opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 561 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Safety concerns at Parandur Greenfield Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Thiru Dr. S Jagathratchakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 561

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## SAFETY CONCERNS AT PARANDUR GREENFIELD AIRPORT

## 561. SHRI S JAGATHRATCHAKAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (d): In August, 2024, Government of India has granted Site Clearance approval to Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO), a Government of Tamil Nadu Enterprise for development of Greenfield Airport at Parandur, Tamil Nadu.

Prior to grant of Site Clearance, compliance to comments/observations of Stakeholders viz., Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ministry of Defence and Airports Authority of India (AAI) was sought from the Project Proponent. As per observations of DGCA, obstacles in approach surface, Transitional  Inner  Horizontal  Surface  (IHS)  and  Conical  Surface  are required to be removed  either prior to commencement of construction or before submission of application for Aerodrome license, as applicable as per DGCA Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR). Further, with regard to water bodies, DGCA had observed that there should be appropriate mitigation plans for wildlife/bird habitat and also proper plan to avoid water logging/flooding in and around the aerodrome. Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN) has stated

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has received feedback from aviation experts and local stakeholders regarding safety concerns at the proposed Parandur
- Greenfield Airport site in Tamil Nadu;
- (b) if so, the details of the safety concerns raised, particularly with respect to the presence of water bodies and their potential risks to flight operations;
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to address these safety concerns and ensure compliance with international aviation safety standards; and
- (d) the timeline fixed for finalizing the safety evaluation and proceeding with
- the project?

to comply with the related provisions of DGCA CAR, a pre-requisite before licensing of the aerodrome. Further, GoTN has established a High level Committee to study various aspects related to water bodies and channels to ensure a healthy ecosystem in and around the proposed aerodrome. Based on the compliance furnished, the matter was deliberated in the Steering Committee  comprising  of  representatives  from  several  stakeholder Ministries/Organisations  including  DGCA,  the  Safety  Regulator.  Site Clearance was granted subsequently on the recommendations of Steering Committee.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 560 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Expansion of Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Rajesh Mishra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †560 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2025

## Expansion of Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan

†560.   Dr. Rajesh Mishra:

Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) the details and objectives of the expansion of Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan;
- (b) the process for the inclusion of newly notified tribal communities in the existing tribal welfare framework; and
- (c) whether the newly notified tribal communities are likely to be covered under various tribal welfare schemes and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY):

- (a)  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  launched  Dharti  Aaba  Janjatiya  Gram  Utkarsh  Abhiyan  on  2nd October, 2024. The Abhiyan comprises of 25 interventions implemented by 17 line Ministries and aims  to  saturate  infrastructural  gaps  in  63,843  villages,  improve  access  to  health,  education, Anganwadi facilities and providing livelihood opportunities benefiting more than 5 crore tribals in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 30 States/UTs in 5 years. The Abhiyan targets specific tribalmajority villages with populations of 500 or more, where at least 50% are tribal, and villages, in Aspirational blocks, with at least 50 tribal population.  The States have been provided with the list of 63,843villages, selected as per the selection criteria approved under the Mission.  In case the state finds any village has been left out in the list of 63,843, which is otherwise meeting the criteria, the States/UTs are free to send proposal for inclusion of the village under Abhiyan.
- (b) and (c) The newly notified tribal communities are automatically covered under the existing welfare schemes for STs in line with the extant norms / criteria of respective guidelines.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Shortage of CNG in Udupi, Karnataka
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 558 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## SHORTAGE OF CNG IN UDUPI, KARNATAKA

## 558. SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  there  is  a  shortage  of  CNG  in  Udupi  district,  Karnataka  forcing  auto-rickshaw drivers to wait in long queues in front of CNG Pumps and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  resolve  this  issue  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) the time by which the CNG pipeline issue would be resolved to facilitate direct CNG supply in the district; and
- (d)  whether  any  steps  are  being  taken  to  ensure  adequate  CNG  supply  to  the  Pumps  through direct pipelines in Udupi district and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛ मंũी ( ŵी सुरे श गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a) to (d) Establishment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations is part of the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network and the same is carried out by the CGD entities authorized by  the  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board  (PNGRB)  as  per  their  Minimum  Work Programme (MWP) which include creation of pipeline infrastructure and other facilities for the supply of PNG (Domestic) and CNG (Transport). Udupi District Geographical Area (GA) has been authorized to Adani Total Gas Limited (ATGL) for the development of CGD network. The MWP target for the entity is to establish 11 CNG station in the GA by 2030. As on 30.11.2024, against  the  pro-rata  target  of  establishing  3  CNG  stations,  the  entity  has  established  10  CNG stations in the Udupi district GA.

As per PNGRB, ATGL has informed about delay in connectivity of their City Gas Station (CGS) in Panambur, Mangalore with GAIL's Kochi-Koottanad-Bangalore-Mangalore natural gas trunk pipeline  owing  to  long  pending  permission  issue  with  M/s  Kudremukh  Iron  Ore  Company. Further, ATGL has also informed that due to lack of pipeline connectivity, they are catering this demand through cascades from neighbouring GA and have also increased their cascade capacity.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Scheme for Expansion of Air Services
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Zia Ur Rehman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 556

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## SCHEME FOR EXPANSION OF AIR SERVICES

## 556. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is considering new schemes for the expansion of air services in small cities and remote areas; and
- (b) if so, the number of such schemes that are currently being implemented?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) & (b): Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21-10-2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports for the expansion of air services in small cities and remote areas in the country by making air travel affordable to the masses.

Five rounds of bidding under the RCS-UDAN scheme have been completed and 619 RCS routes connecting 88 unserved and underserved airports (including 13 heliports and 2 water aerodromes) have been operationalised across the country till date.

The government has announced launching of a modified UDAN Scheme for the next 10 years aimed at connecting 120 new destinations.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 553 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: UDAN Scheme for Karnataka
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Basavaraj Bommai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 553 (To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## UDAN SCHEME FOR KARNATAKA

## 553. SHRI BASAVARAJ BOMMAI

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the details of the airports selected/proposed under UDAN scheme for
- domestic travel in Karnataka;
- (b) the details of the airports which are operational and proposed to be
- developed for the said scheme in Karnataka;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  received  demands  from  the  State Government of Karnataka for connecting more airports/flights to the State and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether the Government has conducted any Survey with regard to existing and proposed airstrips under the said scheme in Karnataka and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) & (b): Nine underserved & unserved airports identified for development in the state of Karnataka for the operation of flights under UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme are:
- 1.Bidar
- 2.Mysore
- 3.Vidyanagar
- 4.Hubli
- 5.Kalaburgi
- 6.Belgaum
- 7.Shivamogga
- 8.Vijayapura
- 9.Karwara

All the above airports except Vijayapura & Karwara have already been operationalised under UDAN scheme.

(c) & (d) Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCSUDAN) is a market-driven scheme, wherein bidding rounds are conducted from time to time to cover more destinations/stations and routes and airline operators assess the feasibility of operations on a particular route and bid under  the  scheme.  As  per  provisions  in  the  UDAN  Scheme, revival/upgradation of unserved & underserved airports is done on its identification through valid bid & award to the SAO (Selected Airline Operator) The airstrips in the state of Karnataka listed in the tentative list of unserved airstrips under UDAN Scheme document for bidding  are:

1. Bellary
2. Kolar
3. Kushalnagara
4. Raichur
5. Hassan
6. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 551 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Excess Collection by Toll Plazas
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri  Selvaganapathi T.M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 551 ANSWERED ON 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## EXCESS COLLECTION BY TOLL PLAZAS

551. SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether National Highways Authority of India is allowing toll plazas to  collect  money  from  road  users  even  after  the  developers  have recovered  money  spent  by  them  in  manyfolds  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether toll plazas have become a burden on the road users as the number  of  toll  plazas  is  increasing  in  every  nook  and  corner  of  the country in the name of road development, if so, the steps being taken to address the issue; and
- (c)  whether  there  is  a  general  concern  that  parallel  roads  are  being built along with the well-built roads with a motive of collection of toll tax and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) The user fee at fee plazas on National Highways are collected as per  National  Highways  Fee  (Determination  of  Rates  and  Collection) Rules,  2008  and  its  amendment  thereof.  The  fee  as  notified  as  per Concession Agreement shall be leviable till the end of the concession period  and  after  the  concession  period  is  over,  the  fee  shall  be

collected by the Central Government or the executing authority as per the fee specified under sub-rule (2) of rule 4 of NH Fee Rules, 2008 on the date of transfer of such section of the National Highway, bridge, tunnel  or  bypass,  as  the  case  may  be,  to  be  revised  annually  in accordance with these rules.  In respect of a public funded project, the user fee leviable shall continue to be collected in perpetuity for such section of the National Highway, bridge, tunnel or bypass, as the case may be, to be revised annually in accordance with the rules. (b) All user fee plazas are established on National Highways as per the applicable National Highways Fee Rules and the respective Concession Agreement. Further, User Fee at a fee plaza is levied for the  use  of  any  section  of  National  Highway,  in  accordance  with  the provisions of the NH Fee Rules. FASTag based user fee collection has been  implemented  at  all  NH  Fee  Plazas  for  payment  of  user  fee, providing seamless user fee collection and reduction of waiting times at Fee Plazas. (c)    The  construction  of  National  Highways  projects  are  undertaken primarily for traffic decongestion, improved connectivity, and regional development.  Such projects are planned based on traffic studies and feasibility assessments.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Flights under Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Tanuj Punia

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 550 (To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## FLIGHTS UNDER REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY SCHEME-UDAN

## 550. SHRI TANUJ PUNIA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is true that operation of flights in many sectors under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN have been discontinued;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor, sector-wise;
- (c) the number of inbound and outbound flights reduced from Prayagraj, Banaras, Ayodhya and Lucknow; and
- (d) the details of the action plan to resume operation of the said flights?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) to (d): Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN), 114 RCS routes have been discontinued. However, eligible routes that were discontinued in the past rounds due to various reasons such as airline failure, have also been re-bid, awarded and operationalised in the

subsequent rounds.

The reasons for discontinuation of routes include the disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic grounding of many aircraft due to global aircraft engine issues certain operational challenges such as weather disruptions operational challenges,  such  as  the  availability  of  slots  at  certain  airports  or  the availability of the requisite aircraft with the airline, shutting down of airlines and low passenger demand on some routes.

The number of inbound and outbound flights from Prayagraj, Banaras, Ayodhya and Lucknow have not been reduced. In fact, flight connectivity has increased due to Maha Kumbh Mahotsav wherein, 81 additional new flights have been introduced to Prayagraj in January, 2025.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 549 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Shortage of Air Traffic Controllers
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 549

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  6th February 2025 )

## SHORTAGE OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS

## 549.    SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  it  is  true  that  there  is  a  shortage  of  Air  Traffic Controllers (ATCs) in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  current  sanctioned  strength  of  ATCs  and  the  number  of vacancies till 2024;
- (c)  the  impact  of  this  shortage  on  air  traffic  management  and aviation safety;
- (d)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to address  the said shortage, including recruitment and  training initiatives;
- (e)  whether  any  measures  are  being  taken  to  improve  working conditions and reduce attrition rates among ATCs; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d):  The  recruitment  of  Air  Traffic  Controllers  (ATCOs)  to ensure  smooth  Air  Traffic  Management,  in  accordance  with  the guidelines  prescribed  by  the  Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation (DGCA), is a regular process undertaken by the Airports Authority of

- India (AAI) based on operational requirements at various airports.

The sanctioned strength of ATCOs is 5537, including the 1636 posts which  have  been  created  in  the  recent  years,  and  vacancies  are

1613 as on date.

Vacant positions are filled through direct recruitment examinations as  well  as  departmental  examinations  to  meet  the  increasing demands  of  the  aviation  sector.  ATCOs  are  deployed  at  airports based on air traffic volume to ensure efficient air traffic management. ; (e)  &  (f):  AAI  provides  various  incentives  and  perks  to  ATCOs including competitive salary packages, medical benefits, attractive terminal  benefits,  Leave  travel  concessions  for  themselves  and their family members, Rating & Stress Allowance etc. Additionally, in  compliance  with  DGCA  guidelines,  Watch  Duty  Time  limitations are implemented for ATCOs and the Rating & Stress Allowance for ATCOs has been doubled, with effect from 01.10.2024.

- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Release of Amount Pending against NAFED and FCI
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 541 ANSWERED ON 06 th  FEBRUARY, 2025

## RELEASE OF AMOUNT PENDING AGAINST NAFED AND FCI

## 541. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has deducted an arbitrary amount from the claims submitted by  Rajasthan  State  Marketing  Corporation  Limited  (RSMCL)  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  considered  a  particular  reason  for  the  aforementioned deduction and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  intends  to  direct  the  National  Agricultural  Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to release the pending amount at the earliest, if so, the timeline for the same and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) In so far as claims related to food grain procurement is concerned, Rajasthan being a Non-Decentralized Procurement (NonDCP) state, most of the food grains is procured by State Government/ State Government agencies (SGAs) and the food grains are handed over to Food Corporation of India (FCI) for Central Pool operations.

As far as Rajasthan State Marketing Corporation Limited (RSMCL) is concerned, there is no such agency involved in procurement of food grains for Central Pool operations in Rajasthan.

(c) Funds are released to the States, including the State of Rajasthan, in lieu of purchase of food grains on the basis of the bills raised, at the rates fixed in Provisional Cost Sheet, issued by Department of Food & Public Distribution. The release of funds to States is an ongoing and continuous process.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 536 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Ganga Erosion Project in West Bengal
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Adhikari Deepak Dev

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 536

ANSWERED ON 06.02.2025

## GANGA EROSION PROJECT IN WEST BENGAL

## 536. SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK DEV

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the status of Ganga erosion project in West Bengal;

(b) the amount released and utilised for the purpose in West Bengal; and

(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent Ganga erosion?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (c) Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are formulated and implemented by concerned State Governments as per their priority.  Government of India promotes and provides technical assistance, as well as promotional financial  assistance  for  critical  areas.  Union  Government  had  implemented  Flood  Management Programme (FMP) during XI & XII Plans for providing central assistance to States for works related to flood control,  anti-erosion,  drainage  development,  anti-sea  erosion,  etc.  which  subsequently  continued  as  a component of 'Flood Management and Border Areas Programme(FMBAP)' for the period from 2017-18 to 2020-21 and has further been extended during 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Central  Assistance  of  Rs.  1051.96  Crore  for  taking  up  flood  management  works  under  FMP component of FMBAP has been released to Government of West Bengal, out of which State Government of West  Bengal  has  informed  that  an  amount  of  Rs.  1047.52  Crore  has  been  utilized  so  far. Under  River Management & Border Areas (RMBA) component of FMBAP scheme, Central Assistance of Rs. 237.925 Cr. has been released to Government of West Bengal so far. Out of this Rs. 230.145 cr. has been utilized.

As per the request of State Government of West Bengal, a Committee comprising members from the State Government of West Bengal and concerned Central Government Departments, under the chairmanship of Chairman,  Central  Water  Commission,  has  been  constituted  by  the  Department  of  Water  Resources,  River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation to undertake a joint  detailed  technical  study  for  an  integrated  plan  to combat the threat of erosion posed by Ganga-Padma river in the District of Malda, Murshidabad & Nadia in West Bengal.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 532 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Production capacity of Bongaigaon Refinery in Assam
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Joyanta Basumatary

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 532 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 February, 2025 Production capacity in Bongaigaon Refinery in Assam

532. Shri Joyanta Basumatary:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GASbe pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  decision  for  upgradation  to  increase  the production capacity of Bongaigaon Refinery in Assam and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  total  funds  sanctioned  and    released  for  the  proposed  development  of  the  said Refinery; and
- (c) whether the Government is considering collaborating  with any private company in  the proposed upgradation of Bongaigaon Refinery and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛमंũी ( ŵी सुरे श गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURALGAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

- (a): No.
- (b): Does not arise in view of (a) above.
- (c) :  No such proposal is currently under consideration.

****