opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1754 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Welfare of Tea Garden Workers
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Raju Bista

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1754 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  DECEMBER, 2021

## WELFARE OF TEA GARDEN WORKERS

## 1754.  SHRI RAJU BISTA:

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

- (a) the details of various schemes for the welfare of tea garden workers run by the Tea Board of India;
- (b) the details of funds sanctioned towards the welfare of tea garden workers of North Bengal region by the Tea Board of India in the last five years;
- (c) the details of the subsidies provided to the tea gardens of the North Bengal region through the Tea Board of India for the last five years; and
- (d) whether there is any delay in the release of the subsidy to the tea gardens of North Bengal and if so, the reasons therefor?

## 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): Tea Board has implemented certain welfare activities under Human Resource Development (HRD) component of the 'Tea Development and Promotion Scheme' during the Medium Term Framework period from 2017-18 to 2019-20 and extended till 2020-21, aimed at improving the health and hygiene of workers, education of wards of workers and imparting training to improve skills for growers/workers.

The 'Tea Development & Promotion Scheme' has been approved for implementation by Tea Board during the 15 th Finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 which has a component for the welfare of small Tea growers and their workers.

(b): Financial  assistance  of  Rs.9.04  crore  has  been  provided  by  the  Tea  Board  under  the  HRD component towards the welfare of tea garden workers and their wards/ dependents in North Bengal during the last five years and current year [2016-17 till 2021-22( up to Nov, 21)].

(c) & (d) : The Tea Board disburses subsidy  to the eligible tea stakeholders as per budget provisions. Financial  assistance  of    Rs.117.14  crore    has  been  provided  by  the  Tea  Board  under  the  'Tea Development and Promotion Scheme' to the tea gardens of North Bengal during the  last five years and current year [2016-17 till 2021-22( upto Nov, 21)].

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Hyperloop Technology
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## 1752. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to implement Hyperloop technology in India and if so, the details threof;
- (b) whether the NITI Aayog forms panel to study feasibility of Hyperloop technology in India and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has formed a high-level panel to explore the technological and commercial viability of the Virgin Hyperloop technology for ultrahigh speed travel in India and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether in view of the emerging transport technology and for gaining the first-mover advantage, it is essential to look into the technological and commercial viability of the Virgin Hyperloop technology and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has any other major programme for ultrahigh speed travel in India, and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & 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)  to  (e):  NITI  Aayog  has  constituted  a  committee  under  Dr.  V.  K.  Saraswat  to  study  the  new emergent hyperloop transportation technology and explore its technological maturity, financial and commercial viability, safety standards and regulation.

Two focused groups (sub-committees) have been formed. The first one to examine the technical feasibility and technological readiness (maturity level) of the hyperloop transportation system as a reliable,  safe  and  robust  alternative  for  future  transport  and  the  other  on  regulation  of  the technology  to  suggest  suitable  authority/ministry/agency  for  regulation,  control,  monitoring  and development of this new emergent technology have been formed.

The committee is engaging with all stakeholders for better understanding of all gamut of Hyperloop Technology.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1752

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGY
Lok Sabha Question No. 1751 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Disposal of Nuclear Waste
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1751

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## DISPOSAL OF NUCLEAR WASTE

## 1751.  SHRI D.M.KATHIR ANAND:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  chalked  out  safe  methods  of  disposal  of Nuclear  waste  and  recycling  program  in  Kalpakkam  Atomic  Power  Station and Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to effect safe mode of disposal of Nuclear waste; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect the life and nature of the people?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b)  Yes,  Sir.  India  follows  closed  cycle  for  nuclear  fuel.  The  spent  fuel  from Atomic Power  Stations is subjected to reprocessing. This helps in separation  of  useful  radio  isotopes  and  also  reduces  the  overall  nuclear waste  volume.   DAE  has  evolved  plans  for  short/long  term  storage  of radioactive wastes in safe and secure manner.  All the activities related to waste management are carried out in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
- (c) The  design  of  all  Nuclear  Power  Plants,  including  at  Kalpakkam  & Kudankulam is such that  the  radiation  dose  to  members  of  the  public  is well  within  the  limit  stipulated  by  AERB.  The  radiation  dose  at  nuclear power  plant  site  boundary  derived  from  monitoring  of  environmental matrices like, air, water, vegetation, crops, seafood, etc around the site is a negligible fraction of the stipulated limit and the natural background. Thus, there  is  no  adverse  impact  of  the  wastes  generated  during  operation  of nuclear power plants on the environment and the public. The environment (land, water, air) around the power plants are being regularly monitored.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1750 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Space Waste
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE LOK SABHA

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2021

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1750 SPACE WASTE

## 1750.  SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  amount  of  Space  waste  that  India produced on a yearly basis during the last three years;
- (b) whether India follows any procedure to extract the Space waste  from  the  orbit  of  the  earth  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) ISRO strives towards long term sustainability of the space environment  by  following  all  the  UN  guidelines  for  space debris  mitigation  as  well  as  the  guidelines  of  the  InterAgency  Space  Debris  Coordination  Committee  (IADC),  an international governmental forum for the worldwide coordination of activities related to the issues of man-made and  natural  debris  in  space.  The  guidelines  include  postmission disposal of satellites and rocket bodies efficiently
- so  that  the  space  debris  (space  waste)  produced  by  India does not stay in orbit. At the end of each mission, the space debris  or  the  satellite/rocket  at  the  end  of  its  operational life  is  de-orbited  quickly  with  a  series  of  carefully  planned maneuvers. (b) Yes Sir. Due to the post-mission disposal activities carried out by ISRO, the only space debris (space waste) left after any mission is the final-stage rocket-body which is deorbited to a lower orbit to aid natural orbital decay due to atmospheric  drag.  The  space  debris  later  re-enters  the Earth's atmosphere naturally within 20 years and burns due to  aerodynamic  heating  caused  by  air  friction.  ISRO  has also initiated research and development activities on active debris removal to extract space debris from space. (c) Does not arise.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1749 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Automatic Ticket Vending Machines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1749 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## AUTOMATIC TICKET VENDING MACHINES

1749.  SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has any concrete plans to further add Automatic  Ticket  Vending  Machines  (ATVMs)  to  the  existing  4077 ATVMs recorded as on February 2021;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has any plans to replace the 745 ATVMs which are non-functional due to completion of their codal life;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  explored  any  options  for  the introduction  of  non-conventional  ticket  booking  systems,  such  as mobile ticket vehicles, for the benefit of commuters in far flung hilly and  remote  areas  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.1749  BY  SHRI  LAVU  SRI  KRISHNA DEVARAYALU  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  08.12.2021 REGARDING AUTOMATIC TICKET VENDING MACHINES

(a)  &  (b):  No,  Sir.  At  present  there  is  no  such  plan.  For  dispensing unreserved  tickets,  following  additional  avenues  have  been  made available:

- i) Mobile Application ' UTS on Mobile'
2. ii) Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking Sewak (JTBS) Scheme.
3. iii) Yatri Ticket Sewa Kendra (YTSK) Scheme.
4. iv) Station Ticket Booking Agents(STBA) Scheme.

(c) & (d): Yes, Sir. Replacement of the non-functional ATVMs due to completion of codal life is an ongoing process. Zonal Railways have been empowered to sanction replacement work of such ATVMs up to ₹ 1 Crore and replacement  works  exceeding ₹ 1 Crore are sanctioned from Railway Board, Ministry of Railways.  At present, 9 works have been sanctioned for replacement of ATVMs.

(e):  Yes,  Sir.  To  provide  ticket  booking  facility  for  the  people  in different parts of the country, continuous efforts are being made by Indian Railways. Non-conventional ticket booking systems have also been explored, such as Mobile ticketing vehicles, ATVMs, etc.

Mobile  App  for  unreserved  ticketing  and  Online  Web  &  Mobile  App based  e-ticketing  of  reserved  tickets,  have  also  been  introduced. These measures are available to people in far flung hilly and remote areas.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1747 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Investment in Maharashtra
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1747. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 8 TH  DECEMBER, 2021.

## INVESTMENT IN MAHARASHTRA

## 1747.  SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज्य  एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) the total foreign investment in the State of Maharashtra in the year 2020;
- (b) the number of projects that have been setup in the State under the 'plug and play' model in that year; and
- (c) the details of investments and 'plug and play' models in the State over the last three years?

## 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): During the calendar year 2020, an amount of Rs. 1,32,992.79 Crore has been reported as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Equity inflow in the State of Maharashtra.
- (b) & (c): Government of India has developed industrial corridors under 'plug and play' model. As part of this, one project viz. Shendra Industrial Area (8.39 sq. Km) under Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) has been setup in 2019  in the State of Maharashtra. The total investment in Shendra Industrial Area in the last three years is Rs. 2,801 crore and the total Foreign Investment in the year 2020 is Rs.620 Crores.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1742 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Vacant Posts in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Upendra Singh Rawat, Chandeshwar Prasad

(a) to (f):

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1742

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## VACANT POSTS IN RAILWAYS

## 1742. SHRI UPENDRA SINGH RAWAT: SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has given any directions to the concerned departments to fill up the vacant posts due to the delay in filling up these posts across the country; State/UT/Zone-wise, particularly in Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Railways  to  provide  employment  to the unemployed and to prevent unemployment in the country;
- (c) whether there is any delay in filling up because of huge number of vacant posts for a long time and there is also delay in declaring the results of selected candidates;
- (d)
- if so, the details of deadline for filling up these vacant posts;
- (e) the  number  of  posts  reserved  for  SCs/  STs  out  of  these  vacant posts and the reasons for not filling up these posts; and
- (f) the details of  action  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase employment opportunities in the last three years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  1742  BY  SHRI  UPENDRA  SINGH  RAWAT  AND  SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2021 REGARDING VACANT POSTS IN RAILWAYS (a) to (f): No, Sir. Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process and the same is filled by placement of indents by Railways with recruitment agencies as per operational requirements. During the process, vacancies may arise and these are filled subsequently. The  process  of  examination  has  got  impacted  due  to  COVID-19  related restrictions and resultant lockdowns imposed by various states. Once the things got normalized after ebbing of first wave of COVID-19 in the country, Railway Recruitment Boards have started recruitment process for notified vacancies from 15.12.2020 in phases.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1741 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Regulating Consumption of Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1741

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## Regulating Consumption of Coal

## 1741. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- a. whether the Government has made special efforts to regulate the consumption and use of coal in the country;
- b. if so, the details thereof;
- c. whether the Government has taken any policy measures to explore new reserves of coal and to stave off any shortage of coal in maintaining status-quo in its consumption; and
- d. if so, the details thereof?

## Answer

## MINISTER OF  PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES

## (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

( a)&(b): Government is not regulating consumption of coal. Coal India Limited (CIL) has provided more coal during the current fiscal (up to November'21) in comparison  to  last  year  same  period.  During  April-November'21,  CIL  has dispatched coal to the tune of 421.11 Million tonnes in comparison to last year same  period  figures  of  357.13  achieving  a  growth  of  about  18%.  SCCL has   dispatched coal to the tune of 42.47 Million tonnes in comparison to last year same period figures of 26.52 achieving a growth of about 60%.

( c)&(d): Two sub schemes viz. Detailed exploration and Promotional (regional) exploration is continuing through Central sector scheme by Ministry of Coal for exploration of coal and lignite. Ministry of Coal has adopted new technology of 2D/ 3D coupled with drilling for exploration coal to cover larger area in short span of time. 1.9 Lakh meter in detailed drilling, 1.5 Lakh meter in promotional drilling  and  300  Line  Km  of  2D/3D  seismic  survey  has  been  targeted  in  the year 2021-22 by Coal Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDIL).

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1739 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Rajdhani Train via Thawe-Gopalganj
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1739 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## RAJDHANI TRAIN VIA THAWE-GOPALGANJ

1739. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Government  has  received  several  requests from Members of Parliament to run Rajdhani Express in the country via ThaweGopalganj to meet the need of many States of northern parts of India; (b) if so, the details thereof and the action initiated in this regard; (c) the details of present status of such requests; and (d)  the  reasons  for  not  considering  the  representations  despite  commercial

feasibility and considerable revenue earnings?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (d)  Representations  including  from  Dr.  Alok  Kumar  Suman,  Hon'ble Member of Parliament have been received for running of Rajdhani Express via Thawe, Gopalganj.  The  same  has  been  examined  but  not  found  feasible  for implementation at present. However, introduction/diversion of trains including Rajdhani  trains  is  an  ongoing  process  over  Indian  Railways  subject  to operational feasibility, commercial viability and availability of resources, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1738 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Objectionable Content
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Manne Srinivas Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1738

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 08.12.2021

## OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT

## 1738. SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  asked  Internet  firms  including  Google,  Youtube  etc.,  to remove objectionable pictures of women;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b):  Government is well  aware of the risk and danger posed by growing phenomena of misuse of various media platform and the user harms caused as a consequence. The Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 provides for a criminal penalty for publishing or transmitting obscene and sexually explicit content.

Further, keeping with the mission of having an Open,  Safe& Trusted and Accountable Internet, Government  has  published,    the  Information  Technology  (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 under the IT Act. These Rules  have appropriate provisions to deal  with  such  user  harms/  menace.  As  per  the  said  Rules,  the  intermediaries  are  required  to inform  their  users  not  to  host,  display,  upload,  modify,  publish,  transmit,  update  or  share  any information that is harmful, objectionable, and unlawful in any way.

As  per  provisions  of  rule  3(2)(b)  of  these  Rules,  the  intermediary  shall  remove  any  such objectionable content against women within twenty-four hours from the receipt of complaint made by the individual impacted person or any person on his behalf.

Intermediaries are also required to remove any unlawful content relatable to Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India or violative of any law for the time being in force as and when brought to their knowledge either through a court order or through a notice by appropriate government or its agency.

(c):   The Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) at Centre and States take appropriate legal action as per  provisions  of  law  and  when  appropriate,  request  intermediaries  including  social  media platforms like Google and Youtube to remove content violative of any law.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Atomic Minerals
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Santosh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1735

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## ATOMIC MINERALS

## 1735.   SHRI SANTOSH PANDEY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has found minerals for production of atomic energy in Magarkund-Koilari and Lohara-Dongargaon regions under Kawardha and Rajnandgaon district of Chattisgarh;
- (b) if so, the types of minerals that are likely to be found; and
- (c) whether the mining work has been commenced and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b)Yes, Sir. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent  unit  of  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DAE),  has  the  mandate  to identify, evaluate and augment mineral resources of uranium, thorium, niobium, tantalum,  beryllium,  lithium,  zirconium,  titanium  and  rare  earths  containing uranium and thorium, for  Nuclear  Power  Programme  of  the  country.    Surface geological  and  radiometric  investigations  by  AMD  in  Magarkund-Koilari  and Lohara-Dongargaon  regions  under  Kawardha  and  Rajnandgaon  districts  of Chhattisgarh have yielded encouraging results for uranium minerals and likely to be found in the area.
- (c) No, Sir.

*****