opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1459 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Schemes to Promote Tourism
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. † 1459

To be answered on Wednesday, February 10, 2021/Magha 21, 1942 (Saka)

## QUESTION Schemes to Promote Tourism

†1459. SHRI Ṇ ABA KUMAR SARANIA:

Will  the  Minister  of  DEVELOPMENT  OF  NORTH  EASTERN  REGION  be pleased to state:

- (a) the schemes being run to promote/encourage tourism in North Eastern States particularly in Assam and Bodoland Territorial Council;
- (b) whether any proposal  from  the  Government  of  Assam  and  Bodoland Territorial Council regarding the above mention purpose has been received;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  total  amount  of  funds  released  under  various  projects  to  the  North Eastern States during the last five years?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Jitendra Singh]

- (a) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), under its North East  Special  Infrastructure  Development  Scheme  (NESIDS)  provides  for  100% financial assistance to North Eastern States including Assam for taking up various projects  of  physical  infrastructure  relating  to  water  supply,  power,  connectivity  to

enhance tourism. For the North Eastern Council (NEC), regional tourism is one of the  focussed  sectors  for  North  Eastern  (NE)  States.  Projects  for  promotion  of tourism  in  the  region  are  sanctioned  by  NEC  in  consultation  with  eight  North Eastern States and other stakeholders. Ministry of Tourism (MoT) provides special emphasis  on  the  development  and  promotion  of  tourism  for  NE  States.  MoT implements  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme,  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spirituality Augmentation Drive  (PRASHAD)  and Fairs &  Festival  under  Domestic  Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality (DPPH) Scheme in the NE region.

- (b) and  (c)  During  2020-21,  NEC  has  received  6  project  proposals  with  an estimated cost of Rs. 132.43 crore from State Government of Assam under Tourism Sector.
- (d) During the last five years, Rs. 769.51 crore has been released under various projects  of  physical  infrastructure  viz.  power;  connectivity  and  watersupply  to enhance tourism in NER.  NEC has also released Rs. 195.63 crore under various projects to the NE States during last five years. MoT has released Rs. 980.15 crore under  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  to  8  NE  States,  Rs.  38.63  crore  under PRASHAD Scheme to Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya and Rs. 1221.22 crore under Fairs & Festivals under  Domestic  Promotion and  Publicity including Hospitality (DPPH) to 8 NE States.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1458 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Environmental Clearance for Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Annpurna Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1458 ANSWERED ON- 10/02/2021

## ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE FOR COAL MINES

1458. SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether environmental clearance to start several coal mines located in Jharkhand have not been issued;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  number  of  coal  mines  issued  environmental  clearance  along  with  the  number  of  coal mines for which such clearance is pending in Jharkhand during the year 2020-21?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) : 14 Projects in Jharkhand are yet to be issued environmental clearance till now. During 2020-21, environmental clearance has been issued for 11 projects of Jharkhand.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1456 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Training of Astronauts
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1456

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

## TRAINING OF ASTRONAUTS

1456.  SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  to  train astronauts in the country;
- (b) the details of progress of the mission Gaganyaan;
- (c) the details of effect of COVID-19 on the training of astronauts of mission Gaganyaan; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  on  track  to  achieve  the  target  of sending Indians to space by 2022 and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Following  initiatives  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  for Indian leg of crew training:
- I.
- Expert team is constituted to define the training curriculum.
- (b)
- II. Plan finalized for astronaut training building including requisite  facilities  with  regard  to  Gaganyaan  mission.  Work order for the same has been released.
- The details of progress of Gaganyaan is as follows:
- I.
- The preliminary design of Gaganyaan system is completed.
- II. Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) signed and in effect with;
-  Indian  Air  Force  for  crew  management  activities  for Indian human space flight programme;
-  Seven  (7)  DRDO  labs  for  design  and  development  of human centric products; and
-  Academic  institutes  for  development  of  Microgravity payloads.
- Major contracts signed and in effect.
- III.
- IV. Crew screening and selection completed. The crew members  are  currently  undergoing  generic  space  flight training at Russia.
- V. Human  Centric  Products:  Preliminary  design  review  of various  human  centric  systems  such  as  Space  food  and Potable water, Crew health monitoring system, Emergency survival kit, Crew medical kit, etc. completed.
- VI. Hardware realization is  in  advanced  stage  for  ground  test and first unmanned mission.
- VII. Qualification tests of liquid engines as part of human rating of launch vehicle commenced.
- (c) As per COVID 19 protocols in Russia and health advisories issued by local authorities, the Astronaut training in Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC), Russia was halted for a period from 28th March,  2020  to  11th  May,  2020.  As  per  the  revised  COVID  19 protocols the training of Indian astronauts has henceforth resumed since 12th May, 2020. First  unmanned  mission  is  planned  in  December  2021.  Second unmanned  flight  is  planned  in  2022-23,  followed  by  human

****

- (d) spaceflight demonstration.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1453 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Applicability of WhatsApp Privacy Policy
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1453

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 10-02-2021

## APPLICABILITY OF WHATSAPP PRIVACY POLICY

## 1453.  SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that WhatsApp's new privacy policy on sharing  data  with  parent  company  Facebook  will  be  applicable  everywhere  except Europe because of their strong data protection policies and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) the measures taken by the Government to protect personal data of the users of such platforms; and
- (c) whether the Government is considering to include similar European data protection provisions in Indian data protection regime and if so, the details in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a):  Yes,  Sir.  Pursuant  to  WhatsApp  announcement  of  proposed  new  privacy  policy, Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  has  asked  WhatsApp  to review the proposed privacy policy changes and also to explain the rationale of the same.

(a) and  (c)  :  Section  43A  of  the  Information  Technology  (IT)  Act,  2000  provides  for safeguards  for  sensitive  personal  information  collected  by  a  body  corporate  including WhatsApp.

The  social  media  platforms  including  WhatsApp,  for  the  user  generated  content  made available on their platforms, are intermediaries as defined in the Information Technology Act, 2000. Accordingly, these platforms have to observe due diligence prescribed by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2011 notified under section 79 of IT Act, 2000.

Government  has  already  moved  the  Personal  Data  Protection  Bill,  2019  in  Parliament which is presently under the consideration of the Joint Committee of Parliament. The Bill provides for safeguards of privacy and interests of the Indian citizens.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1452 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Stoppage of Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Devendra (Alias) Bhole Singh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1452 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021

## STOPPAGE OF TRAINS

†1452. SHRI DEVENDRA SINGH BHOLE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government has received any proposal for the stoppage of Train No.12307-12308 Howrah-Jodhpur, Howrah at Jhinjhak and Rura railway stations;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c)whether  the  Government  has  taken/proposes  to  take  any decision on such proposals?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c) Requests for provision of stoppage of trains at stations are  received  at  various  levels  of  Railway  Administration,  a compendium of which is not maintained. Provision of stoppage of 12307/12308 Howrah-Jodhpur Express at Jhinjhak  and Rura has been examined but  found operationally not feasible as the train has stoppage at Kanpur Central which is 45 km from Rura and 63 km from Jhinjhak.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1450 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Fare Rise in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Nayab Singh, (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1450 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021

## FARE RISE IN TRAINS

†1450. SHRI NAYAB SINGH: DR. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  complaints  or  information wherein it has been reported that the train fare is more than flight fare; (b) if so, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; (c)  whether  the  passengers  are  travelling  by  flight  due  to  fare  rise  in trains; (d) if so, whether the railway revenue has gone into deficit due to this and if so, the details thereof; and (e)  whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  provide  air  travel facility instead of trains to the Railway officials in order to resolve this

issue and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1450 BY SHRI NAYAB SINGH AND DR. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.02.2021 REGARDING FARE RISE IN TRAINS

(a):  Yes,  Sir.  Certain  representations  comparing  airfare  with  railway fare have been received.

(b) & (c): Railways and Airlines are different modes of transport, which are  not  comparable  in  the  terms  of  volume,  connectivity  as  well  as convenience.

There  is  no  fixed  maximum  limit  of  fare  in  Airlines  whereas Railways  have  fixed  maximum  fare  throughout  the  year.  Airline  fare varies  significantly  depending  on  time  of  operation,  stoppages,  travel duration,  Origin  -  Destination  pair,  carrier  etc.  Railways'  fare  may  or may not be higher than the air fare depending upon the class of travel as  well  as  factors  like  peak/lean  periods.  It  is  the  choice  of  the passengers to opt either for Railway or Airlines as per their convenience and requirement. Railway also serves  a  large  number  of passengers boarding/de-boarding at intermediate stations.

(d):  No,  Sir.  The  revenue  from  passenger  Services  during  2017-18 and 2018-19 (Pre Covid period) has shown improvement as under:

(In ` Crore)

| Year              |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |
|-------------------|-----------|-----------|
| Passenger service |   48643.1 |   51066.7 |

(e): No, Sir.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Fast Track Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Basanta Kumar Panda, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1445

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 10 th  FEBRUARY, 2021

## Fast Track Courts

## +1445. SHRI BASANTA KUMAR PANDA: DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

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

- (a) whether fast track courts are functioning in the State of Madhya Pradesh and Odisha;
- (b) if so, the names of the courts where these are functioning alongwith the details  of  the  cases  in  respect  of  which  judgements  are  being  given  by such courts; and
- (c) the  details  of  cases  taken  up  and  settled  by  such  courts  during  the  last three years?

## A N S W E R

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

(a) to(c): Setting up of Fast Track Courts (FTCs) and its functioning fall within the domain of the State Governments in consultation with the respective High Courts. However, as per information obtained, there are no functional FTC in the States of Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1443 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: National Coal Index
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1443 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021

## National Coal Index

## 1443.     SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- a. the details of the national coal index proposed which would link coal prices directly to foreign indices and would also measure the value and volume of all coal transactions;
- b. the time by which the Government plans to roll out such an index;
- c. whether India would have separate index for coking coal; and
- d. if so, the details thereof along with the manner in which the Ministry plans to address the issues that the Indian coal is suffering from such as the quality issues at mines?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL, MINES & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- a. Ministry  of  Coal  has  started  Commercial  Auction  of  coal  mines  on  revenue  share basis.  In  order  to  arrive  at  the  revenue  share  based  on  market  prices  of  coal,  one National  Coal  Index  (NCI)  was  conceptualized.  The  NCI  is  a  price  index  which reflects the change of price level of coal on a particular month relative to the fixed base year. The base year for the NCI is FY 2017-18. Prices of coal from all the sales channels  of  coal,  including  import,  as  existing  today  are  taken  into  account  for compiling the NCI. The amount of revenue share per tonne of coal produced from auctioned blocks would be arrived at using the NCI by means of defined formula.
- b. NCI has already been rolled out on 4 th June 2020 and the same is placed on the website of Ministry of Coal.
- c. to d. NCI is composed of a set of five sub-indices: three for Non Coking Coal and two for Coking Coal. The three sub-indices for Non Coking Coal are combined to arrive at the Index for Non Coking Coal and the two sub-indices for Coking Coal are combined to arrive at the Index for Coking Coal.  Thus, indices are separate for Non-coking and Coking Coal. As per the grade of coal pertaining to a mine, the appropriate sub-index is used to arrive at the revenue share

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1442 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Expansion of Railway Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1442 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021

## EXPANSION OF RAILWAY NETWORK

†1442. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether some parts of rural India  especially  in  Rajasthan  are not connected with railway network;
- (b) if so, the State-wise details thereof;
- (c) the  state-wise  and  year-wise  details  of  the  expansion  of  new railway network in rural areas during the last five years;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  lay  new  railway  lines Sardarshahar-Taranagar-Sadulpur, SikarNokha, SardarshaharHanumangarh, Adampur-Bhadra in Churu, Rajasthan; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  Government proposes to lay these railway lines and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.1442  BY  SHRI  RAHUL  KASWAN  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.02.2021 REGARDING EXPANSION OF RAILWAY NETWORK (a) and (b): The Indian Railways' network covers the length and breadth of the country including rural and backward areas. Railway projects are sanctioned  Zonal  Railway  wise  and  not  State-wise/Region-wise,  as Indian Railways' network spans across various State boundaries. As on 01.04.2020, 513 Railway Projects (189 New Line, 54 Gauge Conversion and 270 Doubling works) costing ` 7.5 lakh crore of total length of 53,039 Km are in different stages of planning/sanction/execution, out of which, commissioning of 10,013 Km length has been achieved and expenditure of ` 1.86 lakh crore incurred upto March 2020. Out of  these,  30  projects  (11  new  lines,  05  gauge  conversions  and  14 doublings), costing ` 57,247 crore, covering a length of 5173 Km, falling fully/partly in the State of Rajasthan covering rural and backward areas are in different stages of planning/approval/execution, out of which 715 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 7,688 crore has been incurred upto March 2020. (c): During the last five years i.e. 2015-16 till 2019-20, a total length of 13,367 km comprising New line, Gauge conversion and doubling works (including Dedicated freight corridor lines) were completed and commissioned at an average rate of 2673 km per year as compared to average commissioning of 1520 km per year during the period 2009-14, which is 76% more than 2009-14. (d)  and  (e):  Survey  for  new  lines  namely  Sardarshahar-T'aranagar  (103 Km),  Sardarshahar-Hanumangarh  (149  Km), Adampur-Bhadra  (42.50Km)  were  completed.  These  projects  could  not

Km), Sikar-Nokha (210 be taken forward being financially unviable.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1441 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: RCC Bridge on Jaljali River
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1441

To be answered on

Wednesday, February 10, 2021/Magha 21, 1942 (Saka)

## QUESTION

## RCC Bridge on Jaljali River

## 1441. SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will  the  Minister  OF  DEVELOPMENT  OF  NORTH  EASTERN  REGION  will  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the Project Concept Paper for Construction of an RCC Bridge over river Jaljali connecting Aloopati in Barpeta  District and Nagarbera in Kamrup District has been submitted to the Government of Assam vide letter CE/STBR/NESIDS/41/2018-19/28 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  government  has  assured  that  follow  up  action  on  the  Project Concept Report will be taken and the bridge will be constructed; and
- (c) if so, the time likely to be taken for the bridge to be completed?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Jitendra Singh]

(a)  to  (c)    Ministry  of  Development  of  North  Eastern  Region  has  not  received  Project Concept Paper for Construction of an RCC Bridge over river Jaljali connecting Aloopati in Barpeta District and Nagarbera in Kamrup District from the Government of Assam.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1440 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Doubling/Electrification of Satara Railway line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1440 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021

## DOUBLING / ELECTRIFICATION OF SATARA RAILWAY LINE

1440. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of the doubling and electrification work of the railway  line  in  Satara  district  of  Maharashtra  on  the  PuneBelgavi route; and
- (b) the amount of compensation sanctioned for land acquisition to be given to the affected farmers in Satara district?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) and (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. 1440 BY SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.02.2021 REGARDING DOUBLING / ELECTRIFICATION OF SATARA RAILWAY LINE

(a): Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  Railway  Zone-wise  and  not State-wise / district-wise.  However, doubling on Pune-Belgavi route is part of Pune-Miraj-Londa (465.9 km) doubling project passing through Satara district of Maharashtra.  Latest anticipated cost of project is ` 3,927 crore.  An expenditure of ` 1,297 crore has been incurred upto March, 2020 and an outlay of ` 555 crore has been provided for 202021. Length of 53.87 km doubling has been completed and commissioned.  Doubling work has been taken up in remaining length of section.

Electrification on Pune-Belgavi  route is the part of  sanctioned Electrification  projects  of  Pune-Miraj-Kolhapur  and  Miraj-Londa.    On Pune-Belgavi route, Pune-Jejuri section has been electrified. Electrification  work  has  been  taken  up  on  balance  Jejuri-MirajBelgavi section.

(b): Land acquisition for Railway projects is done through concerned District Administration of the State.  Proposals of land acquisition are submitted  to  State  Government  Authorities  who  in  turn  advise  the amount of the compensation of land which is deposited by Railway to the District Authorities as and when demand is received. Disbursement  of  compensation  is  done  by  the  concerned  District Authorities.

*****