opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 739 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Developments in Earth Sciences
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Nayab Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 739

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 7 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024

## DEVELOPMENTS IN EARTH SCIENCES

## 739.  SHRI NAYAB SINGH:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  developments  made  in  the  field  of  Earth  Sciences,  especially  in  Atmospheric Observing Systems, Agrometeorological Advisory Service, etc. by the country since 2014;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to undertake deep ocean survey for deep sea mining and to promote blue economy; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) Significant developments have been made to improve the monitoring and forecasting of severe weather events through augmenting the observational network in the country that include the following since 2014:
-  39 Doppler weather radars network in 2023 against 15 in 2014.
-  1208 Automatic weather stations in 2023 against 675 in 2014.
-  1382 Automatic rain gauges in 2023 against 1350 in 2014.
-  35 High wind speed recorders in 2023 against 19 in 2014.
-  56 Upper air observation systems in 2023 against 43 in 2014.
-  23 Manual pilot balloon (PB) stations upgraded to global positioning system (GPS) based stations while there was no GPS based PB station in 2014.
-  138 Runway visual ranges in 2023 against 20 in the year 2014 at different airports across the country.
-  107 Digital current weather systemson frangible masts at airports across India in 2023 against 29 in 2014.
-  8  Heliport  weather  observing  systems  (HAWOS)  have  been  installed  at  various heliports across the country in 2023 while there was no HAWOS in 2014.
-  5896  District-wise  rainfall  monitoring  scheme  stations  in  2023  against  3955  in 2014.

Agro-meteorological advisory services (AAS) have been extended to the block level from district level since 2018. At present, AAS is provided to all the agriculturally important 700 districts and around 3100 blocks in the country.

- (b) Yes Sir.
- (c) The Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched the Deep Ocean Mission in 2021 to explore deep sea resources to support the blue economy and for sustainable harnessing of ocean resources. So far, an extensive survey and exploration work has been carried out in the Central  Indian  Ocean  Basin  for  polymetallic  nodules  (Nickel,  Cobalt,  Copper  and Manganese, etc.) and in Central and South West Indian ridges for hydrothermal sulphide (Copper, Zinc, etc.). This exploration has identified few promising locations of hydrothermal activity and sulphide mineralization zones in the area.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 737 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Setting up of Mahanadi Coal Limited Office
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Mahesh Sahoo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 737 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## Setting up of Mahanadi Coal Limited Office

## 737.  SHRI MAHESH SAHOO

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

(a) whether the Government consider for setting up Mahanadi Coal Limited office in Talcher as per the established norms and if so, the details thereof; and (b) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has many offices in Talcher (at Area level and Project level) for efficient operation. The details are as mentioned below: (i) At Area Level: Talcher Area, Jagannath Area, Lingaraj Area, Kaniha Area, Bharatpur Area, Hingula Area and Subhadra Area. (ii) At Project Level: Talcher colliery, Nandira Colliery, Jagannath open cast project (OCP), Ananta OCP, Bhubaneswari OCP, Lingaraj OCP, Kaniha OCP, Bharatpur OCP, Balaram OCP
- and Hingula OCP.
- (b) In view of reply to part (a), question does not arise.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: ABHA Card for BPL Families
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi, D. Ravikumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.735

TO BE ANSWERED ON 7TH FEBRUARY, 2024

## ABHA  CARD FOR BPL FAMILIES

735.  SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI: SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC

DISTRiBUTION wvfm  qm+, @rw Bit HTMqq fq7w  IHt be pleased  to state,

- (a) whether it is a fact  that the Government has made it compulsory for BPL families to have ABHA Card for availing the monthly ration, if so, the
- details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the details  of the  people who  have been denied ration due to  non-
- possession of the ABHA card,  State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the  Government has  made alternative  arrangements for people who have not yet enrolled for ABHA cards; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT  AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) to (d) :  The  coverage of  beneficiaries for  receiving  highly subsidized foodgrains through Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) has been de-linked from the erstwhile  poverty estimates  (Above Poverty Line/ Below Poverty Line) and has been linked  to the population estimates under two categories namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority  Households

(PHH) only.  As such,  no BPL cards are issued.

8888
Lok Sabha Question No. 734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Pan India Ration Card
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Malook Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRSI FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.734 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7TH FEBRUARY, 2024

## PAN INDIA RATION CARD

## t734.  SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND  PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION w+tm  qm+, vm Bh eT+gfqq fq7wr IHt be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any plan to implement 'Pan India Ration Card';
- (b) if so, the details  thereof  along with  the mode of operation of the said scheme; and
- (c) the roles proposed to  be played by the State Governments in this
- regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a)& (b): One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) plan ensures nation-wide seamless portability of  Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) foodgrains  distributed by the States/UTs.  Through  this technology driven  reform,  around 80  Crore NFSA beneficiaries, are empowered to lift  their  entitled  foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of  their  choice, anywhere in  the  country, by using their  same existing ration card with  biometric authentication on an electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) device. The  family back  home  can  also  lift  the  part  of  the  PMGKAY ration in the home State/UT on the same ration card. So far, this reform is enabled in all  36 States/UTs, across the country, covering almost 100%

PMGKAY population  (around 80 Crore).

To avail the facility  of  ration cards portability under ONORC, the migrant NFSA beneficiaries  (migrant workers/labourers) are not required to upgrade their ration cards or obtain a new ration card. The beneficiaries can seamlessly use their existing same ration card/ copy of same ration card/  or  by  simply quoting either their ration card  number  or  Aadhaar number to any ePoS enabled FPS dealer and lift  their part/full foodgrains as per the entitlement of  their  ration card. Hence, there is  no such plan formulated by the Government to implement a separate 'Pan India Ration Card'.

- (c): Targeted Public  Distribution  System (TPDS) is  operated under the joint  responsibility of  the  Central and the  State/Union Territory (UT) Governments. Central Government is  responsible for procurement, allocation  and transportation  of foodgrains up to the designated depots of the  Food Corporation of  India. The  operational responsibilities for allocation of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries/families,  issuance of ration cards to them, timely distribution of foodgrains  to eligible  beneficiaries  under TPDS and supervision  over and monitoring of functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs), etc. rest with the concerned State/UT Governments. Central Government regularly  monitors the foodgrain distribution  in States/UTs and issues suitable advisories from time to timeg

88++
Lok Sabha Question No. 733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Redevelopment of Stations in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P. Ravindhranath, P. Velusamy, S.R. Parthiban

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 733

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## REDEVELOPMENT OF STATIONS IN TAMIL NADU

733. SHRI P. RAVINDHRANATH:

SHRI VELUSAMY P.:

SHRI PARTHIBAN S.R.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has selected/identified railway stations located in the State of Tamil Nadu for major upgradation;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the proposed activities/works to be undertaken under upgradation work in the selected/identified railway stations;
- (d) whether more revenue is likely to be generated on account of the major upgradation works that are being undertaken; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## 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. 733 BY SHRI P. RAVINDHRANATH, SHRI VELUSAMY P. AND SHRI PARTHIBAN S.R. TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.02.2024 REGARDING REDEVELOPMENT OF STATIONS IN TAMIL NADU. (a)  to  (e):  Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  'Amrit  Bharat  Station scheme' for development of Stations on Indian Railways. So far, 1318 stations  including  77  Railway  stations  falling  in  the  state  of  Tamil Nadu have been identified for redevelopment under this scheme. This scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long term approach. It involves preparation of Master Plans and their  implementation  in  phases  to  improve  the  amenities  at  the stations like improvement  of station access, circulating areas, waiting  halls,  toilets,  lift/escalators  as  necessary,  cleanliness,  free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like 'One Station One Product',  better  passenger  information  systems,  executive  lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping etc. keeping in view the necessity at each such station. The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating the station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, sustainable and environment  friendly solutions, provision  of  ballast  less  tracks,  'Roof  Plazas'  as  per  necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centres at the station in the long term leading to increase in revenues. Modernisation/Upgradation  of  railway  stations  is  a  continuous  and ongoing process subject to volume of traffic, inter-se priority of works and availability of funds.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 732 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Synthetic Yarn/Mixed Fabric
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## SYNTHETIC YARN/MIXED FABRIC

## 732. SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

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

(a) whether it is a fact that the cases of powerloom as well as synthetic yarn/mixed fabric which claim to be handloom are not being checked;

(b) if so, whether there is any concrete proposal to check such false claims;

(c)  whether  any  mechanism  exist  to  measure  the  consumer's  outreach  and  efficacy  of  Government measures to promote handloom; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

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

(a) & (b): The Government of India enacted the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for production) Act,  1985  which  reserves  11  textile  articles  that  includes  some  mixed  varieties  too  for  exclusive production on handlooms and prohibits its production on powerlooms.

Regular inspections are being carried out on all types of powerloom cloth producers so as to check if any of  the  reserved  textile  products  are  being  produced  on  powerlooms.  Cases  are  being  booked  against violators of Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for production) Act, 1985 and penalized through court of law.

(c) & (d): A  mobile  app  'HLM  Customer  app'  has  been  launched  in  August  2020  for  verifying authenticity of handloom mark labels. Apart from this, tags of Handloom Mark, India Handloom Brand, Silk Marks and GI tags are attached to Handloom items for authentication.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: e-SAKSHI Mobile Application
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Dimple Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.730 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## E-SAKSHI MOBILE APPLICATION

730. SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO: SHRIMATI DIMPLE YADAV:

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

PROGRAMME

- (a) whether the Ministry has launched the MPLADs e-SAKSHI Mobile application for revised fund flow procedure under MPLAD Scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  functioning  of  the MPLAD Scheme across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of funds allocated and released for MPLAD during the last five years; and
- (e)  the  other  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  effective
- implementation of the MPLAD Scheme?

## 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) Yes, Sir. The Ministry has launched the MPLADS e-Sakshi Mobile  application  for  revised  fund  flow  procedure  under  MPLAD Scheme on 16.01.2024.
- (c) The Ministry has conducted a Third-Party Physical Evaluation of the MPLADS works completed during the period 01-04-2014 to 31-032019, in 216 districts across the country. The Evaluation was done in the year 2021 and the agency submitted final report on 31-8-2021.

(d) Statement showing the details of funds allocated and released for MPLAD during the last five years is enclosed (Annexure-I). (e) Apart from revised set of MPLADS guidelines and revised fund flow procedure, for effective implementation of the MPLAD Scheme the Ministry is organizing Workshops/Webinars/Hands-on Trainings on the revised  Guidelines  and  new  Web-Solution  on  regular  basis  for  the stakeholders including States/UTs and Hon'ble MPs .

- *****

## Annexure-I

## {Annexure referred to in part (d) of Reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 730 for answer on 07.02.2024}

## Table: The details of funds allocated and released for MPLAD

₹ in crore

|   S.No. | Financial Year   | Allocated   |   Released |
|---------|------------------|-------------|------------|
|       1 | 2018-19          | 3950        |     3949.5 |
|       2 | 2019-20          | 3950        |     3640   |
|       3 | 2020-21          | 0*          |     1107.5 |
|       4 | 2021-22          | 2630*       |     1729.5 |
|       5 | 2022-23          | 3950        |     2566.5 |
Lok Sabha Question No. 726 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Unmanned Level Crossings
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 726 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS

## 726. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has  any  time-frame to ensure that all abandoned railway crossings will be safe for people/commuters, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  alternative provisions that the Government has made for the users where the unmanned level crossings have been done away with;
- (c) the total number of level crossings across the country at present;
- (d)  the details of the total number of Unmanned Level Crossings (ULCs) in Maharashtra, district-wise;
- (e)  the  deadline  fixed  by  the  Government  to  do  away  with  the  unmanned level crossings on all the operational lines;
- (f) the number of people killed at level crossings in the country during 202223 and the action taken by Government to minimize such accidents; and
- (g) the steps taken by the Government to prevent accidents at the railway level crossings?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to (g): All Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on running lines of Broad Gauge (BG) network of Indian Railway have been eliminated by 31.01.2019.

As on 01.04.2023, there are total 17720 nos.  Manned level crossings on the running lines of BG Network of Indian Railway.

Elimination  of  level  crossings  (LCs)  is  a  continuous  and  dynamic process  of  Indian  Railway.  Such  works  are  taken  up  on  the  basis  of  its impact on safety in train  operations,  mobility  of  trains  &  impact  for  road users and feasibility etc.

LCs  are  eliminated  either  by  providing  Road  Over  Bridges  (ROBs)  / Road Under Bridges  (RUBs) in lieu of LCs  or  through  direct closure (for low  traffic  LCs)  or  by  diversion  of  road  traffic  to  nearby  ROB/RUB/LC depending upon the site conditions.

During  the  period  from  2014-23,  total  10,867  Nos.  ROBs/RUBs  were constructed,  whereas,  during  the  period  from  2004-14,  only  4,148  Nos. ROBs/RUBs were constructed on Indian Railways.

During  2022-23,  no  consequential  accident  took  place  at  UMLCs existing  on  Meter  Gauge  (MG)  &  Narrow  Gauge  (NG)  sections  of  Indian Railway network, which are planned for elimination during Gauge conversion of the sections.

Further, following steps have been taken by Indian Railways to minimize rail accidents at LCs in the country:

-  Level Crossings having high Rail/Road vehicular traffic are interlocked with signals for enhancing safety.
-  Inspection drives are being launched from time to time to ensure availability  of  basic  infrastructure  at  level  crossings  such  as  whistle boards, road warning boards, speed breakers, etc.
-  Public  awareness  campaigns/safety  slogans  are  undertaken  to  create safety consciousness among road users for safe passage at level crossings.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 721 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Vande Bharat Trains between Bhagalpur and Naugachia
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 721 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## VANDE BHARAT TRAINS BETWEEN BHAGALPUR AND NAUGACHIA

†721. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  Vande  Bharat  Trains  introduced  so  far  along  with  details thereof;
- (b) the details of the plan to introduce new Vande Bharat trains on other routes and the time-frame fixed therefor;
- (c) the speed and the distance fixed to be covered for the Vande Bharat trains on different routes;
- (d)  whether  the  Vande  Bharat  trains/the  Vande  Metro  trains  are  likely  to  be introduced from Bhagalpur very soon and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  if  not,  the  time  by  which  the  said  trains  are  likely  to  be  introduced  from Bhagalpur; and
- (f)  the  names of the train routes being considered by the East Central Railway and the Eastern Railway for the Vande Bharat trains/the Vande Metro trains to be introduced from Bhagalpur and Naugachia station?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (f) As on 31 st   January, 2024, 82 Vande Bharat train services, including 4 services  by  East  Central  Railway  and  2  services  by  Eastern  Railway,  are being   operated  on   Indian  Railways  (IR).   Further,  Bhagalpur  and  Naugachia stations  are  presently  being  served  by  94  and  66  train  services  respectively. Besides,     introduction  of  new  train  services,  including  Vande  Bharat  and  its variants, is an ongoing process on IR subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, resource availability, etc.

*****