opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 709 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Implementation of MSP
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: P. Ravindhranath

## IMPLEMENTATION OF MSP

## 709. SHRI P RAVINDHRANATH:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a) the status of implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) through Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), for the benefit of cotton growers in the country who have faced high carryover stocks due to COVID-19 lockdown; and

(b)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Union  Government  to  achieve  the  desired  success  in  the  Scheme  for Integrated Textile Park (SITP), including Tamil Nadu, during the coming three years?

## उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र राज् यमंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a): In  cotton  season  2019-20  (1.10.2019  to  30.09.2020),  CCI  opened  423  procurement  centre  in 12 cotton growing states to safeguard the cotton farmers from distress sales. During Global Pandemic, CCI procured 20.72 lakh bales valuing Rs. 5615 crore from 4 lakh cotton farmers. However, during the entire  cotton  season  2019-20,  CCI  made  a  record  procurement  of  105.15  lakh  bales  (equivalent  to around  546.80  lakh  quintals  kapas)  and  an  amount  of  Rs.  28500  crores  was  disbursed  to  around 21.50  lakh  cotton  farmers  directly  into  their  bank  accounts.  During  current  cotton  season  2020-21 (1.10.2020 to 30.09.2021), CCI opened more than 450 procurement centres in all cotton growing state. CCI continued its procurement of cotton under MSP operations since beginning of season to avoid the eventuality of distress sale by farmers and has procured 91.89 lakh bales so far (equivalent to around 482  lakh  quintals  kapas).  CCI  disbursed  an  amount  of  Rs.  26,700  crores  to  around  19  lakh  cotton farmers.

(b): To  achieve  the  desired  success  in  the  Scheme  for  Integrated  Textile  Park  (SITP)  including project  situated  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu,  Government  of  India  provides  financial  assistance  to  a group of entrepreneurs to establish state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities in a cluster for setting up their textile  units,  conforming  to  international  environmental  and  social  standards  and  thereby  mobilize private  investment  in  the  textile  sector  and  generate  fresh  employment  opportunities.  Under  SITP, Industry  Associations,  Group  of  Entrepreneurs  and  Agencies  of  the  State  Governments  are  main promoters of the Integrated Textile Parks (ITPs). Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) are formed by the representatives  of the Local  Industry,  Financial Institutions, State Industrial and  Infrastructural Corporations,  and  other  agencies  of  State  and  Central  Governments.  The  SPVs  shall  invariably  be  a Corporate  Body  registered  under  the  Companies  Act.  The  textile  parks  under  various  stages  of implementations are reviewed by the PAC time to time.
Lok Sabha Question No. 708 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Yoga Villages
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Rekha Arun Verma, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 708 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD JULY , 2021

## YOGA VILLAGES

## 708. SHRIMATI REKHA VERMA: SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  yoga  villages  identified  in the  country,  State/UT - wise,  district - wise particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra; and
- (b) the details of funds allocated/released for these yoga villages in the country including Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (DR. MUNJPARA MAHENDRABHA I)

- (a): The Ministry of Ayush has not identified Yoga villages in the country.
- (b): Does not arise in view of the above.
Lok Sabha Question No. 706 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Carcinogenic Cooking oil
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Arvind Dharmapuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 706 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD JULY, 2021

## CARCINOGENIC COOKING OIL

## 706. SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  intends  to  take  measures to  ensure  that  carcinogenic  re - used cooking oil is not allowed to penetrate in the food chain;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether there are a ny penal provisions under the FSSAI regulations to take action against persons re - using cooking oil, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( DR. BHARATI PRAVIN P AWAR )

- (a) & (b): Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that: -
- During frying, Total Polar Compounds (TPC) are formed which beyond certain limit make the oil unfit for human consumption.  FSSAI has notified regulations on 1 st July, 2018 which prescribe the limit for Total Polar Compounds (TPC) to be maximum 25 percent ,beyond which the cooking oil is unsafe for use.
- InSchedule 4 of Food Safety Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations 2011 , it is prescribed that reheating of oil shou ld be avoided which shall not exceed more than three times but in any case, cooking oil having developed TPC mo than 25%  shall not be used.
- Repurpose d Used  Cooking  Oil  (RUCO)  is  an  initiative  of  FSSAI  in  partnership  with Biodiesel Association of India, tocreate an ecosys tem to collect and convert the Used Cooking  Oil  (UCO)  into  Biodiesel  thereby  ensuring      a  check  on  diversion  of  Us Cooking Oil into Food Chain.  Under this initiative, UCO is being collected from F by authorised aggregators (collec ting agencies) and transported to a bio - diesel plant, for conversion. 33 Biodiesel manufacturers and 19 aggregators have got themselves enroll ed under the initiative.
- (c): The provisions relating to offences and penalties have been prescribed under chapt of  the  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act,  2006,  wherein  provision  of  graded  penalty punishment  have  been  prescribed.  Any  violation  of  the  prescribed  standards  and  norms is punishable under the relevant penal provisions.
Lok Sabha Question No. 705 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Radars for Monitoring Weather Changes
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 705

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 23RD JULY, 2021

## RADARS FOR MONITORING WEATHER CHANGES

## 705. SHRI S JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has commissioned/is going to commission weather radars which will closely monitor the weather changes over the Himalayas;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)-(b) Yes Sir. The details of Doppler Weather Radars (DWR) working in the Himalayan region are given in the Table below:

i

I

I

I

| DOPPLER WEATHER RADARs in Himalayan Region   | DOPPLER WEATHER RADARs in Himalayan Region   | DOPPLER WEATHER RADARs in Himalayan Region   |
|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| S.No                                         | StatelUT                                     | Location of RADAR                            |
| 1                                            | Jammu & Kashmir                              | Sonmarg                                      |
| 2                                            | Jammu & Kashmir                              | Srinagar                                     |
| 3                                            | Himachal Pradesh                             | Kufri                                        |
| 4                                            | Uttarakhand                                  | Mukteshwar                                   |
| 5                                            | Assam                                        | Mohanbari                                    |
| 6                                            | Meghalaya                                    | Sohra                                        |
| 7                                            | Tripura                                      | Agartala                                     |

In addition to these, additional radars will be commissioned for uipgrading the weather monitoring in Himalayan Region. The latest status of them is given below;

!

- Two sites for installation of two DWRs in Himachal Pradesh have been identified for which No Objection Certificate (NOC) is awaited from State Govt., (Himachal Pradesh). Completion of the project for installat~on of DWRs is expected by December 2022.
- Civil work for Radar Tower at Surkanda Devi, Uttarakhand is in progress for a X-Band Polarimetric DWR installation. The site for installation of another X­ Band Polarimetric DWRin Uttarakhand has been identified at I Lansdowne. Installation of these DWRs is expected by December 2022.
- (c) Does not arise.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Linking of Innovative Agricultural Technologies with Farms
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Anurag Sharma, Rebati Tripura, Vijay Kumar Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 787 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2021

## Genome Sequencing of SARS Cov-2 Virus

## 787. SHRIMATI MALA ROY:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY विज्ञान और प्रौद्योविकी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of laboratories in the country which are capable of genome sequencing of SARS COV-2 virus;
- (b) the number of cases COVID-19 reported along with the number of samples sequenced since setting up of such laboratories; and
- (c)  the  time  by  which  these  laboratories  would  achieve  the  target  of  sequencing  of  5  per  cent samples?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) Sir, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) is a consortium of 28 genome sequencing laboratories of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHF&W), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Education, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)  and  State  Governments.  The  overall  aim  of  the  Indian  SARS-CoV-2  Genomics Consortium is to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 in India.
- (b) As  per  ICMR  database  there  are  1,88,26,913  individuals  registered  as  Covid-19  positive between 20-12-2020 to 19-07-2021. Since the inception of INSACOG till now the INSACOG has sequenced 57,476 SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Out of these, 44,334 samples have been analyzed and assigned Pangolin lineage classification and submitted to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for public health correlation.
- (c) The present sampling strategy does not mandate sequencing 5% of RT-PCR positive samples. The sampling strategy is to sequence 15 samples from every sentinel site in every 15 days from each state so that districts are represented from an epidemiological point of view. This is a more diverse sampling strategy as against a random 5% sample sequencing. Also, this is a dynamic process and quantum of SARS- CoV-2 genome sequencing depends on the positivity rate, which has  currently  decreased.  Efforts  in  terms  of  expansion  of  INSACOG  by  onboarding  more institutes have also been undertaken.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 701 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Delta Plus Covid Variant
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Satyadev Pachauri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 701 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD JULY, 2021

## DELTA PLUS COVID VAR IANT

## 701. SHRI SATYADEV PACHAURI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has received any indication from the medical experts in India or WHO about the arrival of the new viral variant especially 'Delta Virus' in India on the heels of second wave of COVI D - 19 pandemic, if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether the Delta Virus plus variant can trigger a third wave of Coronavirus, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has alerted all the concerned agencies to tackle this new variant; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( DR. BHARATI PRAVIN P AWAR )

(a) to (d) : SARS - CoV - 2 being an RNA virus is prone to mutations. Laboratories undertake genetic  analysis  of  circulating  virus to  detect  such  changes  that  develop  naturally  and continuously  and  may  have  significant  public  health  implications.  Delta  variant  was detected  in  India  on  genomic  sequencing  of  samples  in  October  2020.  Delta  variant  is dominant  lineage  for  new  c ases  across  India  presently  and  remains  the  most  rapidly  risin lineage globally.  Delta variant of SARS - CoV - 2 has been shown to be more transmissible than other variants of concern. However, it cannot be speculated that this variant by itself ris e  to  third  wave  of  COVID - 19  in  the  country since the surge in cases is also dependent available  susceptible  population  including  host  of  pharmaceutical  and  non - pharmaceutical interventions including vaccination.

Government of India under the INSACOG ne twork of laboratories is also undertaking genomic sequencing of positive samples. Information on genome sequencing for mutant varia of SARS-CoV - 2 is regularly shared with the States. The issue of mutant variants is also to the States through reg ular formal communications to all States/UTs.

MoHFW has alerted all the States/UTs including the states where such cases have been foundto keep a watch on any unusual surge in Covid - 19 cases from districts in which delta - plus variant were detected as well as from other districts. States/UTs have been advised to ke surveillance in the districts reporting new Variants of Concern an d take up stringent public health measures.
Lok Sabha Question No. 692 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Research Work in Bio-Technology
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 692 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23/07/2021

## Research Work in Bio-Technology

692: SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is contemplating to promote research work in the area of bio-technology;
- (b) if so, the details of steps taken in this regard;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

HON'BLE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a)  to  (c) : Yes Madam , the Government of India has been promoting research in the area of Biotechnology under its National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2021-2025. The guiding principles  have  been  listed  to  take  up  biotechnology  research  and  innovation  in  the  country wherein increased focus is given to prepare for future new and emerging technologies, building human and infrastructural capacity, mission programmes aligned with the national and global priorities, building self-reliant India, leveraging the strength of strategic national and international partnerships, etc.

The Department of Biotechnology is supporting and promoting research and innovation in the biotechnology sector by funding research, development, and translation activities in the areas of Agriculture, Animal, Aquaculture, Medical, and Environmental Biotechnology.

The Department is promoting advanced research in emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Genomics, Nanotechnology, Big data, Bio-therapeutics, Bio-resources, Speed breeding, Precision agriculture & medicine, Synthetic biology, Diagnostics, Bio-imaging, etc.

The  Department  of  Biotechnology  has  set  up  Biotechnology  Industry  Research  Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Section 8- public sector undertaking (PSU) to strengthen and empower the emerging  Biotech  enterprises  to  undertake  strategic  research  and  innovation,  addressing nationally  relevant  product  development  needs.  BIRAC  has  so  far  supported  over  4000 Entrepreneurs, Startups and SMEs; 60 incubators creating a specialized bio-incubation space of 6,40,340+ sq. ft. with high end infrastructure providing access for Biotech Startups. There is also a major focus on strengthening the Human Resource and Infrastructural Capacity for cutting edge research activities. A large number of international partnerships have also been supported with bilateral and multilateral agencies.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 691 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: NEET and other Common Entrance Examination
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian, D. Ravikumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.691 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD JULY, 2021

## NEET AND OTHER COMMO N ENTRANCE EXAMINATI ON

## 691. DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN: SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Union  Government  has  any  plans  to suspend  the  NEET  and  other  common entrance examinations due to COVID - 19 pandemic situation and imminent danger of third wave;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of the SoP on safety to be followed in providing life safety and health security to students, teachers and staff of educational institutions in case theGovernment wish to conduct examinations in schools and educational institutions in the coming months; and
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to introduce entrance exams for admissions to arts and science courses, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( DR. BHARATI PRAVIN P AWAR )

- (a) & (b): No. The NEET-(PG) & NEET -(UG) 2021 examinations are scheduled to be held on 11 th September, 2021 and 12 th September, 2021 respectively.
- (c) : The examination shall be conducted with all due precautions and following all prot including maintaining COVID appropriate behavior. Further, the following additional prote measures for the candidates and examination personnel are proposed to wards the safe conduct of the exam:
- i. The  number  of  Examination  Centers  have  been  increased  across  the  country  to  avo crowding and long travel by the candidates.
- ii. Admit cards being issued to the candidates will bear a Covid e - pass for facilitating easy mov ement of the candidates.
- iii. Staggered entry and exit of candidates from Exam Centers.
- iv. All candidates will be checked at the entry point for recording of temperature. Can detected with above normal temperature, will be allowed to take the examination n a separate isolation lab created for this purpose.
- v. Use of face mask shall be compulsory for the candidates and they will be provided w protective gear safety kit comprising of a face shield, a face mask and hand sanitiz
- vi. Measure will be taken to control crowd outside the examination center.
- (d): The domain of exams in respect of arts and science lies with the concerned Universi States.
Lok Sabha Question No. 56 (STARRED), answered on 2021-07-22
Subject: Central Vista Project
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## STARRED QUESTION No- 56 TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 22, 2021 CENTRAL VISTA PROJECT

## SHRI T.R- BAALU:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that the elaborate way in which the Central amidst tweaking of regulatory institutions, has meant that most of the constituent projects have avoided any form of environment clearance, or any form of public scrutiny;
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 56 FOR 22.07.2021 REGARDING CENTRAL VISTA PROJECT

(a) to (c): No SirAII the projects under the Developmentl Redevelopment of Central Vista Master Plan are taken up after following due processes and obtaining necessary clearances, as per extant lawsl bye laws, including Environment Clearance (EC):

EC for New Parliament Building was granted by Ministry Environment, Forests and Climate Change vide their letter dated 17th June, 2020. EC has been obtained on 31st 2021 for other projects as part of Developmentl Redevelopment of Central Vista Master Plan; which includes Common Central Secretariat   Buildings and Central Conference Centre, Prime Minister's Residence, Special Protection Group (SPG) Building and Vice Presidents Enclave through a comprehensive application as per requirement of lawsl bye laws: May,

As a part of the process of obtaining EC, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) studies were carried out for all the projects of Central Vista Master Plan, which are under various stages: This study also   included the environment impact of the buildings proposed in Executive enclave (comprising Prime Minister's Office, Cabinet Secretariat & National   Security Council Secretariats) and ongoing construction of New Parliament   Building (for which EC has been already obtained on 17 June, 2020) in addition to the projects for which EC was applied for: Based on this study a comprehensive EIA report was submitted for the consideration of Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC): EAC recommended EC after scrutiny of the EIA reportAfter due process Environmental Clearance was granted vide Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change letter dated 31st May, 2021.