opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 834 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Rahui Road Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.834 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## RAHUI ROAD RAILWAY STATION.

## †834. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a)  whether  Rahui  Road  railway  station  functioning  as  a  full-fledged railway  station  in  Nalanda  under  Danapur  Division  in  East  Central Railway is a very old railway station, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  residents  of  the  said  area  have  been  demanding  the status  of  a  railway  station  for  Rahui  Road  Halt  for  the  last  several years;
- (c) whether land has also been acquired from the  farmers there in this regard, if so, the facts thereof;
- (d)  whether on account of not having the status of a railway station, express trains do not stop there, due to which the residents of the said area are facing huge inconvenience;
- (e) if so, the time by which Rahui Road Halt is likely to be accorded the status of  a railway station; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.834 BY SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  07.02.2024  REGARDING  RAHUI ROAD RAILWAY STATION.

(a) to (f): Rahui Road is a Halt Grade(HG)-3 railway station. The land of farmers of the region has not been acquired for this purpose. This  halt  is  presently  being  served  by  05  pairs  of  passenger  special trains.  Besides,  stoppage  of  trains  is  an  ongoing  process  subject  to traffic justification, operational feasibility etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 833 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Upgradation of Regional Meteorological Centre
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: D. Ravikumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 833 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 7 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024

## UPGRADATION OF REGIONAL METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE

## 833.    SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the specific steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to upgrade the Regional Meteorological  Centre  in  Chennai  in  the  light  of  the  unprecedented  rain  fall  in  Tamil Nadu in December 2023 causing significant damages;
- (b) whether the Union Government plans to address the concerns raised by State Government of Tamil Nadu regarding the inability of the Regional Meteorological Centre to Predict red  alert  situations  in  advance,  leading  to  challenges  in  undertaking  timely  preparatory action by the State and if so, the details in this regard; and
- (c) the  details  of  timeline  and  specific  measures  the  Government  intends  to  implement  to ensure that the Regional Meteorological Centre is equipped to issue accurate and timely weather  forecasts,  specially  for  critical  situations  like  heavy  rainfall  and  potential disasters?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) Currently,  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  and  its  regional  meteorological centres  including  Chennai,  are  equipped  with  modern  observational  and  forecasting systems to issue heavy rainfall warnings and the possible impacts caused by those severe weather events.
- (b) The  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  had  experienced  two  major  extreme  rainfall  events  during December, 2023. The first case was observed during 3-5 December, 2023 and the second was on 17 December, 2023. Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai of IMD has  issued  Orange  and  Red  color-coded  warnings  in  advance  during  those  heavy  and extreme rainfall events respectively.
- (c) Modernization and upgradation of observational, forecasting and dissemination systems are  a  continuous  process  in  IMD.  However,  temporal  and  spatial  quantification  of localized extreme  rainfall  events  that  occur  during  short-time  intervals,  is still a challenge.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 832 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Testing Labs
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 832 ANSWERED ON 07/02/2024

## TESTING LABs

## 832. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

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

(a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strengthen  the  testing  labs  established  by  the organisations  under  the  control  of  Ministry  of  Commerce  and  Industry  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;

(b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  the  activities  of  the  Cashew  Export Promotion Council of India and if so, the details of action taken thereon;

(c) whether  the  Ministry  of  Commerce  and  Industry  received  the  recommendation  from FSSAI  for  giving  financial  assistance  to  strengthening  the  food  testing  labs  managed  by  the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India;

(d) if so, the details of action taken thereon;

(e) whether the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has examined the matter and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Ministry has given reply to the FSSAI and BIS in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

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

(a) The  testing  labs  established  by  the  organisations  under  the  control  of  Ministry  of Commerce  and  Industry  are  regularly  strengthened  depending  on  the  requirements  of  the importing  countries,  through  measures  including  up-gradation  of  infrastructure,  technology, methodologies of testing, and training of laboratory personnel to ensure that the testing facilities are in line with international standards.

Further,  the  Agricultural  &  Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA) provides financial assistance to its authorized laboratories for up-gradation and strengthening of laboratory infrastructure for export certification.

(b) Cashew  nuts  and  its  products  have  been  classified  as  'Scheduled  Products'  under  the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Act, 1986, vide notification of the Government of India dated 29.07.2022. APEDA is, therefore, working for the promotion and development of the exports of Cashew nuts and its products

(c) to (f) Department of Commerce's comments in this regard,  clarifying that the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India is no longer affiliated with the Department of Commerce, have been sent to FSSAI.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 831 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Schemes for Revival of Old Mills
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar, Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## SCHEMES FOR REVIVAL OF OLD MILLS

## 831. SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR: SHRI SANJAY JADHAV:

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

(a) whether the Government is implementing any schemes to revive many old mills with the aim of providing employment  to  the mill workers of the country including Parbhani Parliamentary Constituency;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) the other steps taken by the Government for the said unemployed workers;

(d) whether the Government is aware that Barshi Textile Mills in district Solapur along with several other  mills  in  Maharashtra  have  closed  since  2020  due  to  Covid,  resulting  in  many  mill  workers getting unemployed;

(e) whether the trade unions and area representatives have approached the Government several times to revive the said mills but still the mills could not be revived; and

(f)  if  so,  the  steps  taken  and  the  role  played  by  the  Government  to  restart  the  said  textile  mills and provide employment to the unemployed workers?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् ) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a) to (f): The production activities of all the NTC mills including Barshi Textile Mills in district Solapur  along  with  several  other  mills  in  Maharashtra  were  suspended  since  March,  2020  due  to nationwide  lockdown  declared  by  Government  of  India  and  respective  State  Governments  due  to COVID-19 pandemic. Normal operations were resumed in some of the NTC mills from January, 2021 but  could  not  be  continued  due  to  unavailability  of  working  capital  and  other  financial  constraints. Necessary action has been taken to settle wages and other dues of employees.

In  February,  2021,  a  new  Public  Sector  Enterprise  (PSE)  Policy  was  announced  for  Atmanirbhar Bharat,  which  lays  down  a  broad  roadmap  for  PSEs.  In  accordance  with  the  guidelines  for implementation  of  New  Public  Sector  Enterprises  (PSE)  policy  for  CPSEs  in  Non-Strategic  Sector issued by the Department of Expenditure (DPE), the issue of NTC has been referred to DPE for action plan and way forward.
Lok Sabha Question No. 830 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Rail Mitras
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 830 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## RAIL MITRAS

†830. SHRI SANJAY JADHAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  Rail  Mitras  appointed  on  unmanned  railway  crossings  in Maharashtra, district-wise;
- (b)  whether the Government has formulated any scheme for curbing accidents on railway crossings and providing security to Rail Mitras and pedestrians;
- (c) if so, the details of benefits being provided to Rail Mitras;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  appoint  them  on  permanent  basis  in place of contractual appointment;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f)  whether the Government has any data on the extent of effectiveness of the scheme  implemented  to  check  accidents  on  railway  crossings  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (g)  the  total  expenditure  incurred  by  the  Government  for  the  scheme,  Statewise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (g):    Rail  Mitra  were  provided  at  unmanned  level  crossing  gates  for counseling  of  road  users  and  to  prevent  possibility  of  any  unsafe  incident  at Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs).  However, all UMLCs on Broad Gauge (BG) have been eliminated by Railways on 31.01.2019.  Deployment of Rail Mitra has since been discontinued from 2019 onwards.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 829 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Health Fair by SAIL
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Ashok Kumar Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 829 FOR ANSWER ON 07.02.2024

## HEALTH FAIR BY SAIL

829.   SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether funds are spent for organising health fairs by Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and other Public Sector undertakings under administrative control of the Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the date and place-wise details of the health fairs organised by Steel Authority of India and other public sector undertakings under their administrative control during the last three years till date; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  expenditure  incurred  by  Steel  Authority  of  India  and  other undertakings under the administrative control of the Ministry during the three years, date and location-wise?

## ANSWER

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL

(a)to(d): None of the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under Ministry of Steel including Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has organized any health fair during the last three years. However, communities living in the periphery of Plants/Units/Mines of CPSEs under Ministry of Steel avail the basic healthcare facilities through  Hospital,  Dispensaries, Mobile  Medical  Units,  etc. Further,  preventive healthcare is made available through regular health camps organized for the benefit of people living in various villages in the periphery of plants/mines.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 828 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Installation of Escalators/Lifts at Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 828 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## INSTALLATION OF ESCALATORS/LIFTS AT RAILWAY STATIONS

†828. DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  provide  relief  to disabled and elderly people by increasing the number of escalators/lifts at railway stations;
- (b) if  so,  the  number  of  escalators/lifts  installed  at  railway  stations during the last five years, State-wise including Gujarat; and
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to increase the number of escalators/lifts at railway stations?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (c): The installation of lifts and escalators at different stations is an ongoing  process  over  Indian  Railway  (IR).    Lifts  and  Escalators  are provided  depending  on  the  relative  priority  of  stations,  availability  of resources and techno-economic feasibility.

As  on  31st  December  2023,  639  escalators  and  809  lifts  have  been provided over IR in the last five years.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 825 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Health Hazards faced by Sericulture Farmers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: S. Muniswamy

## HEALTH HAZARDS FACED BY SERICULTURE FARMERS

## 825. SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

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

(a) the details of the health hazards being faced by the Sericulture farmers;

(b)  whether any skin allergy related issues are being brought to the notice of the farmers, if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  release  of  Carbon  Monoxide  during  the  rearing  process  has  been  found  a  cause  of allergies, respiratory problems for the silk growing farmers and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government has any plan to overcome the health hazards faced by sericulture farmers especially Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts of Karnataka and if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

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

(a) to (c): To avoid any specific  health  hazards,  sericulture  is  being  practiced  by  the  farmers  in accordance  with  recommended  package  of  practices  /  technologies  throughout  the  country.  Central Silk Board sensitizes sericulture farmers about techniques/ procedure to be followed/ practiced during disinfection  of  rearing  house,  bed  disinfection  and  silkworm  rearing  to  avoid  health  risks  through various  training  and  awareness  programmes.  These  advance  procedures  /  techniques  also  avoid releasing / accumulation of Carbon Monoxide gas during rearing process. No such complaint / report related to health hazards including skin allergy, respiratory problems among sericulture farmers have been received so far.

(d): Though,  there  are  no  specific  health  hazards  associated  /  noticed  with  sericulture  farmers including the area of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts of Karnataka, R & D institutes of Central Silk Board educate farmers about safety measures while performing  silkworm rearing and rearing house disinfection to avoid health risks.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 823 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Accessibility Guidelines for Persons with Disabilities
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey, Karti P. Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 823 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

823. SHRI RITESH PANDEY: SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has recently notified accessibility guidelines for railways infrastructures for persons with disabilities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the accessibility measures is likely to be dependent upon the footfall of individuals at the station;
- (d) if so, the reasons for such a decision;
- (e) whether the accessibility deadline under the new guidelines is also dependent upon the footfall at the station;
- (f) if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the details of accessibility measures that are being devised under these guidelines for people with invisible disabilities?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (g) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (g)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 823 BY SHRI RITESH PANDEY AND SHRI KARTI  P.  CHIDAMBARAM  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 07.02.2024  REGARDING  ACCESSIBILITY  GUIDELINES  FOR  PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

(a)  to  (g)  In  compliance  with  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  Act, 2016,  'Guidelines  on  accessibility  of  Indian  Railway  stations  and facilities  at  stations  for  differently  abled  persons  (Divyangjans)  and passengers with reduced mobility' was circulated and notified in the Gazette  of  India.  The  guidelines  include  provisions  of  Divyangjan related  facilities  such  as  entrance  ramps,  accessible  parking,  low height  ticket  counter/help  booths,  toilets,  drinking  water  booth,  subways/foot  over  bridges  with  ramps/lifts,  standard  signages  including Braille signages and tactile pathways for visual impairment etc. The  provision/upgradation  of  amenities  for  passengers  including  for Divyangjan  is  a  continuous  and  on-going  process  and  works  in  this regard are undertaken as per requirement, subject to inter-se priority and  availability  of  funds.  The  priority  for  provision/upgradation  of amenities  is  accorded  to  higher  category  of  station  over  lower category of station while sanctioning and executing the work.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 821 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Reduction in Scrap and Plastic Waste
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 821

FOR ANSWER ON 07.02.2024

## REDUCTION IN SCRAP AND PLASTIC WASTE

821. MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the scrap and plastic waste can be used in steel manufacturing, thereby reducing the amount of coal required in the process and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the amount of plastic waste that can be consumed by the steel industry annually and consequently the amount of carbon usage that will get reduced in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has set in place any standards for companies to use a certain amount of scrap and plastic waste in manufacturing each year; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL

(a)&(b): Potential exists for consumption of waste plastics by the Indian steel industry. Waste plastics can be used as replacement of coking coal (by up  to 1%) in coke making.  Waste  plastics  can  also  be  added  in  marginal  quantities  in  Electric  Arc Furnace (EAF) as replacement of pet coke.

(c)&(d):  As  per  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules  (PWM-2016)  and  subsequent amendment vide gazette notification G.S.R. 522(E) dated 06th July, 2022, issued by the MOEF&CC, only "End-of-Life Disposal" plastic is allowed for co-processing in the steel industry and other waste plastic which can be recycled has been mandated for recycling only. Presently, availability of "End-of-Life Disposal" waste plastic is a major constraint.

Under the aforesaid Plastic Waste Management Rules, the municipalities/ local bodies  are  responsible  for  the  creation  and  establishment  of  the  plastic  waste segregation,  collection,  storage,  transportation,  processing,  and  disposal  system either on their own or by engaging agencies or manufacturers.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 820 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Railway Concession for Senior Citizens
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: C. Lalrosanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 820 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## RAILWAY CONCESSION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

## 820. SHRI C. LALROSANGA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the Government  has  any  proposal to revive train concessions for senior citizens, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  these  railway  concessions  can  be  given  as  a  special case  to  senior  citizens  in  sleepers  and  3AC  Class,  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)
- the time by which it is likely to be given?

ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (c):  Indian  Railways  always  strives  to  provide  affordable services to all strata of the society and gave subsidy of ` 59,837 crore on passenger tickets in 2019-20. This amounts to concession of 53% on an average, to every person, travelling on Railways. This subsidy is  continuing  for  all  passengers.  Further,  concessions  beyond  this subsidy amount are continuing for many categories like 4 categories of  Persons with disabilities (Divyangjans), 11 categories of patients and 8 categories of students.

*****