opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 140 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Renovating of Train Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 140 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## RENOVATING OF TRAIN COACHES

†140.  SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways is improving / renovating train coaches for the convenience of the passengers at present;
- (b) if  so,  the  time  frame  fixed  for  the  said  purpose  and  the  salient features of the plans of the Railways in this regard; and
- (c) the time by which the Ministry proposes to replace the old and low  standard  beds  (couches)  of  Ranchi-New  Delhi  Rajdhani Express?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) & (b): Improvement in coaches has been a thrust area for Indian
- Railways (IR). In this regard, following steps have been taken:-
- (i) 02  Vande  Bharat  trains  with  ultra  modern  features  like  quick acceleration, on board infotainment and Global Positioning System  (GPS)  based  passenger  information  system,  automatic sliding doors, retractable footsteps and Zero discharge vacuum bio  toilets  have  been  running  between  New  Delhi  -  Varanasi  & New Delhi- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra since 2019.

- (ii) Additionally  03  new  Vande-Bharat  ver-2  trains  with  enhanced safety features, better ride index and passenger amenities have been introduced in regular service.
- (iii) 35  LHB  Vistadome  coaches,  which  provide  panoramic  view, through wider body side windows as well as through transparent sections in the roof have been introduced on various sections of IR. At present, around 82 Vistadome coaches of different gauges are available over various sections of IR.
- (iv) Under Project Swarn, rakes of Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains have been upgraded across multiple dimensions, which include coach interiors, toilets, onboard cleanliness, staff behaviour, linen, etc.
- (v) Train rakes of more than 520 Mail / Express train rakes have also been upgraded under Project Utkrisht improving with improvement in Coach Interiors, Toilets etc.
- (vi) With a view to provide safer and more comfortable journey to the travelling passengers, it has inter-alia been decided to proliferate  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  coaches  and  replace trains  operating with conventional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) type coaches by LHB coaches, in a phased manner. Production Units  of  IR  have  stopped  the  manufacturing  of  old  design  ICF type coaches from 2018-19 onwards.

(c): Replacement of coaches is planned on age-cum-condition basis. All coaches are given periodic maintenance including attention over passenger amenities items as per stipulated norms.

There are two Rajdhani Express trains running between Ranchi and New Delhi with LHB coaches, which have a codal life of 35 years. Most of the coaches presently running in these trains have age less than 15 years.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Coal Crisis
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Manne Srinivas Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 139 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/12/2022

## Coal Crisis

## 139. SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India's coal mines use is only two-thirds of the capacity, with some large ones using  only  1%,  as  per  an  analysis  by  a  firm  which  tracks  utilisation  of  the  fuel  source internationally and if so, the details including present status thereof;
- (b) whether 99 of India's coal mine projects, under development which were expected to yield 427 million tonnes per annum are unnecessary and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether India experienced severe coal crisis, with more than 100 of 285 thermal power plants witnessed fall in coal stocks below the critical mark of 25% of the total stock and below 10%  in  over  50  plants  which  led  to  power  shortages  in  several  States  including  Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a):   Considering last 5 years average, CIL's overall system capacity utilization is near about 80%. The capacity utilization of SCCL has been near about 82-90% and capacity utilization of NLCIL has been near about 85% - 100%.
- (b):  No Sir. All such mines are being developed to ensure energy security of the country.
- (c) & (d): The coal stock available at coal based thermal power plants in the country monitored in the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on daily basis was about 25.6 Million Tonnes (MT) as on 31.03.2022, which was about 38% of the normative coal stock requirement. The coal stock increased to 26.1  MT (51% of normative requirement) as on 30.09.2022 and further increased to 30.9 MT, which is about 54% of normative requirement as on 30.11.2022. As on 30.11.2022, out of total 180 power plans monitored on daily basis in CEA, 68 power plants were having coal stock of less than 25% and 27 power plants were having coal stock of less than 10% of normative requirement.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 138 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Aadhaar Centres
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sanjay Seth

## GOVERNNT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 138

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## AADHAAR CENTRES

## 138.   SHRI SANJAY SETH:

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

(a) the number of Aadhaar Card Centres being operated in Jharkhand State;

(b) the efforts being made to link Aadhaar card with Voter ID along with the details of the number of Voter ID Cards linked with Aadhaar in Jharkhand State, District-wise; and

(c)  whether  any  target  has  been  set  for  linking  Voter  ID  Card  with  Aadhaar  Card  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): About 2,700 Aadhaar centres were operational in the State of Jharkhand, as on 30.11.2022. In addition,  the  facility  of  enrolment  of  children  below  the  age  of  five  years  and  update  of  mobile number  is  also  available  in  the  State  through  around  560  handheld  tablets,  most  of  which  are operated by postmen or hospital staff.

(b) and (c): The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has conveyed to the Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department) and the Election Commission of India,  authorisation of  the  Central  Government  for  notifying  under  rule  5  of  the  Aadhaar  Authentication  for  Good Governance  (Social  Welfare,  Innovation,  Knowledge)  Rules,  2020,  performance  of  Aadhaar authentication, on a voluntary basis, of voters in the National Voters' Service Portal / Voter Portal / Voter Helpline App / ERONET (the centralised software for electoral roll management and form processing).  The  details  of  authentication  carried  out  pursuant  to  such  authorisation  are  not maintained with the Ministry or the Unique Identification Authority of India.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: 4G Mobile Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 136 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## 4G MOBILE SERVICES

## 136. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  current  update  on  the  plan  to  provide  4G  mobile  services  in  7,287 uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts along with the time by which the above plan would be made operational including current progress thereof;
- (b) the details of the list of villages in Koraput and Rayagada District in Odisha where mobile connectivity has already been provided under the above plan, block-wise; and
- (c) the  timeline  of  completion  in  rest  of  the  villages  of  Koraput  and  Rayagada  districts  of Odisha where 4G mobile connectivity would be provided, block-wise?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

## ANSWER (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

- (a) USOF funded project to provide 4G based mobile services in the 7,287 uncovered villages of  44  Aspirational  Districts  across  five  States  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand, Maharashtra & Odisha has been approved by the Union Cabinet. The timeline of completion of this project is 18 months from the date of signing of the agreement (i.e. 20th May 2022) with implementing agency .Details of  the scheme is given below:

| Sl. No.   | State          |   No. of Aspirational districts | No. of villages to be covered   |
|-----------|----------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh |                               3 | 1218                            |
| 2         | Chhattisgarh   |                               8 | 699                             |
| 3         | Jharkhand      |                              19 | 827                             |
| 4         | Maharashtra    |                               4 | 610                             |
| 5         | Odisha         |                              10 | 3933                            |
| Total     | Total          |                              44 | 7,287                           |

(b) &(c) The Survey and infrastructure work in the villages of Koraput (520 Villages) and Rayagada (962 Villages) District in Odisha is in progress with the timeline of the completion of scheme in 18 months.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 134 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Coal Transportation
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Bellana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.134

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## Coal Transportation

## 134. SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

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

- (a) the details of coal transported through railways in the past five years;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  diversify coal transportation through other modes of transport;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  monitors  the  environmental  impact  of  coal transportation through rake wagons;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to reduce the environmental impact of coal transportation through rake wagons?

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

(a): Details of coal transported through railways in the past five years are given below:-

| YEAR    |   Coal Loading (in Million Tonnes) |
|---------|------------------------------------|
| 2017-18 |                             555.2  |
| 2018-19 |                             605.84 |
| 2019-20 |                             586.87 |
| 2020-21 |                             541.82 |
| 2021-22 |                             652.8  |

(b) & (c): Coal companies dispatch coal as per Freight on Board (FOB) basis and consumers have the liberty to lift coal in various modes such as rail, road and captive modes (Merry Go Round (MGR), Belt, Rope etc) as per their choice. Rail Sea Route (RSR) is also being used by some consumers for coal transportation.  It was decided that power plants located within 20 km from pithead would construct elevated closed conveyor belt and the power plants located within 40 km from pithead would construct MGR.

(d)  to  (f): Railway  Board  has  issued  guidelines/directions  to  all  Zonal Railways in April 2018, for action to be taken with regard to handling of pollution intensive commodities at siding and goods sheds in accordance with the provisions of State Pollution Control Board. During coal transportation through rake wagons, pollution is mainly caused during  loading  of  coal  by  payloaders.  To  reduce  the  pollution  caused  by payloaders during loading of coal, Coal India Limited (CIL) has taken steps to upgrade the coal loading to mechanized coal  loading system under 'First Mile Connectivity' projects.

Ministry of Railways informed that additional free time of one hour per rake has been permitted for covering open wagons with tarpaulins during loading of loose / bulk commodity (e.g Coal & Coke etc, for which packing condition P2(a) is prescribed in the Goods Tariff) at all kinds of freight terminals.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 131 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Geeta Kora, Locket Chatterjee, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Navneet Ravi Rana, Riti Pathak, Dileshwar Kamait, Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Ajay Kumar Mandal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 131 ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## Coal Mines

## †131. SHRIMATI GEETA KORA:

MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU:

SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA:

SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state that:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to give final shape to the plan for closing down the coal mines;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the State-wise details of the coal mines closed during the last three years;
- (d) whether the Government has taken steps for ensuring the continuation of the livelihood of the persons  dependent  directly  or  indirectly  on  the  mines  closed  due  to  exhaustion  of  stocks, inappropriate mining conditions and safety related issues etc.; and (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): After 27.08.2009, coal mines are closed as per approved Mine Closure Plan and mines discontinued/abandoned/closed before 27.08.2009 will be closed as per the provisions contained in the "Guidelines for management of mines discontinued/abandoned/closed before the year 2009" issued by the Government on 28.10.2022.
- (c): As per the existing Mine closure guidelines, after compliance of all mine closure activities in accordance with the approved mining plan, the mine owner has to obtain a mine closure certificate from Coal Controller. During the last three years, no mine of Coal India Ltd,  Singareni Colliery

Company Ltd and NLC India Ltd has been closed as per the existing mine closure guidelines issued by Ministry of Coal.

(d)  &  (e): All  the  mine  closure  activities  are  undertaken  by  the  project  proponent  as  per  the approved mining plan and guidelines issued on 28.10.2022. For implementation of mine closure activities, dedicated amount as mentioned in the guidelines is deposited in the escrow fund for the whole life the mine. As per the existing guidelines, Entrepreneurship development (vocational/ skill development) Training is provided to affected people for sustainable income.

During the closure of a mine, the direct employees of coal companies are transferred to nearby coal mines for continuation of their livelihood. Since the mining activities continue at the newly opened mine in the adjacent areas of the closed mine, the indirect employees are also gainfully deployed in the adjacent mines for continuation of their livelihood.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 128 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: GST on Handloom Products
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 128 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## GST ON HANDLOOM PRODUCTS

## 128. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has received any representation requesting for reduction of GST on Handloom Products and support the handloom industry in the States;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps on those representations/requests of States; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken in this regard?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

- (a) to (d): Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been introduced by Government of India to rationalize multiple  taxes  on  goods  &  services  and  bring  uniformity  and  transparency  in  the  taxation  system. Accordingly, it is applicable to the Textile sector, including handlooms.

Government  has  from  time  to  time,  received  representations  regarding  reduction/waiving  off  of  GST  on Handloom products.

GST rates are prescribed on the recommendation of GST Council, which consists of Union Finance Minister and  Ministers  nominated  by  representative  State  Governments.  In  its  45 th meeting,  GST  Council  made  a recommendation for revising GST rates on textile products and related services from 5% to 12% to correct inverted duty structure in these goods and services.

Subsequently,  GST  Council  in  its  46 th meeting  decided  to  defer  the  increase  in  GST  rate  on  textile  and textiles  related  job  work  services.  Consequently,  there  has  been  no  change  in  GST  rate  on  garments  and fabrics.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Trains run under PPP Model
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari, Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 127 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

TRAINS RUN UNDER PPP MODEL

127. SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government proposes to start operating more number of passenger trains through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode;
- (b) if so, the details of identified railway-routes, progress made so far and new services likely to be provided to these trains;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that running of passenger trains through PPP mode would affect the existing railway services and its frequency;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  the  revenue  expected  to  be  generated  by  the  Railways  by  running  trains through PPP mode; and
- (f)  the  present  status  and  the  proposals  received  so  far  regarding  Bharat Gaurav trains?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)   At present, no proposal for operation of regular passenger train services
- through PPP mode is under consideration.
- (b) to (e) Do not arise.
- (f) 15 service providers have registered on Bharat Gaurav Trains Portal. Out of these, 04 service providers have been allotted rakes by Indian Railways as per their  demand.  During  Financial  Year  2022-23  (upto  30.11.2022),  total  26 commercial trips have been operated under the Bharat Gaurav Trains scheme.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 126 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Beneficiaries of Digital Projects
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sunil Baburao Mendhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 126

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 07.12.2022

## BENEFICIARIES OF DIGITAL PROJECTS

## 126.     SHRI SUNIL BABURAO MENDHE:

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

- (a) the number of beneficiaries from Maharashtra under the scheme for 'Skill Development in ESDM for Digital India' for the last three years;
- (b) the  total  amount  of  funds  allocated,  disbursed  and  utilized  in  this  regard  for Maharashtra; and
- (c) the  number  of  beneficiaries  from  Maharashtra  under  the  Information  Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) projects for the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b):    The  Scheme  of  'Skill  Development  in  ESDM  for  Digital  India'  is  being implemented  through  Key  Implementing  Agencies  (KIA)  namely  Electronics  Sector  Skill Council of India, Telecom Sector Skill Council, National Institute of Electronics & IT and Healthcare  Sector  Skill  Council.  Under  the  scheme,  a  total  of  5,816  candidates  have  been enrolled, out of which 4,451 candidates have been trained and 2,995  candidates have been certified as on 30.11.2022, in the state of Maharashtra in last three years and a total of Rs. 6.42 Crore has been reimbursed for the successfully certified candidates.

(c): The ISEA Project Phase II is being implemented by 52 academic institutions, technical universities and selected centres of NIELIT & C-DAC. Under the project, as on 30.11.2022, 1,366  candidates  have  been  trained/under-going  training  in  various  courses  in  the  area  of Information  Security  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra  in  last  three  years.  In  addition,  eight awareness  workshops  on  Information  Security have been organized in the State of Maharashtra covering 1,028 participants from Schools, Colleges, Government personnel, etc.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 125 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Complimentary Berth in Luxury Train
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 125

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## COMPLIMENTARY BERTH IN LUXURY TRAIN

## 125.       SHRI A.K.P.CHINRAJ:

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

- (a) the  details  of  the  list  of  International  Media  Persons  and  other private persons who availed complimentary berth in luxury trains from  2011  to  till  date  on  the  recommendation  of  Ministry  of Railways and IRCTC;
- (b) whether  no  data  on  persons  other  than  railway  officials  who travelled  on  complimentary  berth  in  luxury  trains  is  maintained by Railways, even though Standing Committee on Railways has recommended to strictly follow the guidelines;
- (c)
- if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the details of the tariff structure that railway officials are guided by for complimentary travel in luxury trains ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)   Luxury tourist trains are operated by State Tourism Development Corporations  and  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism  Corporation Limited (IRCTC). Traveling details of international media persons and other  private  persons  who  availed  complimentary  travel  in  luxury
- trains are not maintained by Indian Railways.
- (b)    Ministry  of  Railways  had  already  replied  Parliamentary  Standing Committee  on  Railways  that  there  are  well  laid  down  guidelines  for issuing  authority  for  complementary  travel  for  inspection  of  luxury trains and the same are scrupulously followed.
- (c)    Does not arise.

[

- (d)   As per Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986, Railway officials are allowed to travel over Indian Railways on official duty. On the similar lines,  these  officials  are  allowed  to  travel  in  these  tourist  trains  on official duty .

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