opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2585 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Grant of NHs Status
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  No. 2585

ANSWERED ON  22 nd  DECEMBER, 2022

## GRANT OF NHs STATUS

2585.    SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्गमंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to grant the status of National Highways  (NHs)  to  Bhawanipatna  Muniguda  -  Bissamcuttack  -
- Rayagada - Parvatipuram Vizianagaram stretches;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  also  proposes  to  grant  NH  status  to Gunupur - Baliguda (Phulbani) via Padmapur  - Gudari - Chandrapur stretch;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  upgrade  the  said  State Highways  as  NHs  in  the  absence  of  proposals  from  various  State
- Governments/UTs?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

(Shri NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  to  (e)  Ministry  keeps  on  receiving  proposals  from  various  State Governments/UTs, public representatives, etc.  for declaration/up-gradation of State roads as National Highways (NHs).  Ministry considers declaration of some of the state roads (including in principle NHs) as NHs from time to time  based  on  the  requirements  of  connectivity,  traffic  levels,  inter-se priority  and  availability  of  resources  subject  to  fulfillment  of  criteria  for declaration as new NHs.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Production of Plastic by MSMEs
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal, Arvind Kumar Sharma, Shankar Lalwani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2584 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2022

## PRODUCTION OF PLASTIC BY MSMEs

2584. Dr. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL: DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA: SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

(a)    the details and the number of Micro, Small and Medium Industries in the country which are engaged in production of plastic, State-wise;

- (b)    the  guidelines issued by the Government for production in the said industries without harming the environment; and
- (c)      the  contribution  of  the  said  industries  in  the  economy  of  the  country  including  the number of employment opportunities being generated therefrom?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA)

(a) to (c): As per UDYAM portal of this Ministry, there are about 1.3 lakh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)  registered and engaged in the plastic industry in the country as on date, which have employed about 16.5 lakh people. The State-wise details are enclosed at Annexure-I.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12th August 2021, prohibiting manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the following identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential with effect from 1st July, 2022:

- (i) ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, icecream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration;
- (ii) plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards,  and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.

****

## Annexure-I

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2580 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Free Hold Ownership Rights
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2580

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 22, 2022

## FREE HOLD OWNERSHIP RIGHTS

NO. 2580.

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

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

- (a) Whether Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has announced to give freehold  ownership  rights  to  those  commercial properties/shops  which  are  leasehold  and  built  by  private builders on land leased out by DDA; and
- (b) if  so,  the  present status of its implementation and the time by  which  all  these  commercial  properties  would  be  made freehold?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

- (a) Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has issued guidelines on 13.12.2019  allowing  conversion  to  freehold  of  properties  of individual  space/shop  buyer  in  the  buildings  on  commercial plots leased out by DDA to private builders/developers.
- (b) As on 14.12.2022, 183 applications have been received and the status of these applications is as under:-

| Approved                 |   19 |
|--------------------------|------|
| Rejected                 |   01 |
| Deficiency (Pending with |   70 |
| Under Process (in DDA)   |   93 |
| Total                    |  183 |

The  policy  of  conversion  from  leasehold  to  freehold  is  an optional policy, therefore, no timeframe can be specified.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2579 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Language on Website
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dayanidhi Maran

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2579

## TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 22, 2022

## LANGUAGE OF WEBSITE

## NO. 2579.     SHRI DAYANIDHI MARAN.

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

- (a) whether the default language for the Ministry's website is Hindi and  not  English  which  causes  difficulty  in  comprehension  for the  non-Hindi  speaking  majority  of  the  people  and  if  so,  the reason therefor;
- (b) whether website of the Ministry or its departments such as the Central  Public  Works  Department  are  made  to  greet  visitors with the Hindi language option and not English and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  other  languages  such  as  Tamil,  Malayalam,  Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, etc., are available on the same website and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps being taken to make information easily accessible to
- non-Hindi speaking users?

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

- (a)  to  (d):  The  default  language  for  the  website  of  this  Ministry  and Central Public Works Department is Hindi with provision to switch over to English language. Therefore, the question of difficulty in comprehension for non-Hindi  speaking people does not arise. As per the directions of the Department of Official Language, the website of the Ministry and all offices under its control are available in bilingual form.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2578 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Toll Plazas
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: L.S. Tejasvi Surya, Sanganna Amarappa Karadi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2578 ANSWERED ON 22ND DECEMBER, 2022

## TOLL PLAZAS

2578. SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA: SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has announced that toll plazas operating  within  the  range of  60  kms  on  National  Highways  would  be closed;
- (b) if so, the number of toll plazas closed or likely to be closed in Karnataka and if not, the reasons therefor and the steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to disclose the amount collected every month at toll plazas; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  &  (b)  Fee  plazas  are  established  on  National  Highways  as  per  the National  Highways  Fee  (Determination  of  Rates  and  Collection)  Rules, 2008, which stipulates that any other fee plaza on the same section of National Highway and in the same direction shall not be established within a distance of sixty kilometre provided that where the executing authority deems necessary, it may for reasons to be recorded in writing, establish or  allow  the  concessionaire  to  establish  another  fee  plaza  within  a

distance  of  sixty  kilometres.  Provided  further  that  a  fee  plaza  may  be established within a distance of sixty kilometre from another fee plaza if such fee plaza is for collection of fee for a permanent bridge, bypass or tunnel. The distance criteria of sixty kilometres for establishment of a fee plaza has come to existence after National Highways Fee (Determination of  Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and there was no such criteria in earlier National Highways Fee Rules, 1997. There were two fee plazas within distance of 10.86 km at Hemjadi and Surathkal on NH-66. Surathkal fee plaza has been closed by merging its influence  length  with  Hemjadi  fee  plaza.    No  other  fee  plaza  has  been closed in the state of Karnataka due to sixty kilometre distance criteria. Fee plazas operational within sixty kilometre are established in accordance  with  National  Highways  Fee  (Determination  of  Rates  and Collection)  Rules,  2008  and  National  Highways  Fee  Rules,  1997  as applicable. (c)  &  (d)  Government  has  declared  all  lanes  of  fee  plazas  on  National Highways as FASTag Lane of the fee plaza with effect from midnight of 15th/16th  February  2021.  Presently,  most  of  the  collection  at  the  fee plazas on National Highways is through Electronic Fee Collection system. The electronic fee collection penetration is approximately 97 %. The user fee Collection through electronic fee collection at fee plazas is available in  public  domain  through  the  website  of Indian  Highway  Management Company Limited (IHMCL).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2577 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Battery Swapping Policy
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Gautham Sigamani Pon

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2577

## ANSWERED ON 22 ND  DECEMBER, 2022

## BATTERY SWAPPING POLICY

## 2577.  DR. PON GAUTHAM SIGAMANI:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether battery swapping policy is a complete solution to encourage use of electric vehicle and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that the battery swapping would require a great deal of battery standardisation which may not leave room for innovation and adoption and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the policy lacks clarity on interoperability and accountability; and
- (d) if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  Battery  Swapping  as  a  concept  is  formulated  to  address  all  the challenges  by  promoting  various  technologies  and  business  models which  will  ensure  lower  upfront  costs,  minimal  downtime,  and  lower space requirements for charging the batteries. Hence, Battery Swapping Policy shall play a critical role in the growth of electric vehicles in the country.
- (b)      Battery swapping policy aims to create a framework for greater interoperability while safeguarding the innovation potential for the EV battery ecosystem. Currently, BIS has formed a committee under ETD51 Committee of BIS to formulate the standards for form factor (i.e. size and dimensions) of the battery, communication protocols, connectors and interoperability that shall ensure comprehensive interoperability amongst EVs. These standards are being formulated keeping in mind that they do not stifle innovation and rather enable effective, efficient,

reliable, safe, and customer-friendly implementation of battery-swapping infrastructure. (c) and (d) The draft Battery Swapping Policy is pivoted around creating a framework for greater interoperability. Further, the Battery Swapping Policy also clearly delineates all aspects of accountability.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2576 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Hydrogen Gas Exploration Policy
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2576

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd  December, 2022

## Hydrogen Gas Exploration Policy

## 2576.  SHRI  KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRIMATI MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken initiative to allocate new blocks of gas considering the review of hydrogen gas exploration policy and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  also  implementing  the  plan  to  discover  new  gas  blocks  in foreign counties also so that the country's growing gas demand can be met;
- (c) whether the Government has initiated long term gas agreements with other countries so that the cost of gas import can be reduced; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंालय म राय मंी

## ( ी रामेवर तेल )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a):  There  is  no  policy  for  exploration  of  Hydrogen  Gas  formulated  by  Government. However, Government had launched Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP) in March,  2016  to  explore  and  produce  all  types  of  hydrocarbons  under  a  single  licensing framework  through  Open  Acreage  Licensing  Policy  (OALP).  So  far  seven  bid  rounds  of OALP have taken place under which 134 blocks covering 2,07,691 square kilometers area have been awarded to successful bidders.
- (b): Indian Oil & Gas Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) examine opportunities to invest in producing and/or under development assets in foreign countries based on techno-commercial considerations. As on 31 st March 2022, Indian PSUs have invested in 51 nos. upstream assets spread across 22 countries.
- (c)  &  (d):    Currently,  Indian  companies  have  contracted  to  import  Liquified  Natural  Gas (LNG) on long term basis from various countries including Qatar, USA, Australia, Russia etc.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: High-mast Lighting on NH-44
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2573

## ANSWERED ON 22 ND  DECEMBER, 2022

## HIGH-MAST LIGHTING ON NH-44

2573. SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether electric supply has not been arranged to high mast lights that are installed on the places of Sellappampatty, Boomaikuttaimedu,  Karungalpalayam  and  some  other  parts  of Tamil Nadu on National Highway (NH)-44 by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) even after two years of installation and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the authority which pays the electricity charges for the high mast lights installed on NH-44;
- (c) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  NHAI  has  refused  to  pay  the  said electricity charges; and
- (d)
- if so, the reaction of the Goverment thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) The high mast lights were installed at Sellappampatty, Boomaikuttaimedu,  Karungalpalayam  as  part  of  additional  safety measure. These lights have been connected to Tamil Nadu Generation  and  Distribution  Corporation  (TANGEDCO)  for  electric supply and are energized with effect from 14.12.2022. The high mast lights have been illuminated.
- (b)       NHAI.
- (c)       No, Sir. There is no issue of payment of electricity charges.
- (d)       Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2572 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Beneficiaries under Nai Roshni Scheme
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2572

ANSWERED ON 22/12/2022

## BENEFICIARIES UNDER NAI ROSHNI SCHEME

2572. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of Minority Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) the number of women trained under Nai Roshni scheme during the last three years, community wise, particularly in the State of Bihar;

(b) the details of eligibility and procedure to select beneficiaries under the scheme;

(c) the details of training centres established under the scheme particularly in the State of Bihar; and

(d) the criteria for selecting the organization/ agency for making a training centre under the scheme?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) During the last three years, i.e., 2019-20 to 2021-22, around 40,000 women have been trained all over India including 175 in Bihar. The community-wise breakup of trained women for the last three years in the State of  Bihar is as under :

Muslims -175, Christians -0 Sikhs -0 Buddhist -0, Jains -0 and Non Minority -0.

(b) The agencies  approved by the Ministry select the women belonging to all minorities notified  under  Section  2(c)  of  the  National  Commission  for  Minorities  Act,  1992  viz, Muslim,  Sikh,  Christian,  Buddhist,  Zoroastrian   (Parsis)  and  Jain.   Beneficiaries  having annual income, not exceeding Rs.2.50 lakh from all sources, are given preference in selection for training  under  the  scheme.   The  agencies  also  take  the  assistance  of  the  head  of  Gram Panchayat  /  Municipal  Body  /  Local  Authority  for  identification  /  selection  of  women trainees.

(c) No  training  centres  are  set  up  by  the  Ministry  under  this  scheme.  The  selected agencies are required to implement the projects directly through their organizational set-up in the locality/ village/ area in which training is conducted. In the State of Bihar, the agencies have implemented the scheme in Bhojpur district during the last three years.

The eligibility criteria for selection of organization/agency under the said scheme is available on   <http://nairoshni-moma.gov.in.>

(d) Nai Roshni scheme has now been merged as a component of Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme w.e.f  FY 2022-23, aiming to improve livelihoods of minorities,  particularly  artisan  communities,   through  skill  development,  education  and leadership training, to  support their entrepreneurship interventions.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: UDAN Scheme in Karnataka
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2570 (To be answered on the 22 nd  December 2022)

## UDAN SCHEME IN KARNATAKA

2570.

SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a)the details of the airports selected/proposed under UDAN scheme for domestic travel in Karnataka;

(b)the details airports which are ready to be developed under the UDAN scheme in Karnataka;

(c)whether there is demand for connecting more airports from Karnataka and if so, the details thereof including destinations already connected and those which are in the pipeline; and

(d)whether any survey was conducted with regard to the airstrips under UDAN scheme in Karnataka and if so, details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

- (a) to (d): Bidar, Mysore, Vidyanagar, Hubli, Kalaburgi, Belgavi, Shivamogga and Vijayapura, have been identified in the State of Karnataka for the operation of UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) flights.

Bidar, Mysore, Vidyanagar, Hubli, Kalaburgi and Belgavi, Airports have already been operationalised under UDAN. Shivamogga, Vijayapura and Hassan green field Airports belong to the State Government of Karnataka. The Selected Airline Operators have operationalised UDAN flights from the airports in Karnataka connecting various cities namely Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolhapur, Kannur, Tirupati, Hindon, Darbhanga, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Cochin, Prayagraj, Pune, Gwalior, Mumbai, Indore, Kadappa, Surat, Nashik, Jodhpur, Agra, Jamnagar,

Karnool and Nagpur.

Bellary, Karwar, Kolar and Kushalnagara appear in the list of unserved airports under the UDAN Scheme document, for the State of Karnataka. UDAN is a demand-driven scheme. Selection of airlines is done through a transparent ebidding process under UDAN. Interested airlines undertake due diligence of particular route and based on their assessment of demand/airstrips on particular routes before submitting their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN. In future rounds of bidding, if any airline bids for connecting these airports in Karnataka to other domestic destinations in the country, the same shall be considered for the award as per the provisions of UDAN scheme document.

- *****