opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2523 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Development of Purnea Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Santosh Kumar, Dulal Chandra Goswami

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2523 (To be answered on the 3 rd  August 2023)

## DEVELOPMENT OF PURNEA AIRPORT

## 2523. SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR

SHRI DULAL CHANDRA GOSWAMI

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that MoU has been signed for development of Purnea Airport in Bihar;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  status  of  tender  process  for  the construction of the Airport and the time by which flight services are likely to be started from Purnea Airport; and
- (c) whether Government has planned to make temporary arrangement of infrastructure to start operation of flights from there immediately and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a) to (c): A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the State Government of Bihar on 23.06.2023 for development of Purnea Airport. Development of New Civil Enclave at Purnea is being taken up by AAI at a tentative cost of Rs. 424 crore. Government of Bihar has acquired 52.48 acres of land for developing this airport. The  probable date of completion of the project is  July, 2026. Purnea airports is also included in the list of unserved airports under UDAN Scheme. Interested airlines submit their proposals to operate routes from and to unserved/underserved airports at the time of bidding under UDAN. An airport which is included in the awarded routes of UDAN and requires upgradation/development for commencement of operations, is developed under 'Revival of unserved and underserved airports' scheme.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Grant of NH Status to State Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  No. 2522

ANSWERED ON 03 rd  AUGUST, 2023

## GRANT OF NH STATUS TO STATE HIGHWAYS

2522.    SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to grant the status of National Highways (NHs)  to  Bhawanipatna  Muniguda-Bissamcuttack-Rayagada-  ParvatipuramVizianagaram stretches;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether the Government also proposes to grant NH status to GunupurBaliguda (Phulbani) via Padmapur-Gudari-Chandrapur stretch;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to upgrade the said State  Highways as NHs?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)   to  (e)       The  Ministry  keeps  on  receiving  proposals  from  various  State Governments / Union Territories for declaration / upgradation of State Roads, including State  Highways  (SHs)  as  new  NHs.  The  Ministry  considers declaration of some State Roads, including SHs, as NHs from time to time based on the fulfillment of the criteria for declaration of NHs, requirement of connectivity, inter-se priority and availability of funds.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Road Project
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the project for the new Sant Goroba Kaka Palakhi road, Ter-Osmanabad-Vairag-Angar, Ropade-Pandharpur has been approved and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether request from public representative has been received in this regard; and
- (c) if so, the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (c) There is no such proposal.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2520 ANSWERED ON 03 rd  AUGUST 2023

## ROAD PROJECT

2520. SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
Lok Sabha Question No. 2518 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Increase of Flight Services from Andal Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2518

(To be answered on the 3 rd  August 2023)

## INCREASE OF FLIGHT SERVICES FROM ANDAL AIRPORT

## 2518. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has considered to provide flight services from Andal airport to different locations in the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Gujarat, Bangalore, etc. and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to include Air India flight service at this airport in future;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with present and futuristic plan/programme made or measures taken by the Government for such flight services to various other airports, State/UT-wise; and
- (d) the budgetary allocation made for the purpose for FY 2022-23?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

- (a): During the 3rd round of bidding under the Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme, RCS flights connecting  Andal (Durgapur) with Chennai and Mumbai have been awarded and operationalised.  Andal (Durgapur) is also connected with Hyderabad, Delhi and Bengaluru through non-RCS flights.
- (b) to (d): Air India is a Private Scheduled Operator (Airline). With the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation has been deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service. It is up to the airline operators to introduce air services to / from any airport in the country depending on their operational and commercial viabilities.
- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2516 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: JJM in Kerala
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2516

ANSWERED ON-03.08.2023

## JJM in Kerala

## 2516. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) projects are  yet  to  be  included  in  drought  prone  areas  of  Kerala  particularly  in  Kadambar  area  in  Meenja Grama Panchayat of Kasargod district and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details and the progress of JJM projects in Kasargod district in Kerala;
- (c)  whether  extreme drought prone areas like Meenja Grama Panchayat would be included under JJM in the next phase and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF STATE OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (d) Government of India, in partnership with States/UTs is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), since August 2019, to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household in the country including Kasargod district of Kerala. JJM follows a saturation approach and  as such no district with rural households has been excluded from the scheme.

Water  is  a  state  subject  and  the  powers  to  plan,  approve,  implement,  operate  &  maintain  water supply projects are vested with respective States. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance. As such individual projects/ schemes for rural water supply are not approved at the Government of India level.

Under JJM, while allocating the fund to States/ UTs, 30% weightage is assigned for difficult terrains which inter  alia include  areas  under  Desert  Development  Programme  (DDP)  and  Drought  Prone Area Programme (DPAP), to prioritize the coverage in these areas.

At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, 0.39 lakh rural households were reported to have tap water connections in Kasargod district of Kerala. Since then, an additional 0.33 lakh rural households have been provided with tap water connections in the last four years under JJM. Thus, as on 31.07.2023, out of 2.54 lakh rural households in the Kasargod district of Kerala, around  0.72  lakh  (28.57%)  households  are  reported  to  have  tap  water  supply.  In  Meenja  Gram Panchayat,  in  Kasargod  district,  out  of  4,929  rural  households,  1,879  households  (38.12%)  are reported to have tap water supply.

## ANSWER

The State, district,  and  village-wise  detailed  information  on  household  with  tap  water  connection including that of Kerala, is available on JJM dashboard, which is in public domain at:

https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2511 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Resources for Production of Green Hydrogen
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2511

ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## RESOURCES FOR PRODUCTION OF GREEN HYDROGEN

## 2511. SHRI MANISH TEWARI

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has considered the burden on resources such as land and water required for green hydrogen production and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has determined the number of electrolysers required to produce its envisaged target of 5 MMT per annum of green hydrogen production and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes a plan for utilizing its initial outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores for green hydrogen production and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the country's current hydrogen needs relate to generation of grey hydrogen primarily used to make fertilizers and petroleum products and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to create a market for its envisaged 5 MMT per annum of green hydrogen production and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a)Green  Hydrogen  projects  are  expected  to  be  implemented  largely  through  private investments at suitable locations based on availability of land and water resources.

- (b) The Mission is expected to lead to development of 5 MMT Green Hydrogen production capacity per annum by 2030, which would require installation of 60 - 100 GW of electrolyser capacity in India.

(c) The National Green Hydrogen Mission has an initial outlay of ₹ 19,744 crore, including ₹ 17,490 crore for the SIGHT programme, ₹ 1,466 crore for pilot projects and hydrogen hubs, ₹ 400 crore for R&D, and ₹ 388 crore towards other Mission components.

(d)&(e) About 5 MMT of Grey Hydrogen is presently estimated to be consumed annually in India,  almost  entirely  in  petroleum  refining  and  manufacture  of  ammonia  for  fertilizers.  In fertilizer production, hydrogen is a key input for production of ammonia (NH3), which is used to  produce  urea  and  other  fertilizers.  In  petroleum  refining,  hydrogen  is  mainly  used  for reducing sulphur content of fuels (desulphurization), and conversion of heavier feedstocks to more valuable products (hydrocracking).

The Mission strategy inter-alia includes interventions for demand creation by making Green Hydrogen produced in India competitive for exports and through domestic consumption.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2507 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Central Waqf Council
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2507 ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## Central Waqf Council

## 2507.  SHRI KUNWAR DANISH ALI :

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Central Waqf Council (CWC) has been formed;
- (b) if so, whether any member of the 17th Lok Sabha has been nominated to the council and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  reduction  of  its  term  from  five  years  to  three  years  and  thereafter,  again  to merely one year is fair and justifiable and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government can change the CWC Rules at its pleasure, and without obeying to amendment process laid under CWC rules and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of process followed by the Government for reducing the term from three years to merely one year only and making the statutory body lame redundant?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a):  The Council at present comprises of Union Minister in charge of Minority Affairs  who is ex-officio chairperson.

(b): No Sir.

- (c) to (e): In terms of powers conferred by sub-section  (1) and (2) of Section 12 of the Waqf Act, 1995, the Central Government notified the reduction of Council's term from five years to three years in 2014. Out of the nine members nominated to the council for three years on 4.2.2019, seven members there from were re-appointed for one year for the period 4.2.2022 to 3.2.2023 under Rule 4 (1) of Central Waqf Council Rules, 1998.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2506 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Privatization of Electricity Department in Puducherry
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Vaithilingam Ve.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2506 ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## PRIVATIZATION OF ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT IN PUDUCHERRY

2506. SHRI VE. VAITHILINGAM:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the present status of privatization of Electricity Department in Puducherry; and
- (b) the details of the sharing pattern proposed with the private player?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) : The approved RFP for selection of successful bidder for 100% sale of shares  in  the  Distribution  Company  has  been  floated  on  27-09-2022.    The  last date  for  submission  of  bids  has  been  extended  upto  07-08-2023.  Meanwhile,  a writ petition had been filed in the Hon'ble Madras High Court by the Electricity Department Technical Certificate Holders (ITI) Welfare Union, Puducherry in WP 26692/2022  against  Privatization  of  the  Electricity  Department,  Puducherry  on 28-09-2022.    Necessary  counter  affidavit  has  been  filed  by  the  Government  of Puducherry.    The  Hon'ble  High  Court  on  16-11-2022  had  ordered  that  the  bids shall not be opened until further orders. The case is yet to be disposed off.

(b) : Based  on  the  demand  of  the  Staff  Unions,  it  was  decided  by  the Govt.  of  Puducherry  to  change  percentage  of  the  sale  of  shares  of  the Distribution Company from 100% to 51%. The revised RFP document for sale of 51% stake has been approved by Ministry of Power and Ministry of Home Affairs. Action is being taken to float the revised RFP shortly.

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2505 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: AVSAR Scheme in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shyam Yadav Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2505

(To be answered on the 3 rd  August 2023)

## AVSAR SCHEME IN UTTAR PRADESH

## 2505. SHRI SHYAM SINGH YADAV

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the number of airports covered under 'Airport as Venue for Skilled Artisans of the Region'(AVSAR) scheme in Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) the total space allocated under AVSAR scheme at Varanasi airport;
- (c) the total number of applications received from Self Help Groups (SHGs) under AVSAR scheme for Varanasi airport; and
- (d) the total number of SHG's which have been allotted space at Varanasi airport under AVSAR scheme?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a):  The Airport as Venue for Skilled Artisans of the Region (AVSAR) Scheme operates on a pan India basis, encompassing all the airports of the Airports Authority of India in the country including those in the State of Uttar Pradesh.

(b): A space of around 10 sqm has been allocated under AVSAR Scheme at Varanasi Airport.

(c) & (d):  Two applications were received from Self Help Groups under the AVSAR Scheme at Varanasi Airport. Out of these, one group has been allocated space as per the provisions of the AVSAR Scheme.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: High Price of Aviation Fuel
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2501 (To be answered on the 3 rd  August 2023)

## HIGH PRICE OF AVIATION FUEL

## 2501. SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

- (a)  The  operating  costs  of  airlines  are  dynamic  and  their  individual components vary due to multiple factors which include, inter alia, price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) in international markets, foreign exchange rates, duties and taxes etc. In the case of scheduled Indian operators, the percentage share of aircraft fuel and oil expenses has been around 40% of total operating expenses depending on the aircraft type.
- (b) Government has facilitated the consultations between the airlines and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) on rationalisation of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) pricing. Mean of Platts Arab Gulf (MOPAG) pricing was adopted, bringing more transparency and parity between global jet fuel price and jet fuel  price  in  India.  This  protects  airlines  from  abnormal  ATF  prices fluctuations.  Issue  of  high  Value  Added  Tax  (VAT)  on  ATF  levied  by States/Union Territories (UTs) has been taken up with the States/ UTs resulting in reduction of VAT by 19 States/ UTs. Ministry of Civil Aviation has also taken up the issue of inclusion of ATF under the ambit of GST with Ministry of Finance.

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the high price of aviation fuel is the major cause of slow growth rate in the civil aviation sector and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to reduce the prices of aviation fuel in
- the country;
- (c) whether any new production technique has been introduced in the country so as to lower the price of aviation fuel in the country; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

(c) & (d) At present, no such technique has been introduced.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Production of Affordable Green Hydrogen
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Ramesh Bidhuri, Talari Rangaiah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2499

ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE GREEN HYDROGEN

## 2499. SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI DR. TALARI RANGAIAH

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to produce affordable green hydrogen at large scale within the country and to make it accessible too;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether any contract has been signed in this regard;
- (d) whether any land has been acquired for establishing green hydrogen plants;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether any timeline has been fixed in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a)  to  (f)  On  4th  January  2023,  the  Union  Cabinet  approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of ₹ 19,744 crore. The overarching objective of the Mission is to make India a Global Hub for production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. Various  financial  and  non-financial  measures  have  been  announced  under  the  Mission, including inter-alia, the following: -

- i. Facilitating demand creation through exports and domestic utilization;
- ii. Strategic  Interventions  for  Green  Hydrogen  Transition  (SIGHT)  programme,  which includes  incentives  for  manufacturing  of  electrolysers  and  production  of  green hydrogen;
- iii. Pilot  Projects  for  green  steel,  mobility,  shipping,  decentralized  energy  applications, hydrogen production from biomass, hydrogen storage, etc.;
- iv. Development of Green Hydrogen Hubs;
- v. Support for infrastructure development;
- vi. Establishing a robust framework of regulations and standards;
- vii. Research & Development programme;
- viii. Skill development programme; and
- ix. Public awareness and outreach programme.

Several  entities  have  announced  plans  to  set  up  production  facilities  for  Green  Hydrogen/ Green Ammonia in India. However, these are still at a preliminary stage.

These projects are expected to be implemented largely through private investments for which land acquisition is to be undertaken by the respective project developer as required.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Scheme for Drinking Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Rajan Baburao  Vichare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-†2498

ANSWERED ON-03/08/2023.

## Scheme for Drinking Water

## †2498. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:-

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  implemented  any  schemes  for  drinking  water  in  the  country particularly in Thane district of Maharashtra;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c) Government of India, in partnership with States/UTs is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), since August 2019, to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household in the country including Thane district of Maharashtra.

At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, 0.66 lakh (25.31%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in Thane district of Maharashtra. Since then, additional 1.03 lakh rural households have been provided with tap water connections in last four years under JJM, through the schemes approved under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Thus, as on 31.07.2023, out of 2.61 lakh rural households in the Thane district of Maharashtra, around 1.69 lakh (64.91%) households are reported to have tap water supply.

The State, district, and village-wise detailed information on households with tap water connection including those in Thane district of Maharashtra, is available on JJM dashboard, which is in public domain at:

https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx

*****