opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3222 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Delay in Defence Pilot Projects
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth, Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar, Shri Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3222

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  AUGUST, 2025

## DELAY IN DEFENCE PILOT PROJECTS

3222. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of delayed defence pilot projects along with the total cost escalation due to such delays;
- (b)  the  details  of  defence  pilot  projects  which  have  failed  to  meet  their  objectives  despite substantial expenditure;
- (c) whether the Government has identified/fixed accountability on anyone for such delays and conducted any independent audit in this regard  during the last five  years, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether it is a fact that several pilot projects in the defence sector were sanctioned without adequate strategic justification and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to prevent further wastage of public funds on unproductive/non-priority defence projects;
- (e) whether any foreign/private contractors were involved in these delayed defence projects, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  complaints/representations  from  the  Armed Forces regarding the delays in critical defence pilot projects and if so, the details thereof?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

- (a) DRDO does not undertake  any  project  under  the  category  of  Pilot  Project.  DRDO undertakes  Mission  Mode  (MM)  Projects  to  deliver  State-of-the-Art  weapons  systems  and platform to Indian Armed Forces.
- (b) to (f)    Does not arise in view of (a) above.

*****

(SHRI SANJAY SETH)
Lok Sabha Question No. 3221 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Attacks on Hindus Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Anil Yeshwant Desai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3221

ANSWERED ON - 08/08/2025

ATTACKS ON HINDUS ABROAD

3221.  SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken note of instances of attack on Hindus, vandalization of  their temples etc, and discrimination in some countries like UK, Canada, USA and Scotland, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether a motion against such Hindu phobic attempts is under consideration in Scottish Parliament and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to resist such discrimination in these and other co untri es against Hindu community?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  Cases of attack on Hindus and vandalization of Hindu temples have been noted in UK, Canada and USA. However, no such case has come to notice specifically in Scotland (UK). Since last year, 05 cases of vandalization of Hindu temples in USA and 04 cases in Canada, have taken place.

(b) No motion against Hinduphobia is currently under consideration in Scottish Parliament.

(c) Whenever such cases come to our notice, the matter is promptly taken up with the host government, with a view to ensure safety and security of concerned organization and individual as well as to take necessary action for bringing perpetrators of such acts to justice. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 280 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Standard Financial Qualification Norms
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. : 280

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  7th August 2025 )

## STANDARD FINANCIAL QUALIFICATION NORMS

## 280.    SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  due  process  and  standard  financial  qualification  norms  were  followed  while awarding airport operation contracts to private companies from 2019 till date and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there was any deviation from the usual eligibility criteria, particularly relating to experience in airport operations and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the reasons for relaxing such norms and the manner in which the same compares with the norms applied to public sector as well as other private operators such as Airports Authority of India (AAI), Fairfax, GMR and GVK?

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION      (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

******

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  280*  FOR  REPLY  ON  07.08.2025 REGARDING  "STANDARD  FINANCIAL  QUALIFICATION  NORMS" ASKED BY SHRI  CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY;; ; (a) to  (c):  In 2018,  Government  of  India  constituted  the  Empowered  Group  of  Secretaries (EGoS)  under  the  Chairmanship  of  CEO,  NITI  Aayog,  to  take  forward  the bidding  process  of  six  airports  of  Airports  Authority  of  India  (AAI)  namely Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru for  their  Operations,  Management  and  Development  under  Public  Private Partnership  (PPP).  EGoS  finalized  the  contours  of  the  bidding  process  which inter-alia included various provisions viz. no prior airport experience etc. These provisions ensured that there are more bidders ensuring more competition. As a result, AAI received a total of 32 bids from 10 entities for its PPP proposal of six  airports  and  thereafter  following  due  procedure,  these  six  airports  were leased to the highest bidder.; ; There was no deviation in the bidding process from the contours as was decided by EGoS.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 274 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Upgradation of Key SHs into NHs
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received multiple representations requesting for upgradation of key State Highways (SHs)Srikalahasti-Tada,  Gudur-Rapuru-Rajampeta  and  Uthukkottai-Tada to National Highways (NHs) in the Tirupati Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (b) if so, the current status of these proposals including feasibility studies conducted, approvals granted and budgetary allocations made thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any action on the demands for construction of flyovers at Karakambadi on NH-716 and SHAR Circle (NH-16, Sullurupeta), if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  whether  any  timeline  is  now  proposed  to  be  fixed  for  its implementation, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

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

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 274 ANSWERED ON 7 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## UPGRADATION OF KEY SHS INTO NHS

*274.  SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 274 ANSWERED ON 7 TH  AUGUST, 2025 ASKED BY SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY

REGARDING   UPGRADATION OF KEY SHS INTO NHS: (a)  &  (b)  Government    in  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and Highways receives proposals from various State Governments/UTs from  time  to  time  including  from  the  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh  for declaration  /  up-gradation  of  State  roads  as  National  Highways (NHs). Government considers declaration of some of the State roads as NHs based on the requirements of connectivity, inter-se priority, traffic levels and synergy with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP). (c)  &  (d)  A  Light  Vehicular  Underpass  (LVUP)  at  Km  118.057  near Karakambadi  Railway  Level  Crossing  and  a  Vehicular  Underpass (VUP)  at  Km  118.885  near  Kattaputtalamma  Temple  have  been provisioned under the project of four-laning of  the Chinnaorampadu to Renigunta section of NH-716. The project has been awarded, and the Concession Agreement was signed on 28.01.2025. The Concessionaire  is  currently  in  the  process  of  achieving  financial closure,  which  forms  part  of  the  Conditions  Precedent  prior  to commencement  of  the  project.  The  project  is  being  implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), with a maintenance period of 15 years, and is scheduled for completion within two years from the date of commencement.

Regarding  SHAR  Circle  (NH-16,  Sullurpeta),  a  rotary  junction  at km.81.050  and  a  pedestrian  underpass  at  km.80.970  have  already been developed in accordance with the provisions of the Concession  Agreement  for  the  four-laning  of  the  Tada  to  Nellore section of NH-16.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 264 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: EMRS in Kandhamal District of Odisha
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO- * 264

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 07/08/2025

## EMRS IN KANDHAMAL DISTRICT OF ODISHA

* 264. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken significant steps to expand Ekalavya Model Residential Schools  (EMRSs)  across  tribal  districts  including  Kandhamal  in  Odisha  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) the present status of EMRSs in Kandhamal district including the number of functional schools and those under various stages of development;
- (c) whether the Government is considering sanctioning new EMRSs in tribal-dominated blocks such  as  Khajuripada  and  Chakapad  in  Kandhamal  which  are  currently  not  covered  under  the scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, whether the Government would consider their inclusion in the next phase?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SH. JUAL ORAM)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.* 264  FOR  07/08/2025  RAISED  BY  SHRI  SUKANTA  KUMAR  PANIGRAHI REGARDING "EMRS IN KANDHAMAL DISTRICT OF ODISHA".

(a) Yes, in the Union Budget of 2018-19, the Government of India announced the establishment of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in every block with more than 50% Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, based on Census 2011 data. The EMRS scheme, originally launched in 1997-98, aims to provide quality education from Class 6 to 12 to ST students in remote areas, enabling them to access better educational opportunities and bridge the gap with the general population.

In  addition  to  the  288  EMRSs  sanctioned  under  Article  275(1)  of  the  Constitution,  440  more schools have been proposed across the country, bringing the total number of approved EMRSs to 728.

(b) In Kandhamal District, out of 12 blocks, a total of 10 EMRSs have been sanctioned.  2 EMRSs are functional. Construction of buildings has been completed for 2 EMRSs, work is in progress at 5 locations, and 3 locations are currently at the pre-construction stage.

(c) and (d) Though the twin criteria is to be satisfied for approval of EMRS Schools in a block, no new  Eklavya  Model  Residential  Schools  (EMRSs)  are  under  consideration,  apart  from  those already approved by the Union Cabinet in 2018-19 and earlier EMRSs sanctioned under Article 275(1) of the  Constitution,  as  the  Ministry  is  currently  focusing  on  the  already  approved  728 EMRSs only.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3219 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Krishi Udan Scheme for Amritsar
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3219

(To be answered on the 7 th  August 2025)

## KRISHI UDAN SCHEME FOR AMRITSAR

## 3219. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the reasons for not actively implementing the Krishi Udaan scheme in
- Amritsar despite its strategic border location/agricultural output;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to introduce special incentives or air freight subsidies for exporters in the region to boost the local economy and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is true that this initiative is aimed to make Amritsar an agriexport hub to enhance farmers' income, promote organic produce and unlock the full potential of Punjab's agro-economy; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the formulation of specific plan in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (d) The Krishi Udan is a convergence scheme of various intiatives by eight Ministries/Departments namely Ministry of Civil Aviation, Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Development of North-Eastern. The purpose of the Scheme is to ensure seamless, cost effective, time-bound air transportation and associated logistics for all Agri-produce including horticultural produce, fishery, livestock, and processed products originating especially from Northeast, hilly and tribal regions of the country, so that it improves their value realisation.

In  order  to  facilitate  and  incentivise  movement  of  agri-produce  by  air transportation, waiver of Landing charges, Parking charges are provided for Indian  freighters  and  P2C  (Passenger-to-Cargo)  Aircraft  by  Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Ministry of Defence at selected airports under

Krishi Udan Scheme. In addition, Route Navigation Facility Charges (RNFC) and Terminal Navigational Landing Charges (TNLC) are waived off at the selected AAI airports. The Scheme covers 58 airports in the country, primarily focusing on 25 airports in North Eastern,Hilly and Tribal region besides 33 airports in other regions/areas. Amritsar Airport in Punjab is included under the Scheme.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Development of Cargo Airports in Madhya Pradesh
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3217

(To be answered on the 7 th  August 2025)

## DEVELOPMENT OF CARGO AIRPORTS IN MADHYA PRADESH

## 3217. SHRI MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to develop cargo airports or air cargo terminals in Madhya Pradesh, especially in Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha
- Constituency and if so, the details of study conducted for the purpose thereof; (b)  whether Dewas-Shajapur region has been considered for cargo air connectivity due to its industrial, agri-processing and pharmaceutical sectors and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, whether the Government is willing to assess the feasibility of setting up a cargo air terminal or upgrading an airstrip in Dewas-Shajapur belt under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or PM Gati Shakti framework and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the measures being taken by the Government to strengthen air logistics infrastructure in tier-2 industrial corridors like those in central Madhya Pradesh, especially in Dewas-Shajapur region?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) to (c) Presently, there are four Airports with air cargo facility in the State of Madhya Pradesh viz. Indore (dedicated cargo facility), Bhopal (dedicated cargo facility), Gwalior (through passenger terminal) & Jabalpur (through passenger terminal) Airports.

There  is  no  proposal  to  set  up  a  cargo  airport  in  Dewas-Shajapur Constituency of Madhya Pradesh, as existing cargo operations at Bhopal and Indore cater to the Dewas-Shajapur region.

- (d)  The  Government is enhancing air logistics infrastructure in Tier-2 industrial corridors by expanding dedicated cargo terminals and utilizing passenger terminals at smaller airports. To support the handling of high-value

and perishable goods, cold storage and temperature-controlled systems are being implemented. Measures such as reimbursement of Customs Cost Recovery  Charges  (CCRC)  at  Tier-II/III  airports  of  AAI/AAICLAS Terminals are also provided to reduce operational costs of the airports/ cargo terminals.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3216 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Disposal of Ash by Power Plants
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Smt. Kamlesh Jangde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3216 ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025

## DISPOSAL OF ASH BY POWER PLANTS

†3216. SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of power plants being operated by BALCO of Vedanta Group (Bharat Aluminium Company Limited) in Korba district of Chhattisgarh;
- (b) whether any arrangements have been made for disposal of ash generated from the coal used in these power plants;
- (c) if so, the location of the places where the ash is being dumped;
- (d) the total quantity of ash generated since the year 2024-25 till date; and
- (e) the details of the land acquired for construction of ash dam?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a) :   M/s  Bharat  Aluminium  Company  Limited  is  currently  operating  two captive power plants of capacity 540 MW (4x135 MW) and capacity 1200 MW (4x300 MW) in Korba district of Chhattisgarh.

(b) :   Total 03 Nos. silo of 1000 MT capacity each for 540 MW power plant and 05 Nos. silo of 1,000 MT capacity each for 1,200 MW thermal power plants have been established to store fly ash in dry form and supply for various utilization purposes including mine void/low lying area filling. In addition, facility of Ash Dyke at Village-Parsabhatha, Tehsil & District-Korba has been created.

- (c) :   As informed by Govt. of Chhattisgarh, ash is being dumped at following places :
1. Mine void filling at Manikpur Open Cast Coal Mine, SECL, Korba Area, Distict-Korba.
2. Mine quarry filling at Village-Ghatadwari, Tehsil-Barpali, District -Korba.
- (d) :   The total quantity of ash generated from 540 MW power plant and 1200 MW  power  plant  during the period from 01.04.2024 to 30.06.2025 is 13,94,554.44 MT and 29,45,803.87 MT respectively.
- (e) :   Total ash dyke area is 151.75 hectare (functional ash dyke area is 93.46 hectare and exhausted and reclaimed ash dyke area is 58.28 hectare).

***************
Lok Sabha Question No. 3215 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Projects approved under PMKSY
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3215

ANSWERED ON 07 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## PROJECTS APPROVED UNDER PMKSY

## 3215.   SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of projects approved so far under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY); and
- (b) the total amount of funds spent thereunder so far?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

- (a) and (b): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing a Central Sector  Umbrella  scheme  'Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  SAMPADA  Yojana  (PMKSY)'.    As  on 30.06.2025,  under  the  various  component  schemes  of  PMKSY,  1601  projects  have  been approved and Grant-in-aid of Rs. 6411.61 Crores has been disbursed/released to these projects.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3213 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Expansion of Runway at Kolhapur Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Shahu Shahaji Chhatrapati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3213

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  7th August 2025 )

## EXPANSION OF RUNWAY AT KOLHAPUR AIRPORT

3213.    SHRI SHAHU SHAHAJI CHHATRAPATI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  expand  the  runway  at Kolhapur Airport and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the time by which the Government would start direct flights from Kolhapur to Delhi in view of passenger demand therefrom?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL  AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a): For extension of runway to 2300 meter at Kolhapur Airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has projected a land requirement of 65.71  acres  to  the  State  Government  of  Maharashtra.  Out  of  the total land requirement, 22.12 acre land has been taken over by AAI. The  commencement  of  the  runway  extension  work  is  contingent upon the handing over of the remaining land by the State Government, free from all encumbrances, to AAI.

(b): With the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic  aviation  was  deregulated.  Airlines  are  free  to  induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service and operate subject to the compliance of Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDGs) issued by the Government and flight schedules  approved  by  the  Directorate  General  of  Civil Aviation (DGCA). Hence, it is upto the airline operators to introduce air services to / from any airport in the country depending on their operational & commercial viability.

- ******