opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 228 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Price of Petroleum Products
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 228 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 MARCH, 2022

## Price of Petroleum Products

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

## पेोलयम और ाक ृतक गैस मंी

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

(a)  whether  there  is  pressure  to  control  the  prices  of  petroleum  products  due  to international reasons and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is considering to advise the petroleum companies to bear loss and reduce taxes on petroleum products in coordination with the State Governments so as to control the price of petrol;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  made  joint  efforts  with  various  departments  to explore new areas for petroleum products and promote alternative energy sources; and (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkÑfrd xSl ea=h ( ी हरदप संह पुर )

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

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

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 228 asked by Shri Kunwar Pushpendra Singh Chandel and  Shrimati Mala Rajya  Laxmi  Shah  to  be  answered  on  17  MARCH  2022  regarding  'Price  of Petroleum Products'. (a) to (c): Prices  of  petrol  and  diesel  have  been  market-determined  with  effect from 26.06.2010 and 19.10.2014 respectively. Since then, Public Sector Oil Marketing  Companies  (OMCs)  take  appropriate  decisions  on  pricing  of  petrol  and diesel on the basis of international product prices and other market conditions. The Central Government reduced the Central Excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs. 5 and Rs.  10  per  litre  respectively  effective  from  4  November,  2021.  The  measure  was  aimed  to give a further fillip to the economy and to boost consumption and keep inflation low, thus helping the poor and middle classes. Following this reduction in Central Excise duty, many States/UTs have also reduced the VAT on petrol and diesel. (d) & (e): Government of India has notified the National Policy on Biofuels 2018 which inter-alia envisages increased usage of bio-fuels in the energy and transportation sectors of the country. The policy aims to utilize, develop and promote domestic feedstock and its utilization for production of bio-fuels thereby increasingly substituting  fossil  fuels.  Government  has  also  decided  to  advance  the  target  of  20% ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to 2025. Sustainable  Alternative  Towards  Affordable  Transportation  (SATAT)  was  launched on 1st October, 2018 aiming to establish an ecosystem for production of Compressed Bio  Gas  (CBG)  from  various  waste/biomass  sources  in  the  country.    SATAT  has envisaged  developing  5000  CBG  plants  with  total  CBG  production  capacity  of  15 Million Metric Tonne Per Annum (MMTPA) i.e. equivalent to 54 MMSCMD of gas by 2023-24.
Lok Sabha Question No. 227 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Return of Air India Flight from Ukraine
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B

*227.

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 227

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

(To be answered on the I7th March 2022)

## RETURN OF AIR INDIA FLIGHT FROM UKRAINE

SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

- (b) if s0, the details thereof; and

be pleased to state:-

- () whether it is a fact that an Air India flight had to return back midway in the morning hours of 24 February, 2022 after Ukraine closed its airspace for commercial flights;
- whether it is also true that neither Ukraine nor Russia allowed Air India

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia)

- (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the table of the House

(a) to (c) Air India operated the first evacuation flight from Kyiv, Ukraine to Delhi on 22.02.2022 and brought back 242 Indian nationals. Ukraine closed its airspace in the morning of 24.02.2022, As a result, the second Air India flight destined for Kyiv was forced to turn back midway o 24.02.2022 and had to return to Delhi:

Due to closure of Ukrainian airspace, currently Indian carriers cannot operate to Ukraine: However, Air India is operating to/from Russia under the India Russia air bubble arrangement: Evacuation operations have been carried out from countries adjoining Ukraine viz. Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia:

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 224 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Power Projects
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Gajendra Singh Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.224 ANSWERED ON 17.03.2022

POWER PROJECTS

†224. SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH PATEL:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the power projects being implemented in Khargone-Barwani Parliamentary Constituency along with the proposed new projects;

(b) whether  any  special  power  project  would  be  implemented  in  the  tribal villages of Khargone-Barwani which are deprived of electricity;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether  there  is  any  power  project  for  remote  and  hilly  areas  so  that every household may get access to electricity and if so, the details thereof?

A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

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

*******

## STATEMENT

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  STARRED QUESTION NO. 224 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 17.03.2022 REGARDING POWER PROJECTS

*********

- (a) : A coal-based thermal power project namely Khargone Super Thermal Power Station of 1320 MW (2x660 MW) capacity has been installed by NTPC in Khargone district  of Madhya  Pradesh . The  plant  is    under  operation and generating power.
- (b)  to  (d)  :  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya  Gram  Jyoti  Yojana  (DDUGJY)  provided  for access to electricity to un-electrified villages/habitations including the villages located  in  remote  and  hilly  areas.    As  on  28/04/2018,  all  the  States  reported 100%  electrification  of  all  un-electrified  inhabited  villages  in  the  country. Pradhan  Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar  Yojana  (SAUBHAGYA)  provided  for achieving  universal  household  electrification  by giving electricity  connections to all willing un-electrified households in rural areas and all poor households in urban areas in the country.  Under the Saubhagya scheme, all the States have reported 100%  electrification  of all the willing un-electrified  households, identified  before  31.03.2019.  Further,  an  additional  18.85  lac  households  that were  unwilling  earlier  but  later  on  became  willing  were  electrified  through funding from Saubhagya till  31.03.2021.  As reported by the States, a total of 2.817 crore households have been electrified since the launch of Saubhagya, up to 31.03.2021.

Further,  as  against  the  installed  capacity  of  395.6  GW,  peak demand  in  the  country  had  only  reached  up  to  203  GW  in  July,  2021.  Thus, enough generation capacity is available to meet the electricity demand of all consumers including those from remote and hilly areas.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 2760 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Safety of Workers in Central Vista Projects
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi

NO. 2760.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2760

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 17, 2022

## SAFETY OF WORKERS IN CENTRAL VISTA PROJECTS

## SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has made any monetary allocations towards workers' safety in the budget for the Central Vista project and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of health insurance provided to over ten thousand skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labourers who were promised employment under the project;
- the steps taken to ensure workers' safety as construction on the project continued even as Delhi saw a weekly Covid-19 test positivity rate of around twenty three per cent in January, 2022;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that it is not practically possible for workers of the Central Vista project to observe Covid guidelines and maintain social distancing and if SO, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of protective gear distributed and tests conducted among workers engaged in the Central Vista project in January, 2022; and
- if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) allocations have been made towards workers' safety in the budget for the Central Vista project: However health insurance is being provided by the contractors- Necessary provisions in this regard are available in General Conditions of Contract (GCC):
- (c) & (d) : All Covid-19 protocols as per directions issued by Government from time to time like testing; vaccination, social distancing; hand washing; use of hand sanitizer, etc-, are being followed during execution of works- Facility for isolation of Covid-19 positive workers has also been established in labour camp at New Parliament Building:
- (e) & (f) Testing for Covid -19, isolation of Covid-19 positive workers and vaccination are regularly followed as per mandate and guidelines issued by the Government from time to These are part of GCC and are being strictly implemented: The record of workers tested for Covid-19 is kept by the respective agencies:

#****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2759 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Difficulties Faced by MSMEs During Pandemic
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Abhishek Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2759 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2022

## DIFFICULTIES FACED BY MSMEs DURING PANDEMIC

## 2759.         SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE:

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

- (a) whether any survey has been undertaken to evaluate the condition of start-ups and MSMEs after Covid-19 pandemic and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government provided any time extensions to start ups and MSMEs for contracts with PSUs and the Government and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  current  pendency  of  bill  payments  from  PSUs  and  the  Government  to MSMEs and start-ups?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): An online study of 5,774 MSMEs spread across 32 States & UTs was conducted by National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) in August 2020. NSIC's study found that 91% of the MSME respondents  were  found  to  be  functional.  Khadi  and  Village  Industries  Commission  (KVIC)  has conducted a study of 10,519 respondent MSMEs in March, 2020. KVIC's study found that 88% of beneficiaries of the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) scheme were negatively  affected  due  to  Covid-19  while  the  remaining  12%  stated  that  they  benefitted  during Pandemic.  In  a  study  of  1,029  MSMEs  spread  across  20  States  &  2  UTs  conducted  during September, 2021 - January, 2022 by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) 67% of respondent MSMEs were found to be temporarily closed for upto a period of 3 months.

(b): No, Sir.

- (c): The current pendency of bill payments from PSUs and the Government to MSEs as per the data available on SAMADHAAN Portal as on 14.03.2022 is Rs. 2,857.78 Cr.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2757 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Privatisation of Electricity Department
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Kalaben Mohanbhai Delkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2757

## ANSWERED ON 17.03.2022

## PRIVATISATION OF ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT

## †2757. SHRIMATI DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has privatised electricity department in Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether  the  distribution  of  electricity  has  also  been  privatised  and  if  so,  the details thereof and the reasons therefor; (c) whether the poors and tribals are likely to be provided free electricity after the move and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the electricity supply  is  likely to be  continued  at  cheaper rates  to  all small and big industrial units after privatisation and if so, the details thereof; whether the post and salaries of all the junior and senior employees working in and
- (e) electricity department of Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli Daman and Diu are likely to remain same or likely to be increased; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) & (b) : The Government of India announced privatization of Power Departments & Utilities in Union Territories (UTs), including Dadra & Nagar Haveli (DNH) and Daman & Diu (DD) under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.  The decision is guided with the objective of providing better services to consumers with improvement in operational and financial efficiencies in electricity distribution. The Government's decision to privatize electricity Distribution in DNH and DD has been conveyed on 25.11.2021. (c)  &  (d)  :    Electricity  distribution  is a  regulated  business  and applicable tariffs to  be charged by a distribution company from various category of consumers is decided by the  concerned  State  Electricity  Regulatory  Commission  and  not  by  the  Distribution Utility. State Governments have discretion to provide unit-wise subsidies in the tariffs for various categories of consumers, including the poor, tribals and Industrial consumers.

(e) & (f) : The transfer of the personnel from the Electricity Department/Utility of the UT to the new Company is subject to the provisions contained in Section 133 of the Electricity Act, which provide that the terms and conditions of the services applicable to the Personnel on transfer shall not in any way be less favourable than or inferior to those applicable to them immediately before the Transfer Date.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 2755 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Goal for Renewable Energy Production
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Bache Gowda B.N.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2755

ANSWERED ON 17.03.2022

## GOAL FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION

2755. SHRI B.N.BACHE GOWDA

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of goals set for renewable energy production in the country;
- (b) whether it is different from the existing methods and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the time by which it is likely to be achieved?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (c) In accordance with Hon'ble Prime Minister's announcement at COP26, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is committed to achieving 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

A total of 152.90 GW of renewable energy capacity projects (including large hydro) have been installed in the country as on 28-2-2022 which includes 50.78 GW from solar power, 40.13 GW from wind power, 10.63 GW from Bio-power, 4.84 GW from small hydro power and 46.52 GW from large hydro power.

The Government has taken several steps to promote renewable energy in the country. These include :

- permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route,
- waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30 th June 2025,
- declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2022,
- setting  up  of  Ultra  Mega  Renewable  Energy  Parks  to  provide  land    and  transmission  to  RE developers on a plug and play basis,
- schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), Solar Rooftop Phase II, 12000 MW CPSU Scheme Phase II, etc,
- laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power,
- setting up of Project Development Cell for attracting and facilitating investments,
- Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV and Wind Projects.
- Government has issued  orders that  power  shall  be  dispatched  against  Letter  of  Credit  (LC)  or advance payment to ensure timely payment by distribution licensees to RE generators.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2750 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Allotment of Petrol Pumps
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: R.K. Singh Patel

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2750 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2022

## Allotment of Petrol Pumps

## †2750.      SHRI R.K. SINGH PATEL:

## पेोलयम एवं ाक ृतक गैस मंी

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

- (a) the details of categories/persons being provided reservation or special concession in the allotment of petrol pumps and gas agencies; and
- (b) the details of the application process for the allotment of petrol pump or gas agency to these categories/persons under special concession?

## ANSWER

पेोलयम और ाक ृतक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामेवर तेल )

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

(a)&(b)    Oil  Marketing  Companies  (OMCs)  have  implemented  new  'Dealership Selection Guidelines' for Retail Outlets w.e.f. 24.11.2018 and 'Unified Guidelines for Selection of LPG Distributorships' w.e.f. 23.6.2016. Both these guidelines inter alia, have a provision of 22.5% reservation for SCs/STs and 27% reservation for OBCs in allotment of retail outlet dealerships and LPG Distributorships. Within SC/ST, OBC & Open  categories,  there  is  reservation  also  for  Defence  personnel,  Para  Military Personnel/Central/State Govt. and Central/State PSU employees, Physically Handicapped Persons, Outstanding Sports Persons and Freedom Fighters.

The  allotment  of  RO  and  LPG  Distributorship  are  done  by  following  a  transparent process  which  inter-alia  include  Advertisement  in  National/State  news  paper  inviting application from eligible participants, online submission of applications, draw of lots to select the allottee etc.

Application  Procedure  /  Norms  /  Criteria  /  Reservation  Policy  for  allotment  of  Retail Outlet Dealerships are available on the respective websites of the Public Sector (OMCs) i.e.  www.iocl.com,  www.bharatpetroleum.com  &  www.hindustanpetroleum.com.  The detailed guidelines namely 'Unified Guidelines for Selection of LPG Distributorships' are available on the website www.lpgvitarakchayan.in.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2749 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: LPG Supply in Maharashtra
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2749 TO BE ANSWERED ON  17 th  MARCH, 2022

## LPG Supply in Maharashtra

2749. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

पेोलयम एवं ाक ृ तक गैस मंी Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number of villages in Maharashtra where the supply of LPG is yet to be provided along with the reasons for non-provision of LPG supply in the said areas and the time by which LPG supply is likely to be provided in a time bound manner;
- (b) whether the number of LPG distributors in Maharashtra is relatively less as compared to other States, if so,  the details thereof and the reasons therefor along  with the number of LPG distributors in Maharashtra; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  select/appoint  more  distributors  to  meet  the demand of the people in Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

पेोलयम एवं ाक ृ तक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामेवर तेल ) MINISTER OF STATE IN MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a)  to  (c)  Appointment  of  LPG  distributorships  is  a  continuous  process  and  locations  for setting  up  of  LPG  distributorships are identified  based  on  sale  potential that  makes  them commercially  viable.  Public  Sector  Oil  Marketing  Companies(OMCs)  are  engaged  in extending  the  reach  of  LPG  in  villages/rural  area    all  over  the  country  including  in Maharashtra by setting up new distributorships and enrolling new LPG consumers on an ongoing basis. As on 01.03.2022, State of Maharashtra has  2214 distributors catering to 2.98  crore  consumers,  out  of  which  1210  distributors  with  1.30  crore  consumers  are catering to rural areas/villages.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2747 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Setting up of Airport in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Kani K. Navas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2747

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

(To be answered on the March 2022) 17th

## SETTING UP OF AIRPORT IN TAMIL NADU

2747. SHRI K NAVASKANI

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- ()whether the Government proposes to set up an airport in Ramnad District in Ramanthapuram; Tamil Nadu and if s0, the details thereof;
- tourism and if $0, the details thereof;
- (c) the time by which the said airport is to be set up? likely

## ANSWER

## Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

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

(a) to (c): Development of a Greenfield airport is governed under the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008, As per the Policy; a State Government or an Airport Developer, willing to establish an airport; is proposals are considered by MoCA as per the procedure stipulated in the GFA Policy. As of no proposal has been received for establishment of an Sirport in Ramnad District in Ramanthapuram, Tamil Nadu either €rom the StetecGovernment or from any Other Airport Developer: The linkage betweer the Civil Aviation Sector and Economic Growth is well sonectivity has an economic multiplier of3.1 and employment multiplier of 6.1. now,