opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2196 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Essential Commodities at Subsidized Rates
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2196

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES AT SUBSIDIZED RATES

2196. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government is aware that Kerala is providing thirteen essential commodities at subsidized prices without change in their prices since 2016 through Supplyco outlets called 'Maveli Stores';
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  intends  to  provide  financial  support  for  the  Government  of  Kerala  for continuing its effort to provide essential commodities at reasonable price to the common people and will consider replicating the model in other States;
- (c)   if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)   whether  it  is  true  that  the  Government  has  not  released  an  amount  of  220.92  crore  rupees  to  State Government owned Supplyco which it spent for procurement of paddy from farmers in the State during 2019-20, if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government has received any representation for the release of the pending amount to Supplyco from the Government of Kerala, if so, the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ( श्री अश्विनी कु मार चौबे )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)  to (e)  :  The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd, known as Supplyco, is a Company fully owned by the Government of Kerala. As per information furnished by the Corporation, Supplyco distributes 13 essential items at subsidized rates to ration card holders.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has not received any proposal for financial support for the Government of Kerala for continuing its effort to provide essential commodities at reasonable price.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Production of Hot Metal and Crude Steel
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Gautam Gambhir

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2195 FOR ANSWER ON 02.08.2023

## PRODUCTION OF HOT METAL AND CRUDE STEEL

2195. SHRI GAUTAM GAMBHIR:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been an increase in the production of hot metal, crude steel and saleable steel in Q1 of FY 2023-24 as compared to previous years; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) The data indicating the increase in production of hot metal, crude steel and total finished steel during the Q1 of FY 2023-24 when compared to the same period of last year is as under:-

| Item                            | Production (in mt)              | Production (in mt)              | %                               |
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|                                 | April-June 2023-24*             | April-June 2022-23              | change                          |
| Hot Metal                       | 21.03                           | 19.60                           | 7.3                             |
| Crude Steel                     | 33.88                           | 31.03                           | 9.2                             |
| Total finished steel            | 32.48                           | 29.03                           | 11.9                            |
| mt=million tonnes; *provisional | mt=million tonnes; *provisional | mt=million tonnes; *provisional | mt=million tonnes; *provisional |

*****

## ANSWER

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
Lok Sabha Question No. 2193 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Small Modular Reactors
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2193

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## Small Modular Reactors

## 2193.   SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Department of Atomic Energy has taken any steps to promote and adopt the application of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Department has conducted any study regarding the effectiveness of SMRs in promoting renewable  energy  and  reducing  country's  dependence  on  fossil  fuel  based  energy  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) the detailed views of the Department regarding the Report of NITI Ayog titled 'A Report on The Role of Small Modular Reactors in the Energy Transition' which recommends on allowing foreign investment to promote SMR technology in the country; and
- (d) whether the Department has conducted any study to examine the possible laws (statutes, by-laws and rules) which have to be amended in the status-quo for allowing foreign investment to promote SMRs technology in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Small  Modular  Reactors  (SMR)  is  a  promising  technology  in  industrial  de-carbonization especially  where  there  is  a  requirement  of  reliable  and  continuous  supply  of  power.  India  is considering steps for development of SMR, to fulfil its commitment to Clean Energy transition.
- (b) Detailed  technical  discussions  are  currently  underway  to  plan  a  roadmap  for  studying  the feasibility  and  effectiveness  of  deployment  of  such  reactors.  Augmentation  of  nuclear  power capacity through large size reactors is the primary goal of the Department.
- (c) The Government of India is exploring the options of collaborating with other countries and taking up indigenous development of SMRs. The Future course of action will be finalized on the basis of the decision of the Government.
- d) Provisions  of  Atomic  Energy  Act,  1962  are  being  examined  to  allow  participation  of  private sector and start-ups.

* * * * *
Lok Sabha Question No. 2192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Increasing Number of Natural Disasters
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2192

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 2 ND  AUGUST, 2023

## INCREASING NUMBER OF NATURAL DISASTERS

## †2192.          SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been an increase in the number of natural disasters in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  open  more  Earthquake  Science  centres in  the  country  to  improve  the  process  of  real  time  data  monitoring  and  data collection; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes Sir, Recent studies have reported significant rising trends in the frequency and the magnitude of extreme weather events over different parts of the world and also over various regions of India against a backdrop of global warming/climate change. The climate change assessment report published by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES),  notes  that  complex  interactions  between  the  earth  system  components amidst the warming environment and regional anthropogenic influences, have led to a rise in frequency of localized heavy rainfall events, drought and flood occurrences, and increase in the intensity of tropical cyclones etc. in the last few decades.This  book  also  summarises  the  present  status  and  future  projection  of climate change over India.

The present state of knowledge about earthquakes in and around the country, does not show any definite pattern in frequency of earthquake occurrences which could suggest  any  increase  in  earthquake  activity.  However,  during  the  recent  years, seismic  monitoring  in  the  country  has  been  improved  considerably  and  even  the lower magnitude earthquakes are automatically detected and disseminated quickly through  National  Centre  for  Seismology  (NCS)  website,  Mobile  App  and  other social media. It is perhaps giving the impression of enhanced earthquake activity in the country, which was otherwise not noticed earlier.

- (b) and (c) Yes Sir, the expansion of seismological network is one of the routine activities of NCS, which is an attached office of  the  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  and  is  nodal agency  of  Government  of  India,  for  earthquake  monitoring  in  the  country.  At present  a  total  of  153  observatories  of  the  National  Seismological  Network  are operational throughout the country for monitoring of seismic activity in and around India.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2191 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Procurement of Foodgrains from Delhi
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2191

TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND AUGUST, 2023

## PROCUREMENT OF FOODGRAINS FROM DELHI

## 2191.  SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC DiSTRIBUTiON wgtel qm+, vr% Bit WT&fM fRTar IHt be pleased  to state:

- (a) the details of foodgrains procured from Delhi in the last five years, year, mandi, and grain.wise;
- (b) whether the procurement counters have been set up in Mandis in Delhi during the last year and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the list  of sources of foodgrains distributed in  Public Distribution Systems in Delhi?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Only wheat  was  procured in Delhi through  Food Corporation of India (FCI). Mandi wise quantity of wheat procured during last five years is as under:
- (b): During  Rabi  Marketing  Season (RMS) 2022-23, two procurement centres viz. Najafgarh Mandi and Narela Depot were opened in Delhi by Food Corporation  of  India (FOI) for procurement  of Wheat.
- (c): As  the procurement in Delhi  is  very less, the food  grains distributed under  Public Distribution System  in  the State is  sourced mainly from Haryana through Fei. Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. (DSCSC) lifts  allocated foodgrains from FCI and delivers to Fair Price Shops across Delhi.

| Year     | I Najafgarh from (Mayapuri) (in MT)   | i Ifrom FSD Narela (in MT)   |         |
|----------|---------------------------------------|------------------------------|---------|
| 201 9-20 | 0                                     | 0                            |    0    |
| 2020-21  | 0                                     | 27.60                        |   27.6  |
| 2021 -22 | 4437.50                               | 1 51 7.05                    | 5954.55 |
| 2022-23  |                                       | 0.50                         |    0.5  |
|          | 0                                     | 0                            |    0    |

+

+

+

+
Lok Sabha Question No. 2189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Lack of Internet Facility
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2189 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 ND  AUGUST, 2023

## LACK OF INTERNET FACILITY

## 2189.   SHRI B.B. PATIL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a lack of internet facility in the villages and remote areas of the country including Telangana and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether  the  Government  has  launched  the  Digital  Village  Scheme to  provide  free  Wi-Fi hotspot facilities to Gram Panchayats to overcome the said issues and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the main objectives and features of the said scheme and the total number of villages covered under the said scheme across the country including Telangana; and

(d) the  total  budget  allocated  and  spent  on  provisioning  LED  street  lighting,  Wi-Fi  hotspot, telemedicine,  distance  education  services,  skill  development  services  in  the  State  of  Telangana including Kamareddy-Sangareddy districts during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) Government and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) provide telecommunication connectivity in  the  country  in  a  phased  manner.  As  per  data provided  by  Telecom  Service  Providers  (TSPs), Department of Telecom field units and State Governments as of March 2022, out of 6,44,131  villages in  the  country  (as  per  RGI  data  of  November  2019),  6,05,230  villages  are  covered  with  Mobile internet connectivity. In the state of Telangana, there are 10,203 villages, out of which 10,000 (as of March 2022) are covered with mobile connectivity.

(b) to (d) The  Digital  Village  Pilot  Project  was  approved  by  Ministry  of  Electronics  and Technology (MeitY) on 31.10.2018. The project is being implemented in 700 Gram Panchayats(GP)/Village  with  atleast  one  GP/village  from  each  district  of  the  State/UT  which includes 30 villages in the State of Telangana. Following are the deliverables of the project;

- i. Education Service: Courses offered under this project are  - Basic Computer Course (BCC), Course on Computer Concept (CCC), Basic Course on Information Technology (BCIT), Tally - Kaushal Praman Patra
- ii. Health Services Tele-Health & Tele-Veterinary consultation
- iii. Financial InclusionFinancial inclusion awareness programme
- iv. Solar power street lights (8 Solar lights per village)
- v. Skill Development in Automotive Technician, Handset Repairing, Field Technician- Home Appliances, and Electrical Technician.

Rs. 2.998 Crore was allocated and sanctioned for the project implementation in the State of Telangana (@Rs. 9,99,500/- for each village covered under the project).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2182 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: ISRO Facility in Pollachi
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: K. Shanmuga Sundaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE LOK SABHA

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 02, 2023

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2182 ISRO FACILITY IN POLLACHI

2182.  SHRI SHANMUGA SUNDARAM K.:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  establish  any  ISRO facility in Pollachi constituency; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

****

- (a) There  is  no  specific  proposal  to  establish  a  ISRO  facility  in Pollachi in Tamil Nadu.
- (b) Does not arise.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Railway Works
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2181 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## RAILWAY WORKS

†2181. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  proposals/requests  from East and East Central Railway Zones with regard to railway works/rail operations/ changing of railway routes during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the proposal/request/year-wise details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  also  received  proposals/requests especially  with  regard  to  the  inclusion  of  Bhagalpur  in  the  route  of Agartala Rajadhani express and providing stoppage of Agartala Rajdhani express, 20501/20502 at Bhagalpur station;
- (d) if so, whether the proposal on this issue was given to the railway board in 2022 also;
- (e) if so, the reaction of the Government and the action taken so far on these requests/proposals;
- (f)  the  reasons  behind  the  pendency  of  the  proposal  for  providing stoppage of Agartala Rajdhani, 20501/20502 at Bhagalpur station; and
- (g)  whether it is a fact that the said stoppage is likely to add to the revenue  of  the  Railways,  if  so,  the  time  by  which  it  is  likely  to  be done?

## 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. 2181 BY SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.08.2023 REGARDING RAILWAY WORKS

(a) to (g) : Proposals are received on the basis of demands raised by State Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other public representatives, and Railway's own requirements. As receipt of such  proposals/suggestions  is  a  continuous  and  dynamic  process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained. However, during  last  three  years  i.e.  from  2020-21  to  2022-23  and  current financial year i.e. 2023-24, 39 Surveys (05 New Line and 34 Doubling) covering 1,399 Km length under Eastern Railway and 44 Surveys (19 New  Line  and  25  Doubling)  covering  1,777  Km  length  under  East Central Railway have been sanctioned.

Proposal for operation of 20501/20502 Agartala-Anand Vihar (T) Tejas Rajdhani Express via Bhagalpur has been received. Receipt of proposals from Zonal Railways and action/decision thereon is an ongoing  process,  subject  to  operational  feasibility,  traffic  justification, competing demands etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2180 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Re-introduction of Train No. 64221/64222
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Arun Kumar Sagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2180 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## RE-INTRODUCTION OF TRAIN NO. 64221/64222

†2180. SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken/proposed to take steps to run the train No. 54075/54076 on its older route from Delhi to Sitapur instead of its present route from Delhi to Bareilly and also to re-introduce the train No. 64221/64222 Shahjahanpur-Lucknow MEMU train;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether representations have been received by the Government from the public representatives also; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the progress made in this regard till date?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (d)  Indian  Railways have undertaken rationalization of the time table, including  rationalization  of  train  services,  in  a  scientific  manner  with  the assistance  of  IIT-Bombay.  The  exercise  has  been  undertaken  inter  alia  to provide for better passenger safety by creating maintenance corridor blocks and speed up train services. Request from the Hon'ble Member of Parliament has been received for  restoration  of  54075/54076  Delhi  -Sitapur  Passenger. Presently,  Delhi-Sitapur  is  served  by  04  pairs  of  trains  while  LucknowShahjahanpur  sector  is  served  by  71  pairs  of  train  services.    Besides, extension  of  train  services/introduction  of  new  services  is  an  on-going process on Indian Railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Importing of Tur Dal
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B

## Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2172

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## IMPORTING OF TUR DAL

## 2172. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.:

Will  the  Minister  of CONSUMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is  a  fact  that  the  Government  is  considering  to  import  12  lakh  tonnes  of  tur  dal  to  keep prices in check;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also true that tur dal is being sold across the country at nearly Rs. 200 per kg;
- (d) whether it is also true that the Government has offloaded 50,000 tonnes of tur dal from the buffer stock in the market and if so, the facts thereof; and
- (e) whether it is also true that the Government has imposed a stock limit on traders, millers, and importers and if so, the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ( श्री अश्विनी कु मार चौबे )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) & (b) : The quantity of tur being imported depends upon the domestic demand and supply positions. The Government has extended the import policy for tur under 'free' category till 31.03.2024 and removed import duty of 10% on tur in order to facilitate the import of tur.
- (c) & (d) :  As per the daily retail prices reported by the price reporting centres across 34 States and Union Territories, the all-India average retail prices of un-branded tur dal as on 27.07.2023 is Rs.135.20 per kg. The Government has directed National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) on 26.06.2023 to dispose  pigeon  pea  from  the  Price  Stabilisation  Fund  (PSF)  buffer  through  online  auction  to  millers  in  a calibrated manner to augment availability tur dal to the consumers. A tentative target of 50,000 MT has been fixed for the disposal. Till date, 4,236.59 MT has been disposed.
- (e) :  To  prevent  hoarding,  Government  imposed  stock  limits  on  tur  and  urad  under  the  Essential Commodities Act, 1955 on 2 nd June, 2023 for a period till 31 st October, 2023. The stock limits applicable to each of the pulse individually are, 200 metric tonne (MT) for wholesalers; 5 MT for retailers; 5 MT at each retail  outlet  and  200  MT  at  depot  for  big  chain  retailers;  last  3  months  of  production  or  25%  of  annual installed capacity, whichever is higher, for the millers. In respect of importers, the importers are not to hold imported stock beyond 30 days from the date of Customs clearance.

*****