opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2962 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: GI Tag for Mithila's Rohu Fish
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Ashok Kumar Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2962. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 3 RD  AUGUST, 2022.

## GI TAG FOR MITHILA'S ROHU FISH

## 2962.  SHRI ASHOK KUMAR YADAV:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposal from Bihar Government for GI tag for Mithila's Rohu fish;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the time by which Mithila's Rohu fish is likely to get the GI tag?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री सोम प्रकाश ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI SOM PARKASH)

- (a) : The Geographical Indications (GI) Registry has not received any application for Registration of Mithila's Rohu Fish as Geographical Indications (GI) under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
- (b): Does not arise.
- (c): Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2961 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Central Government Pensioners
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PENSION AND PENSIONERS' WELFARE)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2961

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2022)

## CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS

## 2961. SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any details about the total numbers of Central Government pensioners in the country ?
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of pension amount paid to them yearly?

## 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  per  information  furnished  by  Central  Pension  Accounting  Office,  Controller General  of  Defence  Accounts,  Department  of  Post,  Department  of  Telecommunications  & Ministry  of  Railways,  total  number  of  Central  Government  Pensioners  and  total  expenditure incurred during the financial year 2021-22 is as follows:-

| Sr. No.   | Department          | Total No. Of Pensioners and Family Pensioners                             | Expenditure (In Crores)   |
|-----------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 1.        | Civil Pensioners    | 11,28,441                                                                 | 64,684.44                 |
| 2.        | Defence Pensioners  | 36,03,609 (including Armed Forces Pensioners, Civilian& Defence Civilian) | 1,21,983.9                |
| 3.        | Telecom Pensioners  | 4,32,968                                                                  | 14895                     |
| 4.        | Railways Pensioners | 14,82,223                                                                 | 51,935.24                 |
| 5.        | Postal Pensioners   | 3,28,999                                                                  | 785.82                    |
|           | Total               | 69,76,240                                                                 | 2,54,284.4                |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2957 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Infrastructure Projects under PMG
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Ganesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2957.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 3 RD  AUGUST, 2022.

## INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS UNDER PMG

## 2957.  SHRI GANESH SINGH:

## Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) the  total  number  of  Infrastructure  Projects  under  the  supervision  of  Project Monitoring Group (PMG) of the Ministry;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to develop a uniform system for projects costing less than Rs.500 crores and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of mega infrastructure projects which are delayed at present after establishment of PMG along with the reasons for delay and the collective cost of the project borne by the Government;
- (d) whether  there  is  any  evidence  to  show  that  the  said  mechanism  is  more economical and efficient as compared to the earlier approaches adopted for monitoring mega infrastructure projects; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री सोम प्रकाश ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI SOM PARKASH)

- (a): The  number  of  Infrastructure  Projects  on  Project  Monitoring  Group (PMG) Portal as on 28.07.2022 is 1875.
- (b) : For monitoring projects of Rs. 150 Cr and above, the Government has put  in  place  a  mechanism  called  Online  Computerised  Monitoring System (OCMS) under Ministry of Statistic and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
- (c) : The Government, after establishment of PMG, has taken proactive steps and  resolved  5119 issues pertaining to 1095 projects. However, there are currently 634 projects on the portal  which have shown time overrun, inter-alia,  due  to  issues  like  Land  Acquisition,  Forest  Clearance, Wild Life Clearance, Right of Way, Right of Use, Court Cases etc.

As  far  as  the  cost  escalation  is  concerned  the  same  can  only  be calculated on completion of projects.

- (d & e) : Yes  Sir.  The  mechanism  of  Project  Monitoring  Group  (PMG)  is supported by a digital platform over which Project Proponents are able to update project related information and raise issues which can be seen by concerned State / Central Ministries on real time basis. This results in effective monitoring of projects and expeditious resolution of issues.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2956 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Corruption in PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Sanjay Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2956

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2022

## CORRUPTION IN PDS

2956.  DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION उपभोᲦा मामले , खा᳒ और सावᭅजिनक िवतरण मंᮢी be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of cases of corruption in the PDS systems across the country that has been recorded in the calendar year 2021;
- (b) the percentage of these cases that have been recorded in the State of Bihar;
- (c) whether the State Government of Bihar has been notified of such cases; and
- (d) whether  there  is  any  report  from  the  State  Government  of  Bihar indicating the action taken by them to mitigate such cases of corruption; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a)&(b): Targeted  Public  Distribution  System  (TPDS)  under  NFSA, 2013  is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/Union Territory (UT) Governments. The operational responsibilities  for  allocation  of  foodgrains  within  the  States/UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries families, issuance of ration cards to them, distribution of foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries under TPDS and  issuance  of  licenses  to  Fair  Price  Shops  (FPSs)  supervision  over and  monitoring  of  functioning  of    FPSs,  etc.  rest  with  the  concerned State/UT Governments.

Helpline number 1967/1800-State series number is operational in all the States/UTs for contacting and redressal of grievances and filing any type of complaints including corruption cases in TPDS.

As and when complaints including corruption are received in this Department from any source, they are sent to the concerned State/UT Government for inquiry and appropriate action.

State/UT  Governments  act  on  the  basis  of  information  received from all sources including complaints received from the Government of India.

Out  of  total  1869  complaints  including  corruption  cases,  sent  to States/UTs,  203  complaints  were  forwarded  to  State  Government  of Bihar.

(c): Yes Sir.

(d)&(e): State Government of Bihar have informed that 264 Licenses of  Fair  Price  Shops  have  been  suspended  and  126  cancelled  in  the calendar year 2021 in the State of Bihar.

An  offence  committed  in  violation  of  the  provisions  of  TPDS(C) Order,  2015  is  liable  for  penal  action  under  the  Essential  Commodities Act,  1955.    Thus,  the  Order  empowers  State/UT  Governments  to  take punitive action in case of contravention of relevant provisions of these Orders.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2955 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Mangalore to Rameshwaram Train Connectivity
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2955

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2022

## MANGALORE TO RAMESHWARAM TRAIN CONNECTIVITY

2955. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  bring  train  connectivity  between Mangalore and Rameshwaram and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government plans to extend Bangalore-Kannur Express to Kozhikode and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government maintains the list of new trains granted to various States since 2019 and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (d)  whether the Government plans to run Vande Bharat trains between Trivandrum and Kozhikode and if so, the details in this regard; and
- (e)  whether the Government proposes to run any private train between Kozhikode  and  Trivandrum  and  Kozhikode  and  Mangalore,  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  and (b) No, Sir. At present, there are no such  immediate proposals under consideration. However,  introduction and extension of train services is an ongoing process.
- (c)  Indian  Railways  do  not  run  train  services,  on  State-wise  basis  as railway network straddles across state boundaries. However, number of train  services  introduced  during  the  period  1 st   April  2019  to  31 st   April 2022  is as under:

| Year    |   Number of train services introduced |
|---------|---------------------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                                   109 |
| 2020-21 |                                    50 |
| 2021-22 |                                    60 |

(d) No, Sir. At present, there is no such proposal.  However, operation of more Vande Bharat trains, over Indian Railways network, is subject to operational feasibility, commercial justification and availability of rolling stock. (e)  At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to  operate  regular  train  services, including those between Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram/Mangalore by private train operator(s). *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2953 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Reservation for Differently-Abled Persons
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2953

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2022)

## RESERVATION FOR DIFFERENTLY-ABLED PERSONS

## 2953. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Union  Government  issued  orders/  directions  to  implement  the  Supreme Court order for  the  reservation  to  the  differently-abled  persons  in  Central  Government service; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## 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):  The  Supreme  Court,  vide  its  order,  dated  28.9.2021,  in  the  matter  of  'Siddaraju  vs. State  of  Karnataka',  directed  the  Government  to  issue  instructions  regarding  reservation  in promotion,  as  provided  in  Section  34  of  the  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  Act,  2016. Accordingly, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued instructions, vide Office Memorandum  No.  36012/1/2020-Estt.(Res.-II),  dated  17.05.2022,  providing  reservation  in promotion  to  Persons  with  Benchmark  Disabilities  (PwBDs)  in  the  posts  and  services  of  the Central Government, upto the lowest rung of Group 'A'.

In  the  matter  of  reservation  to  PwBDs  in  direct  recruitment  to  the  posts  and  services  of  the Central Government, instructions have already been issued by DoPT, vide Office Memorandum No.36035/02/2017-Estt(Res), dated 15.01.2018.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2952 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Apps Developed by China
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Rodmal Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2952

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 03.08.2022

## APPS DEVELOPED BY CHINA

## 2952.   SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government has identified any such app which sent information out of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government has banned the said app in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether all such apps are developed by China and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

- (a) :  Yes Sir.
- (b) and (c): Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has identified 348 mobile applications which were collecting users' information and transmitting it in an unauthorized manner to servers located outside the country for profiling. Based on the request from MHA, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has blocked those 348 mobile applications since  such  data  transmissions  infringes  the  sovereignty  and  integrity  of  India,  defence  of India and security of the State.
- (d) :  These apps are developed by various countries including China.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2950 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: High Speed Internet
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shiromani Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2950 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2022

## HIGH SPEED INTERNET

## †2950. SHRI RAMSHIROMANI VERMA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that High Speed Internet Broadband facility is not available in Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe dominated remote villages;
- (b) if so, the details and the reasons therefor along with the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c) the time by which High Speed Internet services will be made available in the said villages?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) to (c) Broadband/Internet  services  are  provided  in  a  phased  manner  by  the  Government  and Telecom Services Provider (TSPs) in the uncovered villages of the country, including Scheduled caste, Scheduled  Tribe  dominated  remote  villages.  The  Government,  with  funding  from  Universal  Service Obligation  Fund  (USOF),  has  schemes  namely  Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  for  North Eastern Region, Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Affected Area schemes, Aspirational Districts Schemes, Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for Islands, etc. to extend Broadband/Internet services through setting up of towers in the uncovered villages of the country, including Scheduled caste, Scheduled Tribe dominated remote villages. About 4,330 mobile towers have been installed under various USOF schemes.

The  Union  Cabinet  on  27.07.2022  approved  a  project  for  saturation  of  4G  mobile  services  in uncovered villages across the country at a total cost of Rs. 26,316 Cr.  The project will provide 4G mobile services in 24,680 uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas. The project has a provision to include 20% additional villages on account of rehabilitation, new-settlements, withdrawal of services by existing operators etc.  In addition, 6,279 villages having only 2G/3G connectivity shall be upgraded to 4G.

BharatNet project is implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country, including Scheduled caste, Scheduled Tribe dominated remote villages, as on 25.07.2022, total 1,78,044 GPs have been made Service Ready. The infrastructure created under  BharatNet  project  can  be  utilized  by  Service  providers,  for  provisioning  of  broadband/internet services. The scope of BharatNet has been recently extended up to all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country with the timeline as 2025.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2948 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Ban on Online Games
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Mahabali Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2948

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2022

## BAN ON ONLINE GAMES

## 2948.  SHRI MAHABALI SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to ban online gambling/betting in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent crimes occurring due to rise in spread of online gambling/betting?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a) to (c): All forms of gambling and betting come under the purview of State Governments and they have enacted their laws to deal with the same within their jurisdictions under List-II of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Betting and gambling is illegal in most parts of the country.

Online  gaming  platforms  are  intermediaries  and  they  have  to  follow  the  due  diligence  as prescribed in  the  Information  Technology (IT) Act, 2000 and the Rules thereunder.  MeitY regulates  all  the  intermediaries  as  per  the  IT  Act  and  the  Rules  therein.  Online  gaming platforms are treated as illegal when game of chance is involved in those platforms.

'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes through their Law  Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).  The  Law Enforcement  Agencies  (LEAs)  at  Centre  and  States  take  appropriate  legal  action  as  per provisions of law and when appropriate.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2946 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Gems and Jewellery Export Hub
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2946 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd  AUGUST, 2022

## GEMS AND JEWELLERY EXPORT HUB

## 2946.  SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning on creating gems and jewellery export hubs for the artisans and traders of States of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  create  gems  and  jewellery  export  hub  in Amritsar considering its good connectivity to better serve the artisans and traders of States of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh vuqfiz;k iVsy½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) : There is presently no proposal for creating gems and jewellery export hubs for the artisans and traders of States of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

(b) to (d) :  Does not arise.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2944 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Atomic energy projects
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2944

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2022

## Atomic energy projects

2944.  SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) whether any atomic energy project has been set up under the joint venture with PSU in the country; (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  joint  venture,  agreement,  potential  power  generation capacity; and (c) the details of the benefits as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR.JITENDRA SINGH):

(a) to (c)  One of the important initiatives of this Government has been to formulate framework for setting up joint venture with PSUs for Atomic Energy. The rest to follow accordingly.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2941 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Beach Sand Minerals
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar, Sanjeev Kumar Singari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2941 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2022

## Beach Sand Minerals

## 2941. SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Andhra Pradesh Government submitted proposals for allocating 16  Beach  Sand  Minerals bearing areas to Andhra  Pradesh  Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) as the prospective lessee;
- (b) if  so,  the  number  of  areas  recommended  by  the  Union  Government  to APMDC as a prospective lessee;
- (c) the  reasons  for  not  recommending  APMDC  as  prospective  lessee  for  the remaining areas as of yet;
- (d) whether the Union Government proposes to issue recommendation in favour of APMDC as prospective lessee with respect to the remaining areas; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor ?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b) (i)  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DAE)  has  received  17  proposals  from Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  for  nominating  Andhra  Pradesh  Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) as prospective lessee for Beach Sand Minerals (BSM).
- (ii)  DAE has nominated APMDC as prospective lessee  in respect of  two BSM deposits in 90.15 Ha Bhimunipatnam Deposit, Visakhapatnam District and 1978.471 Ha Machilipatnam Deposit, Krishna District  on 25.03.2021 and 15.04.2021 respectively.

- (c),(d) & (e) The  processing  of  remaining  proposals  of  APMDC    has  been  kept  in abeyance on receipt of a letter dated 11.06.2021 from Ministry of Mines in the  context  of  complaints  regarding  damage  to  environment,  violations  of mining laws and clandestine export of Monazite. DAE took up the matter with Government of Andhra Pradesh requesting to investigate the allegations. Further, DAE  has  also requested Ministry of Mines for investigation  by  Indian  Bureau  of  Mines  (IBM)  on  alleged  violations  since the entire data on production, transportation, sale etc. is available with IBM.

******