opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2865 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Ration to Migrant Workers
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNIUIENT  OF TNDIA

## MtNtsTRy oF coNsuMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLIc  DISTR|BUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUE!.IC DISTRTBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED OUESTION NO.2865 TO BE ANSWERED  ON I5IT' DEGEIIIBER,2O2l

## RATION TO MIGRANT WORKERS

## 2865. SHRI DUSH}'ANT SINGH:

Uuill the  lllinister  of CONSUMER  '  AFFAIRS, FOOD AND DISTRIBUTION  sq$lfir  qrffe,  {{lr[  iit{ {rffi6 foirfur dfi be pteased  to state: PUBLIC

- (a) whether the Govemment  has any proposals with regard to migrant  workers who do not have access to ration because of delay in lmplementation of the  .one Nation  one Ration cardt scheme  in the respect:ve states where the wolkers are working;
- (b) if so, the details thereof  and if not, the reasons  therefor; and
- (c) the details of the ration disburced  to migrant  workers during Govid-{9 lockdown  in 2O2O and 2O21?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUilIER AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  pUBLtC  DISTR|BUTION

(sADHVr NIRANJAN JYOTr)

- (a) & (b): The One Nation One Ration Gard (ONORC) plan is atready enabted in 34 States/UTs  covering about 75 Grore beneflciaries,  that is, 94.3yo National  Food security Act (NFSA) population  in the country to haye an option to tift their entifled foodgrains  from an;y Fair Price shop (FPs)  of their choice in these states/UTs by using their same/existing ration cards, along with biometric authent:cation  on an electronic  Point of sale (ePos) devlce.  Further, regular  foltow ups have been done with the 2 remaining  states of Assam and Ghhattisgarh  to enable the same at the eadiest, depending upon their teChnical readiness to implement  the mechanism  of ration card portability  for the berrefit of their beneficiaries,  particularly  migrant NFSA beneficiaries.
- (c): As per the lnformation  available from States/UTs,  about 37 Lakh MT and 47 Lakh IUT of regular  NFSA and Pradhan Mantri Garib Katyan Anna  yojana (PIUI-GKAY)  foodgrafins  have been distributed  to the beneftclaries  (mostty migrant NFSA benefic-aries) through inter-State and intra.State, portabllity transactions under the ONORG plan, during the yearc 2O2O-21 and 2021-22 so far respectivety. Additionally, aboul2.74  LMT foodgrains were also dbtributed for the period of May and June 2O2A b the migrants/stranded  magrant persons in the country under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Schem" (OnU*).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2864 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Illegal Mining
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Balak Nath

## 2864. SHRI BALAK NATH:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the plans of the Government to check illegal mining;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  illegal  mining  is  taking  place  in  the country; and
- (c) if so, the details of the plans of the Government for prevention of environmental pollution being caused due to mining in stone mines?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) & (b):  Government has, inter-alia , taken following measures for preventing illegal mining in the country:

- (i) Penalty for illegal mining was  made  more  stringent by the Central Government through amendment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). The penalties have been increased from Rs. 25 thousand per hectare to Rs. 5 Lakh per hectare and the term of imprisonment has been increased from 2 years to 5 years for contravention of Section 4(1) and 4(1A) of the MMDR Act.
- (ii)   Section 30B of the MMDR Act provides for constitution of Special courts and Section 30C provides that such Special Courts shall be deemed to be a Court of Session.
- (iii)  Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017 makes it mandatory for all miners, traders, stockist, exporters and end-users of minerals to register and report on the production, trade and utilization of minerals to the State Government(s) and Indian Bureau of Mines.

Further, Section 23C of the MMDR Act empowers the State Governments to frame rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals for both  major  and  minor  minerals  and  for  purposes  connected  therewith.  Hence, prevention and control of illegal mining comes under the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of State Governments. Accordingly, 21 State Governments have framed rules under Section 23C of MMDR Act to curb illegal mining. Moreover, 22 States have set up Task Forces to control illegal mining and review the action taken by member departments for checking the illegal mining activities at state and district levels.

(c): Stone is a minor mineral under Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act. Section 15 of the MMDR Act  empowers  the  State  Governments  for  making  rules  for  regulating  the grant  of  quarry  leases,  mining  leases  or  other  mineral  concessions  in  respect  of minor  minerals  including  stone  and  for  purposes  connected  therewith.  Hence,  the regulation of minor minerals comes under the legislative and administrative domain of the State Governments.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2864

ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## ILLEGAL MINING
Lok Sabha Question No. 2862 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Research on Himalayan Region
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Nalin Kumar Kateel

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) Scientists of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology while studying the glaciers in the upper Kali Ganga valley, Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand Himalaya found that the 5 km long unnamed glacier (30.28089N- 80.69344E), covering an area of 4 km 2 in Kuthi'r'ankti valley (Tributary of Kali River), abruptly changed its main course and merged with an adjacent glacier named Sumzurkchanki, due to changes in climate and tectonic forcing sometime between the Last Glacial Maxima (19-24,000 years ago) and Holocene (10,000 years ago) .
- (c) Yes Sir.
- (d) Yes Sir, the Government encourages further research and study on the Himalayan region to find solutions to frequent natural calamities.
- (e) The government encourages research on the natural calamities in the Himalayan region by numerous research institutes, universities, lIT's, lISc, etc. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through its National Centre for Seismology is involved in the research i using the recorded earthquake data to understand various phenomena related to earthquake processes and seismic hazard assessment particularly for Himalayan region. The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology has been pursuing research in understanding the causes and consequences of earthquakes, landslides and avalanches in the Himalaya with a view to provide mitigation measures.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2862 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 15 TH DECEMBER, 2021

## RESEARCH ON HIMALAYAN REGION

## 2862. SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Scientists have recently found that nearly 20,000 years ago, a large Himalayan glacier abruptly changed course and over time fused into an adjacent glacier in present-day Pittoragarh, Uttarakhand;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Himalayan region is among the youngest mountain ranges in the world due to which the supporting underlying tectonic plates are not stable and frequently trigger earthquakes and landslides;
- (d) if so, whether the Government proposes to encourage further research! and study on the Himalayan region to find solutions to frequent natural calamities; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
Lok Sabha Question No. 2861 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Suspension of MPLAD Funds
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2861

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## SUSPENSION OF MPLAD FUNDS

2861. SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT: SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a)whether the suspension of MPLADS for two Financial Years 202021 and 2021-22 has severely affected the developmental activities in

the rural areas of the country and if so, the details thereof; and (b) whether  many  schemes  are  lying incomplete due to the suspension  of  MPLADS  and  may  lead  to  cost  overrun  in  order  to complete these schemes and if so, the details thereof and the steps likely to be taken to deal with this situation?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION,  MINISTER  OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a)&(b) Though the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme(MPLADS)  was  non-operational  for  financial  years  2020-21 and  and  part  of  2021-22,  the  Ministry  of  Statistics  &  Programme Implementation released funds to the tune of Rs.1107.50 crore and Rs.610 crore during the financial year 2020-21 and 2021-22 (till 9-122021) respectively, towards the pending instalments of 2019-20 and earlier period for development activities.

Also, the Government has now,  approved the restoration of MPLADS during the remaining part of the Financial Year 2021-22 with release of MPLADS fund at the rate of ₹ 2 crore per Member of Parliament in one instalment; and continuation of MPLADS up to 2025-26 with the annual entitlement per Member of Parliament (MP) at ₹ 5 crores.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2860 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Import Data
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2860 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 th  DECEMBER, 2021

## IMPORT DATA

## 2860.  SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR:

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

- (a) the year-wise details of import from FY 2009-10 to FY 2021-22;
- (b) whether rate of import growth has increased in the last six years;
- (c) if so, the details and reasons thereof; and
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to reduce imports?

## 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) to (d): The  details  of  India's  overall  (merchandise  and  services)  imports  along  with percentage change from 2009-10 to 2021-22 are:

| Years   |   Value of Overall Imports (in US$ Billion) |
|---------|---------------------------------------------|
| 2009-10 |                                      348.4  |
| 2010-11 |                                      450.32 |
| 2011-12 |                                      567.55 |
| 2012-13 |                                      571.5  |
| 2013-14 |                                      528.95 |
| 2014-15 |                                      529.61 |
| 2015-16 |                                      465.64 |

| 2016-17               |   480.21 |
|-----------------------|----------|
| 2017-18               |   583.11 |
| 2018-19               |   640.14 |
| 2019-20               |   602.98 |
| 2020-21               |   511.96 |
| April-October, 2020   |   250.44 |
| April-October, 2021 * |   405.31 |

Source: DGCI&S, Kolkata and RBI (*: Provisional)

The data reveals that India's import declined during 2015-16, 2019-20 and 2020-21 by 12.08, 5.80% and 15.09% respectively.

Imports take place to meet the gap between domestic production and supply, consumer demand and preferences for various products. The Government has taken several steps to create/enhance domestic  capacity,  incentivise  domestic  manufacturing  through  Production  Linked  Incentive Schemes (PLI), phased manufacturing plans,  timely use of trade remedy options, adoption of mandatory technical  standards,  enforcement  of  Free  Trade  Agreement  (FTA)  Rules  of  Origin (RoO) and development of import monitoring system.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2858 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Railway Hospitals
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Chandra Sekhar Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2858 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## RAILWAY HOSPITALS

2858. DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE: SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways proposes to bring the entire Railway Health System  on  a  single  architecture  to  provide  faster,  seamless  and hassle-free healthcare to its beneficiaries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the names of the agencies likely to be assigned this project and the criteria fixed for identification and selection of agencies for the said purpose;
- (d) the number of railway hospitals and beneficiaries who are likely to be digitized; and
- (e) the details of the expenditure likely to be incurred and the time by which the entire work on this project will be completed?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e): Yes, Sir.  Hospital Management Information System (HMIS)

has been implemented on Railway  Hospitals  with  RailTel Corporation

of India Limited as executing agency.  The  e-Sushruta  HMIS Software of  C-DAC  (Centre  for  Development  of  Advance  Computing)  has  been deployed for the same.

The  facility  is  for  all  Railway  Hospitals  and  Health  Units  over Indian Railways and eligible Railway Medical beneficiaries.

The  sanctioned  estimate  of  Pan-India  Railway  implementation work of HMIS is ₹ 63.28 Crore.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2857 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Bharat Net Project in Odisha
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Jual Oram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2857 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## BHARAT NET PROJECT IN ODISHA

## 2857.   SHRI JUAL ORAM:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether BharatNet is a project envisaged by the Government to digitally connect all the Gram Panchayats (GP)and villages of India by way of laying Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) upto GP level;

- (b) if so, whether there is a plan to connect all the GPs in Odisha;
- (c) if so, the number of broadband connections working in Odisha and the action being taken for providing broadband facility to all GPs under Phase-I and II;
- (d) the steps being taken to provide mobile connectivity in uncovered villages; and
- (e) whether  there  is  any  proposal  received  from  State  Government  of  Odisha  in  this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) BharatNet project is implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. On 30.06.2021, the scope of BharatNet was extended up to all inhabited villages beyond GPs. In Odisha, the Phase-II is implemented in State-led model through the State Government under which, 2485 GPs have been made Service Ready out of 2946 planned GPs, as of 30 th  November 2021. Further, 19 GPs have been made Service Ready out of 43 planned GPs on Satellite media. In Phase-I, a total number of 3810 GPs were taken up for implementation through Powergrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), out of which 3809 GPs have been made Service Ready. In total, 6313 GPs have been made Service Ready in Odisha.

As per the 'Indian Telecom Service Performance Indicators' published by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 21.10.2021, total 2.11 Crore Broadband subscribers are in Odisha Telecom Service Area.

(d) & (e) Mobile  services  are  provided  in  a  phased  manner  by  the  Government  and Telecom Services Provider (TSPs) in the uncovered villages in the country. The Government has the following schemes for providing mobile services in Odisha under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF):

.

- (i) Scheme for providing mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas  Phase-I  by  installing  2343  towers  in  10  States,  including  256  towers  in Odisha
- (ii)  Scheme for providing mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas  Phase-II  by  installing  2542  towers  in  10  States,  including  483  towers  in Odisha
- (iii) Scheme for providing mobile services in 7,287 uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts across 5 States, including 3933 villages in Odisha

No  specific  proposal  has  been  received  from  State  Government  of  Odisha  for  the above schemes.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Post Offices Buildings
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Mimi Chakraborty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2856 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## POST OFFICES BUILDINGS

## 2856.   MS. MIMI CHAKRABORTY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  started  restructuring  and  remodeling  age  old  raddled buildings of the post offices in the country and/or has planned for shifting to new buildings from decade old rented buildings and if so, the details threof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  relocate/  shift  the  South-Garia  post  office  of West Bengal circle, eastern zone from the decade old rented accommodation therefor and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the proposal to include South-Garia and Champahati post offices under the pin code of Kolkata as both are now covered under extended Kolkata thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Department of Posts under its Scheme of Estates Management provides for repair of old  postal  buildings  as  well  as  construction  of  new  Post  Office  buildings  on  its  available vacant plots of land, subject to budgetary provisions etc. The Post Office is shifted to a new suitable building, when a rented building is found unsuitable or in dilapidated condition.
- (b) Yes, Sir. It has been decided to shift South-Garia Post Office of West Bengal Circle.
- (c) The proposal to include South-Garia and Champahati Post Offices under the PIN code range of Kolkata was examined and was not approved as it was found that inclusion of SouthGaria and Champahati Post Offices under the PIN range of Kolkata would result in delayed transmission and delivery of a large volume of mail destined for these two Post Offices.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2855 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Satellite Based Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Sunita Duggal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2855 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## SATELLITE BASED SERVICES

## 2855.   SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any licence is required for rendering satellite based services in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether Elon Musk's Starlink has offered the Government to provide satellite based internet service in India;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether Starlink has applied for the requisite license from Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) if not, whether Starlink is still approaching public for their services; and
- (g) if so, the action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Yes,  Sir.  For  providing  satellite  based  telecom  services,  Department  of Telecommunication (DoT) grants the following authorizations under Unified License:
- i. Commercial  Very  Small  Aperture  Terminal  (VSAT)  Closed  User  Group Service
- ii. Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) Service
- iii. INSAT Mobile Satellite System-Reporting (MSS-R) Service

Besides the above service licenses, Wireless Operating licenses are also required to be obtained for use of frequency, for rendering such services. Further, there is requirement of clearance from Department of Space (DoS) for use of a satellite.

(c)  to  (g) M/s  Starlink  Satellite  Communications  Private  Limited  has  applied  for experimental/trial license in DoT. The company has also informed that it intends to apply for all the applicable licenses and authorizations required for commercial launch in India. DoT directed  the  company  to  refrain  from  booking  of  satellite  based  internet  services  before obtaining requisite license(s). Thereafter, the company has informed that they have stopped pre-selling/ booking of satellite based services in India.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2853 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Non-Profitable Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru, Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2853 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## NON - PROFITABLE RAILWAY STATIONS

2853.  SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU: SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to close down the railway stations which are non-viable and non-profitable;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any stations have already been identified to be closed down, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the stations being closed in the State of Andhra Pradesh along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) & (b): As per extant guidelines, if a halt station is considered un-remunerative or not  justified  on  passenger  amenity  grounds,  it  could  be  closed  by  Railway Administration. Zonal Railways are empowered to close a halt station (Halt Grade 1 to 3), where average number of passengers is less than 25 per day (out ward) on branch lines and less than 50 per day (out ward) on main lines. Identification and closure of un-remunerative halt stations is a continuous and ongoing process.

- (c) & (d) : At present, no such halt stations have been identified to be closed down. However,  in  the  year  2020-21,  7  halt  stations  have  been  closed  in  the  state  of Andhra Pradesh owing to un-remunerative and poor patronage.

*****