opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1705 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Zero Ground Water in Bihar and Tamil Nadu
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Veena Devi, Kani K. Navas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1705

ANSWERED ON 11 .02.2021

## ZERO GROUND WATER IN BIHAR AND TAMIL NADU

1705.

SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI SHRI K. NAVASKANI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether many cities in Bihar and Tamil Nadu are expected to have zero ground water soon;
- (b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to conserve ground water in Bihar and Tamil Nadu ;
- (c) the reasons for rapid depletion of ground water in the country; and
- (d) the steps taken by Government to give long term solution to the sustainable ground water

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) As per information available with the Ministry no cities in Bihar and Tamil Nadu are expected to ha zero ground water soon.

- (b)  Water  being  a  State  subject,  efforts  to  conserve  and  manage  ground  water  is  primarily  States' responsibility. Government of Tamil Nadu and Bihar launched 'Kudimaramath' and 'Jal Jeevan Hariyali' respectively for management of groundwater water resources in their respective States.
- (c)Ground water levels in various parts of the Country are declin ing because of continuous withdrawal due to reasons such as increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rain population, industrialization and urbanization etc.
- (d) Important steps taken by Central Government for sustainab le ground water management in the country including Bihar and Tamil Nadu are at the following URL:

http://jalshakti - dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps\_to\_control\_water\_depletion\_Feb2021.pdf.

A number of States have done notable work in the field of water management/conservation. Of these, mention can be made of 'Mukhya mantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan' in Rajasthan, 'Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan' in Gujarat, 'Mission Kakatiya' in Telangana, Neeru Chettu' in Andhra Pradesh, 'Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao' in Punj ab and Jal Hi Jeevan in Haryana among others.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1701 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Harnessing of Renewable Energy
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: P. C. Mohan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1701

ANSWERED ON-11.02.2021

## HARNESSING OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

1701. SHRI P.C. MOHAN

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

- (a) the total power generated from renewable energy sources across the country;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to help the State of Karnataka by purchasing excess power and share the same with power deficit States;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to extend incentives to large industries and Government organisations like BMRCL, BMTC and Railways which can harness renewable energy to meet energy requirements; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY, POWER and MoS for SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a ) A total of 111917.72 Million Units of power has been generated through various renewable energy sources  (  excluding  large  hydro)  in  the  country  during  the  year    2020-21(  upto  December  2020).
- (b)  &(c)  No  such  proposal  /  scheme  is  available.  However,  Government  has  waived  off  Inter  State Transmission System (ISTS) charges and losses for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30 th June 2023.
- (d)  &  (e)  Under  MNRE's  Central  Public  Sector  Undertaking  (CPSU)  Scheme  Phase-II  (Government Producer  Scheme),  Government  Producers  can  bid  for  setting  up  solar  PV  power  projects  using domestically manufactured solar PV cells and modules and avail Viability Gap Funding (VGF) upto a maximum of Rs. 70 lakhs/MW. Any Government Producer who sets up solar PV power project(s) under this  Scheme,  is  eligible  for  Viability  Gap  Funding  (VGF)  as  mentioned  above,  if  the  Government Producer has set up these solar PV power project(s) for captive-use or use by Government/ Government entities, either directly or through Distribution Companies (DISCOMS).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1699 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Sagarmala Project
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1699

TO BE ANSWERED ON  ,1  1TH FEBRUARY, 2021

## SAGARMALA PROJECT

## ,I699.  SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

will the Minister of PoRTS, sHlpplNG  AND WATERWAyS be pleased to state: q-f,fl,  +d  qft  dEf, 3fk dilI{rrt  }i*

- (a) the percentage  of work completed in Sagarmala project till date;
- (b) whether  any survey has been conducted  about displacement of peopre after completion of Sagarmala project; and
- (c) if so, the details of the villages and people to be displaced from the lndian  coastat belt after implementation of the project?

## ANSWER

MrNrsrER  oF srArE  ,,*r,.J*??.^\-r?,3iirx.isi,l,i^3Rrs,  sHrpprNG AND wArERWAys

- (a) Under sagarm ala, 504 Project at an estimated infrastructure  investment of Rs.3.55 Lakhs crores have been identified. out of these, 159  projects  have been completed.
- (b) No, Sir
- (c) In view of item'b' above,  the question  does not arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Prathap Simha, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Bhagwanth Khuba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1697 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2021

## CENTRAL ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION

1697.  SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI:

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI:

SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has been non-functional for the last several months;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the remedial steps taken by the Government for early disposal of thousands of pending petitions with the commission?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

( SHRI  R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (c) : In  compliance  with  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court's  Order  dated  28.8.2020  in  the Contempt  Petition  No.  429  of  2020  (K.  K.  Agarwal  V/s  Sanjiv  Nandan  Sahai  &  Anr),  two Members  of  Central  Electricity  Regulatory  Commission  (CERC)  proceeded  on  leave.  No adjudication matters were heard and no regulations were framed/amended during the period of their leave.

Member (Law) has been appointed by the Central Government on 16.12.2020. In view of the completion of the appointment process of the Member (Law) in CERC, the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide Order dated 20.1.2021  has allowed the other Members of CERC to join and carry  on  their  administrative  functions  but  the  judicial  functioning  will  be  restored  on  the joining of the Member (Law). Vide this order the contempt has been discharged. The Central Commission  has  complied  with  the  said  Order  dated  20.1.2021  and  thus  administrative functioning has been resumed w.e.f 21.1.2021.

Further, Ministry of Power has also requested Government of Jharkhand to relieve concerned Member (Legal), Jharkhand Electricity Regulatory Commission to enable him to join as Member (Law) in CERC.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1695 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Facial Recognition System
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Nayab Singh, (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

(To be answered on the February 2021)

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: : 1695

## FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM

1695.

SHRI NAYAB SINGH

DR RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to install facial recognition system at airports;
- (c) whether the Government has fixed any time limit for implementation of
- (b) if $0, the name of the airports were the said system is likely to be operated along with the time by which it is likely to be installed;
- this system; and
- (d) the various other benefits which are likely to be generated with the implementation of the said system?

## ANSWER

Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a) to (c): Yes Sir. Facial Recognition System is part of the Digi Yatra initiative of the Government; Digi Yatra is a passenger processing system implemented by airports in phased manner: The first phase 0f Digi Yatra will be implemented tentatively by end of the year 2021 at Kolkata, Varanasi, Pune, Vijayawada; Bangalore and Hyderabad airports: being

Passengers will have paperless and hassle free processing at airports from entry to the boarding gate: gate

(d): The benefits of implementation of Digi Yatra System include:

Airports will have real time information of passengers and their location for decision making;

- IV. Airports will have real time information on the efficiency of various check points.

III: Security will be enhanced due to facial  recognition based identification and real time check of passenger ticket status:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1691 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Redressal of Complaints of Air Passengers
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Ranjeeta Koli, Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

1691.

Will the Minister %f CIVIL AVIATION

MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1691 (To be answered on the 2021) I1th February

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## REDRESSAL OF COMPLAINTS OF AIR PASSENGERS

SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM

- (2) whether there is any mechanism in air passengers; place for the redressal of complaints of

be pleased to state:-

- registered under this mechanism lwith the total number of complaints (c) the number of complaints the last three years; along during
- (e) the amount of penalty imposed upon such Airlines?
- with the number of out of the above related to loss of and complaints; along

## ANSWER

Minister of State (IC) in the of CIVIL AVIATION Ministry

(Shri Singh Puri) Hardeep

(a) (b) Sir: Air Sewa Portal is in griesenger may also complain directlye ofair passengers The aggrieved grievances Grievances received to the airline for redressal 0f their the Air Sewa Cell in the Further, complaintslgrievances The number of are also received through CPGRAMS three years is 38822 and 31990 respectively: Yes, Ministry during

to loss %f luggage/theft of items

(c) The number of to loss of luggage/theft of 2315 complaints/grievanceschevee The number of been resolved relating relating

resolved:

(d) & (e) Travel by air is a contractual agreement between airline and their passenger. However, if the passenger is not satisfied with the resolution of complaints/grievances by airline andlor Air Sewa, the passenger may complain to any statutory body/court set up under relevant laws.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1690 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Khelo India Centre
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Vincent H Pala

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1690 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2021

## Khelo India Centre

1690. SHRI VINCENT H. PALA:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government had announced that it would open a Khelo India Centre of Excellence in Meghalaya;
- (b) if so, the details of the viability gap funding requirements along with the amount of funds sanctioned and released for the same;
- (c) the details of sports which have been identified for support; and
- (d) the progress on development of Excellence Centre and estimated time required for completion?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS { SHRI KIREN RIJIJU }

- (a) Yes, Sir. The Government has announced one Khelo India State Centre of Excellence  (KISCE)  in  Meghalaya  at  Jawaharlal  Nehru  Stadium  Complex, Shillong.
- (b)  The  viability  gap  funding  for  Khelo  India  State  Centre  of  Excellence (KISCE)  at  Jawaharlal  Nehru  Stadium  Complex,  Shillong,  Meghalaya  has been completed. The details of funds sanctioned for the same are given at Annexure. No funds have been released yet for the purpose.
- (c) The following sports disciplines have been identified for support:-
- (i)
- Archery
- (ii)
- Athletics
- (iii)  Boxing

(d)  The  viability  gap  funding  has  been  completed.  The  grantee  has  been asked  to  complete  the  project  expeditiously  and  communicate  it  to  this Ministry.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1690  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  11.02.2021 REGARDING 'KHELO INDIA CENTRE' ASKED BY SHRI VINCENT H. PALA, HON'BLE MEMBER OF LOK SABHA

FUNDS SANCTIONED FOR KHELO INDIA STATE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (KISCE) AT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU STADIUM COMPLEX, SHILLONG, MEGHALAYA

(Amount in ₹ lakh)

| Recurring grant for F.Y. 2020-21   | Non-Recurring grant for F.Y. 2020-21   | Total                   | Total                                             |
|------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
|                                    |                                        | Budget for F.Y. 2020-21 | Annual recurring budget from F.Y. 2021-22 onwards |
| 86.99                              | 168.22                                 | 255.21                  | 175.19                                            |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1687 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: IATA Forecast
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: K. Shanmuga Sundaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

(To be answered 0n the Ith February 2021)

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. ; 1687

## IATA FORECAST

## 1687 . SHRI SHANMUGA SUNDARAMK

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported that Indian airline industry may suffer a loss of S1 billion during the current year due to Governmentss over-regulations and taxes and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any study about the performance of the airline industry in India;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to reduce taxes on foreign airlines and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the airline industry is subject to double taxation at present as informed by the IATA and if s0, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

- (a): The International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s recent forecast of November 2020 reported that 'Passenger revenues' of both domestic and international airlines from Indian market were expected to fall by USS 15.1 billion in 2020 compared to 2019.
- Based on continuous monitoring of the operations f airline carriers since the global outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and the reports reccived from airlines as well as studies of some independent bodies, it is seen that airline carriers have been severely affected, due to restrictions 0I domestic and international passenger movements, as per broad details given below:
- (i) Domestic passenger\_traffic fell from 11,99,45,632 during MarchDecember 2019 to 3,77,79,592 during March-December 2020, while international passenger traffic fell from 1,96,64,179 to 18,55,033.
- (ii) Domestic air cargo handled fell from 1.15 million metric tonnes (MMT) during March-December 2019 to 0.72 MMT during March-December 2020, while international air cargo handled fell from 1.74 MMT to 1.19 MMT: (iii)   Revenues of major Indian scheduled carriers fell from INR 46,711 crore during April-September 2019 to about INR 11,810 crore during AprilSeptember 2020.
- (d): The tax regime for Indian as foreign airlines has been substantially rationalized; In order ,to maintain a,competitive tax regime for the growth Of Indian aviation; the applicable taxes are reviewed and suitable changes are announced from time to time:
- (e): IATA has informed that there is no incidence of double taxation in direct taxes in the cases of foreign carriers of countries with whom India has entered into 'Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements' (DTAAs):

However, in the case of Indirect taxes, IATA has suggested that bringing ATF under the ambit o GST would avoid provision of multiple taxes on ATF viz. Central Excise by the Union Government and Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax by State Governments.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Loss of Jobs due to Closure of MSMEs
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Deepak Baij

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †1685 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2021

## LOSS OF JOBS DUE TO CLOSURE OF MSMEs

## †1685.        SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

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

- (a) the decline recorded in working of the Ministry and various MSMEs during lockdown;
- (b) the  number  of  new  and  renewable  energy industries closed in MSME sector during the lockdown;
- (c) the  number  of  persons  lost  their  jobs  due  to closure of industries;
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  so  as  to  start  production  again  by  the  MSME industries; and
- (e) the impact of steps taken by the Government for starting production by MSME industries?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI NITIN GADKARI)

- (a) to (c):   The figures of the real GDP in India during the first quarter of 2020-21 indicate that economic activity contracted due to the strict lockdown measures imposed by the Government. This contraction has also had impact on the MSME sector. However, as MSMEs are there in both formal and informal sector, data regarding temporary or permanent closure of the units are not maintained by the Government of India in Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
- (d) & (e): The Ministry of MSME implements various schemes and programmes for growth and development of MSME Sector in the country. These schemes and programmes include Prime Minister's  Employment  Generation  Programme  (PMEGP),  Scheme  of  Fund  for  Regeneration  of Traditional Industries (SFURTI),  A Scheme  for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry  & Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE), Interest Subvention Scheme for Incremental Credit to MSMEs, Credit Guarantee  Scheme  for  Micro  and  Small  Enterprises,  Micro  and  Small  Enterprises  Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP), Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Upgradation Scheme (CLCS-TUS).

Recently,  post  Covid-19,  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  initiatives  under  Aatma Nirbhar  Bharat  Abhiyan  to  support  the  MSME  Sector  in  the  country  especially  in  Covid-19 pandemic. Some of them are:

- i)  Rs 20,000 crore Subordinate Debt for MSMEs.
2. ii)   Rs. 3 lakh crores Collateral free Automatic Loans for business, including MSMEs.
3. iii) Rs. 50,000 crore equity infusion through MSME Fund of Funds.
4. iv) New revised criteria for classification of MSMEs.
- v)   New Registration of MSMEs through 'Udyam Registration' for Ease of Doing Business.
6. vi) No global tenders for procurement up to Rs. 200 crores, this will help MSME.

An online Portal 'Champions' has been launched on 01.06.2020 by Hon'ble Prime Minister. This  covers  many  aspects  of  e-governance  including  grievance  redressal  and  handholding  of MSMEs. Through the portal, total 26,693 grievances have been redressed upto 31.01.2021.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1684 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Data Bank on Palaeochannels
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1684

ANSWERED ON 11 .02.2021

## DATA BANK ON PALAEOC HANNELS

## 1684. SHRI RITESH PANDEY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has created a systematic data bank on Palaeochannels as recommend Palaeochannels Committee (2016), if so, the details thereof and if not, the steps taken by rnment in this regard;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any effective measures regarding artificial recharge Palaeochannel, if so, the details including the funds allocated thereof, district - wise and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whe ther the Government is planning to form a separate cell for Palaeochannels in the Ce Water Board for handling activities of Palaeochannels and development of ground water resourc
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## )

- (a)Information on traces of palaeochannels found in parts of the Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujara Uttar Pradesh have been generated as part of various studies carried out by Central Ground (CGWB).

(b)Water  being  a  State  subject,  initiatives  on  water  management  including  study and  recharge ofPalaeochannels in  the  Country  is  primarily  States'  responsibility. However, CGWB  in  collaboration with NGRI has initiated few studies in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Uttar Prade mapping as a part of which distrib ution of palaeochannels and aspects related to artificial rec being studied.

No  funds  for  creation  of  artificial  recharge  structures  (for  recharge  of  Palaeochann allocated as no such scheme is being implemented by the Ministry.

(c) & (d) There is no proposal in CGWB for the creation of a separate cell for palaeochanne and development of groundwater resources at present.

- (e)  Activities related to palaeochannels and groundwater development are being carried ou ough the respective Regional Offices of CGWB with existing officers/staffs.

*****