (d):  Article 16 (4a) is not applicable to Sainik School admissions.  Article 16 (4a)  of  the  Constitution  deals  with  reservation  in  promotion  with  consequential seniority  in  services  under  the  State  in  favour  of  SC  and  ST.    Admission  to  Sainik School is strictly merit based through a competitive exam and medical fitness. As per Sainik  School  Society  Rules  and  Regulations  1997,  seats  for  admission  in  Sainik Schools are reserved for candidates belonging to SC, ST and Defence categories.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3877 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Delay in Enacting Data Protection Law
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3877

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## DELAY IN ENACTING DATA PROTECTION LAW

## 3877   DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

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

- (a) whether it has taken more than a decade for the Government to draft a law on data protection   and privacy and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b)    whether the issue of data protection and privacy kept on shifting from one ministry to another in the past decade and if so, the reasons thereof;
- (a) the  major  recommendations  of  the  committee  constituted  by  the  Government  to strengthen data protection regime in the country; and
- (b) whether  the  said  recommendations  are  in  consonance  with  the  supreme  court's judgment in Aadhar case and if so, the details thereof and if not the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) and (b):  Issue of privacy and data protection has been dealt with by MeitY. The IT Act SPDI  Rules-2011  has  specific  provisions  on  protecting  privacy  of  the  individual.  The planning commission in 2012 constituted a group of experts on privacy chaired by Justice AP Shah  former  Chief  Justice,  High  Court  of  Delhi.  Subsequently  a  case  was  filed  in  the Supreme Court on Aadhaar by Justice (Retd.) K.S Puttaswamy. In July 2017 the government constituted a committee of experts to bring out a data protection framework for India that was chaired by Justice (Rtd.) B.N Srikrishna.  In August 2017 the nine judge bench of Hon'ble Supreme Court gave its verdict on privacy in the Puttaswamy case laying down that privacy is a fundamental right under article 21 of the constitution. In July 2018 the Justice Srikrishna committee submitted its report along with the draft of the personal data protection bill.

(c):    The  report  of  the  committee  along  with  the  draft  of  the  PDP  bill  is  available  at https://www.meity.gov.in/data-protection-framework.

(d):  During  the  proceedings  in  above  cited  case  Hon'ble  Court  took  note  of  the constitution of the committee of experts to bring out the data protection framework. The  committee  also  studied  the  observations  of  the  Hon'ble  Court  in  the  privacy judgement  and  ensured  that  its  report  is  in  consonance  with  the  Supreme  Court's judgement.

- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3876 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Premium Trains by Private Sector
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bhola Singh, Sakshi Ji Swami Maharaj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3876 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## PREMIUM TRAINS BY PRIVATE SECTOR

†3876. SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

DR. SWAMI SAKSHIJI MAHARAJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railway  Board  has  formulated  any  scheme  for introduction of two premium trains by the private sector under its 100 day action plan and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  name  of  the  routes  on  which  these  trains  are  likely  to  be introduced along with the reaction of the private companies thereto;
- (c) whether the private  companies  have  to  give  one  third  share  of their profit to the Railways and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the facilities likely to be provided to the passengers in these trains?

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

(a)  to  (d)  With  a  view  to  providing  world  class  services  to  travelling passengers, Indian Railways are examining various options, including private  participation  in  the  operation  of  passenger  carrying  trains. However,  in  this  regard,  the  details  and    modalities  have  not  been formulated, so far.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3875 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Accidents due to Rains/Flooding
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rakesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3875 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## ACCIDENTS DUE TO RAINS/FLOODING

†3875. SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any precautionary measures to avoid accidents  that  occur  due  to  flooding  and  washing  away  of  railway  tracks during  rains  under  all  the  railway  zones  in  the  country  along  with  Jabalpur railway zone in west-central railway zone and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  works  for  the  maintenance  of  railway  bridges  and  culverts have been completed before the starting of the rainy season;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government  has  made  any  arrangement  for constant monitoring of railway tracks and bridges to avoid such accidents; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): Yes, Sir. To avoid accidents due to flooding etc., adequate measures are taken by railways, in all the zones including West Central Railway, in advance as per the prevailing guidelines to avoid/minimize damage to railway property and for early restoration of the assets. The measures taken include Monsoon Patrolling  in  identified  sections,  identification  of  vulnerable  locations  and deployment of stationary watchmen at such locations, joint inspection of

Railway Affecting Works (canals, reservoirs, tanks etc.) with  concerned State Government Authorities, keeping adequate monsoon reserves such as boulders, quarry dust, relieving girders etc. at suitable locations and loaded in wagons for early restoration  of  the  affected  sites,  maintaining  close  liaison with local authorities for  monitoring of excess  release  of  water  from reservoir/dams, maintaining close liaison with the concerned Regional Meteorological Centres for updated weather information, regular cleaning of side drains and catch water drains, cleaning and desilting of railway culverts etc.

(b)  and  (c):  Yes,  Sir.  Based  upon  inspections,  all  Zonal  Railways  have completed the maintenance for all bridges / culverts. All bridges are safe for train movement at permitted speed.

(d) and (e): Yes, Sir. Railway has undertaken monitoring of railway tracks as per laid down system which, inter alia, includes daily monitoring by Keyman, deployment of stationary watchmen at vulnerable locations including bridges and mobile patrolling during monsoon.

*****