opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3332 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3332

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 20.03.2025

## VAN DHAN VIKAS KENDRAS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

## 3332. SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY VEMIREDDY:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  Van  Dhan  Vikas  Kendras  (VDVKs)  set  up  for  value  addition  activities  out  of  the  4,000 sanctioned VDVKs in Andhra Pradesh, district-wise;
- (b)  the  extent  to  which  TRIFED is providing backward and forward linkages to tribal artisans for marketing tribal products;
- (c)  whether any assistance/help has been extended to tribals to sell their products online;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the time-period since when such assistance/help has been provided; and
- (e)  the total worth (in rupees) of products sold online from Andhra Pradesh during the last two years and the current year, year-wise?

## ANSWER

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

## (a) The district-wise status of VDVKs in Andhra Pradesh is given below:

|   S.No. | District             |   No. of Sanctioned VDVKs |
|---------|----------------------|---------------------------|
|       1 | ASR                  |                        16 |
|       2 | Eluru                |                         4 |
|       3 | East Godavari        |                       166 |
|       4 | West Godavari        |                        15 |
|       5 | Parvathipuram Manyam |                        37 |
|       6 | Srikakulam           |                       106 |
|       7 | Kurnool              |                         2 |
|       8 | Nandyal              |                        10 |
|       9 | Nellore              |                         1 |

| 10   | Prakasam       |   1 |
|------|----------------|-----|
| 11   | Vizianagaram   |  32 |
| 12   | Vishakhapatnam |  98 |
|      | Total          | 488 |

- (b) Under the scheme of Pradhan Mantri Janjatiye Vikas Mission (PMJVM), TRIFED undertakes empanelment of  tribal  artisans,  procurement  of  various  tribal  products  from  them  and  provides  toolkits,  machinery  and training to facilitate primary  and secondary-level processing, thereby strengthening the backward linkages. It undertakes  retail  marketing  of  tribal  products  through  its  TRIBES  India  Outlets,  E-Commerce  platforms  & Exhibitions like Aadi Mahotsav, Aadi Bazaar etc., thereby providing forward linkages to the open market.
- (c)  and (d) TRIFED facilitates the onboarding of tribal producers and entrepreneurs onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and their tribal products on e-commerce platforms.
- (e) Products worth Rs. 16.64 lakhs from Andhra Pradesh were sold online during last two years and current year (till 31.01.2025).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3324 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Airports, Heliports and Airstrips in Rajasthan
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Damodar Agrawal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3324

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  20th March 2025 )

AIRPORTS, HELIPORTS AND AIRSTRIPS IN RAJASTHAN 3324.    SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the number of airports, heliports and water aerodromes operational under the UDAN scheme during the last three years in Rajasthan;
- (b)  the  details  of  total  funds  spent  on  the  development,  operation and  maintenance  of  airports,  heliports  and  airstrips  operated  in Rajasthan during the said period, year and location-wise;
- (c)  whether the Government has undertaken any special efforts to airports,
- enhance passenger and cargo handling capacity at airstrips and heliports in Rajasthan; and
- (d) 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) :  Under the  Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam  Naagrik  (RCS-UDAN),  Airports  in  Rajasthan  namely,  Bikaner, Kishangarh and Jaisalmer have been operationalised.

;

Further,  Airports  Authority  of  India  (AAI)  has  taken  up  works  for construction  of  New  Terminal  Building  at  Jodhpur  and  Udaipur airports in the State of Rajasthan.;

;

The  details  of  airport-wise  total  funds  spent  on  operation  and maintenance  of  AAI-operated  airports  developed  under  UDAN  in Rajasthan during last 3 years is attached at Annexure.

The  expansion  and  development  of  infrastructure  at  airports  is  a continuous process and is undertaken from time to time depending up  on  the  passenger  demand  forecast,  operation  requirements  for safety of aircraft operations and demand from airlines depending up on  the  availability  of  land,  financial  viability  as  well  as  other facilities related to intended aircraft operations.

******

## ANNEXURE

## Statement showing Expenditure on AAI operated Airports developed under UDAN Scheme in Rajasthan

(Rs. in Crore)

| Head                                | Financial Year   |   Bikaner |   Jaisalmer |   Kishangarh |
|-------------------------------------|------------------|-----------|-------------|--------------|
| Operation & Maintenance Expenditure | 2021-22          |     10.45 |        2.79 |        23.48 |
|                                     | 2022-23          |     11.06 |        3.32 |        22.22 |
|                                     | 2023-24          |     11.65 |        4.71 |        27.51 |
| Total                               | Total            |     33.16 |       10.82 |        73.21 |
Lok Sabha Question No. 3321 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Land Erosion along River Ganga's Banks in West Bengal
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Rachna Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3321

## ANSWERED ON 20.03.2025

## LAND EROSION ALONG RIVER GANGA'S BANKS IN WEST BENGAL

## 3321. SMT. RACHNA BANERJEE

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  about  the  land  erosion  along  the  river  Ganga's  banks  in  Malda, Murshidabad and Hooghly districts including the stretch of Balagarh-Guptipara in West Bengal and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  representation  from  local  bodies  and  public  representative  for formulation of a comprehensive Master Plan to restrain/check the erosion on the river Ganga's banks in Balagarh and adjacent areas and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether it is  true  that  a  large  number  of  villages  have  been  wiped  out  from  the  map  and  the  people  have become homeless due to land erosion at the said stretch and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  the  action  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  formulate  a  comprehensive  Master  Plan  to restrain/check land erosion on the river Ganga's banks in Hooghly including Balagarh-Guptipara stretch?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  to (d) Erosion, movement and deposition of sediment in river are natural regulating functions of a river. Rivers tend to maintain a balance between the silt load carried & silt load deposited, maintaining a river regime. Different stretches along Ganga river  in Malda, Murshidabad and Hooghly  including the stretch of BalagarhGuptipara in West Bengal face land erosion in varying degrees.

Flood  management  and  anti-erosion  schemes  are  formulated  and  implemented  by  concerned  State Governments as per their priority. The Union Government supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical guidance and also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical areas.

Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC) had prepared the Comprehensive Plan of the Main Ganga Stem in 1986 which was further updated in 2004 including Balagarh and allied Areas of district Hooghly, West Bengal, and  communicated  to  the  States,  along  with  recommendations  for  the  entire  stretches,  to  be  used  in  the preparation of the Detailed Project Reports for flood protection and anti-erosion works in the related areas.

After  receiving  a  representation  from  Hon'ble  Member  of  Parliament  (Lok  Sabha)  Smt.  Rachna  Banerjee, Hooghly Parliamentary Constituency, a team from the GFCC and Government of West Bengal Officials visited Guptipara-Balagarah  area  on  16.01.2025  eroded  by  the  Hooghly  River  in  the  presence  of  Hon'ble  M.P.  and District Administration officials to guide Government of West Bengal for the preparation of a Detailed Project Report.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3318 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Impact of IGST on MRO
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dr. Bhola Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3318 (To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## IMPACT OF IGST ON MRO

3318.

DR. BHOLA SINGH

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has implemented a uniform 5% IGST rate on aircraft and aircraft engine parts to boost the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) industry in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the expected reduction in operational costs for domestic airlines and its anticipated impact on the growth of the MRO sector in the country;
- (c) the projected increase in employment opportunities and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the MRO sector as per this policy change;
- (d) the estimated growth of MRO industry of the country by 2030, including Government incentives to attract global companies; and
- (e) the other policy measures being implemented by the Government to establish India as a global aviation hub for aircraft maintenance and repair?

## ANSWER

## Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) Yes. In a major boost to the domestic Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) industry and to the aviation sector, the Government has announced that a uniform rate of 5% IGST will apply to imports of Parts components, testing  equipment,  tools  and  tool-kits  of  aircraft,  irrespective  of  their Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) classification subject to specified conditions.
- (b)  to  (e)  This  policy  change  is  a  crucial  step  towards  enhancing  the competitiveness of the Indian MRO sector, fostering innovation and efficiency and creating a robust and efficient aviation sector. The reduction of IGST on imports of aircraft components and parts to 5% will have a cascading effect benefiting the MRO industry, create new job opportunities, attract new MRO players and contribute to the sector's growth.

The  Government  has  taken  various  measures  to  create  a  conducive environment for the development of aircraft maintenance and repair which include: i. As part of the announcements made in Union Budget 2024-25, the period for export of goods imported for repairs has been extended from six months to one year. Also, the time-limit for re-import of goods for repairs under warranty has been extended from three to five years. ii. New MRO Guidelines announced on 1st September, 2021 inter alia abolish royalties and build in transparency and certainty in land allotments for MROs in AAI airports. iii. GST on MRO has been reduced from 18% to 5% with full Input Tax Credit from 1st April, 2020. iv. Transactions sub-contracted by foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)/ MRO to domestic MRO are treated as 'exports' with zero-rated GST from 1st April, 2020 v. Exempted Customs Duty on tools and tool kits vi. Simplified clearance processing of parts

- vii. 100% Foreign Direct Investment permitted via automatic route for MRO

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3314 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Completion of Halwara International Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Amrinder Singh Raja Warring

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3314

(To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## COMPLETION OF HALWARA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

## 3314. SHRI AMRINDER SINGH RAJA WARRING

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

- *****

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether the Government has framed an estimated timeline for the completion of the Halwara International Airport project and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the completion of the Halwara International Airport would take place as per the deadline/target set for the same; and
- (c) 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 (c): At Air Force Station Halwara, a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the State Government of Punjab has been formed to develop a new Civil Enclave. The Government of Punjab (GoP) through the Public Works Department (PWD) has undertaken the work of construction of the Interim Terminal Building and allied works at Halwara Airport.

The timeline for completion of the airport projects depends upon many factors  such  as  land  acquisition,  availability  of  mandatory  clearances, financial  closure  etc.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3313 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Cancellations of Flights
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri K Radhakrishnan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3313 (To be answered on the 20 th  March 2025)

## CANCELLATIONS OF FLIGHTS

## 3313. SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the number of flight cancellations and the total scheduled flights under the RCS-UDAN scheme during the last three years, year and State-wise;
- (b) the reasons for flight cancellations since 2022, along with the percentage of flights cancelled due to each reason, including operational issues, year and State-wise; and
- (c) the different types of aircraft affected by cancellations and the percentage of cancellations for each aircraft type, including small carriers?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (c): As on date, under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN), 625 routes have been operationalised. 84 RCS routes have discontinued before completion of 3 years tenure during the last three years (January, 2022 to December, 2024). Eligible routes which were discontinued in the past rounds due to various reasons have been re-bid, awarded and operationalized in the subsequent rounds.  Several factors may account for the unoperated flights/discontinuation of routes. Key reasons for the  route  cancellations  include  disruptions  caused  by  the  COVID-19 pandemic, the grounding of numerous aircraft due to global engine issues, which significantly reduced the available fleet for all airline operators in the country, the shutdown of certain airlines and low passenger demand on specific routes. Additionally, issues such as slot unavailability, low passenger demand,  limited  aircraft  availability  and  various  internal  challenges prevented the airlines from scheduling the awarded weekly frequencies. Poor weather conditions and various operational constraints also contributed to the cancellation of flights. Such reasons would impact any type of aircraft operations on any route. Under the RCS-UDAN, a variety of aircraft such as Tecnam P2010, Twin Otter DHC 400, Q400, Embraer 175 & 145, ATR-42,

ATR-72, A320 & Cessna grand etc. are operating by various airlines. Aircraft wise data of cancellation is not being maintained.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3312 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: World Food India Event
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3312

ANSWERED ON 20 TH  MARCH, 2025

## WORLD FOOD INDIA EVENT

## 3312.   SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:

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

- (a) the details of the total amount spent on the proposals received by the Government during the World Food India 2023 event held at Bharat Mandapam;
- (b) the  various  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  boost  to  the  food  processing industries;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to introduce any Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in the food processing industry sector in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) organized World Food India-2023 during 3rd to 5th November,2023 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Wide spectrum of domestic and overseas stakeholders participated in the Event, which included 1208 exhibitors, 14 international delegations including 7 Ministerial delegations, 715 overseas and 218 domestic buyers, 97 corporate leaders, 10 Union Ministries/ Departments, 6 Commodity Boards apart from 25 States / UTs. Netherlands was the Partner Country and Japan was the Focus Country of the Event. The total amount of expenditure on the World Food India 2023 was Rs. 48.18 Crore and total revenue generated during the event was Rs. 25.96 Crore.

(b) to (d): In order to provide boost to the Food Processing Industries, Ministry promotes investment in Food Processing Sector through its schemes (i) Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), (ii) Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and (iii) PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME).

Under component schemes of PMKSY, the Ministry provides mostly credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to the entrepreneurs including individual entrepreneurs.

The  Ministry  also  provides financial, technical and business support for setting up/ upgradation of individual micro food processing enterprises through credit linked subsidy under PMFME scheme.

Ministry is implementing the Central Sector Scheme- 'Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)' to support creation of global food manufacturing champions commensurate with India's natural resource endowment and support Indian brands of food products in the international markets with an outlay of ₹ 10,900 crores,  to be implemented from 2021-22 to 2026-27.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Rajeev Rai

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3307 ANSWERED ON 20.03.2025

## SWACHH BHARAT MISSION (GRAMIN) IN UTTAR PRADESH

## †3307. SHRI RAJEEV RAI:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) in Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) whether the Government has succeeded in achieving the target to make all the villages Open Defecation Free (ODF) including the Mau district in Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the time by which the Government is likely to achieve the target to make all the villages including Mau district Open Defecation Free (ODF) in Uttar Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

- (a) Government had launched Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) [SBM(G)] with effect from 2nd October, 2014 with the main aim to make the rural areas of the country Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2nd October, 2019 by providing access to toilets to all the rural households. All the villages in the country including Uttar Pradesh had already declared themselves ODF as on 2.10.2019.    Having  achieved  the  outcome  of  the  ODF,  Phase  II  of  SBM  (G)  is  being implemented during the period from 2020-21 to 2025-26, with the focus on ODF sustainability and to cover all the villages with solid and liquid waste management i.e. converting the villages from  ODF  to  ODF  Plus  (Model).  The  scheme  is  being  implemented  rural  areas  of  Country including  Uttar  Pradesh.  Out  of  96,174  villages  in  Uttar  Pradesh,  94,323  villages  have  been declared  Open  Defecation  Free  (ODF)  Plus  (Aspiring  -7,605,  Rising-530,  Model-86,188)  so far.
- (b)  to  (d)  All  the  villages  in  the  Uttar  Pradesh  including  Mau  district  had  already  declared themselves ODF as on 2.10.2019.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge Project
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3306 ANSWERED ON 20 TH  MARCH, 2025

## DHUBRI-PHULBARI BRIDGE PROJECT

3306.  Md. Rakibul Hussain:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status and the projected timeline for the completion of the Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge project; and
- (b) whether the Government can provide the timeline and roadmap for the  completion  of  the  three  thousand  kilometers  of  new  National Highways  proposed  by  Assam  Public  Works  Department,  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)      As  on  10.03.2025,  the  physical  progress  of  the  Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge  Project  is  58.57%  and  scheduled  date  of  completion  of  the Project is 12.09.2028.
- (b) Works on notified National Highways (NHs), including capacity augmentation under various schemes, are undertaken based on traffic density,  road  conditions,  inter-se  priority  and  synergy  with  PM  Gati Shakti National Master Plan.  A total of 1867 Km of National Highways is  under  the  jurisdiction  of Assam  Public  Works  Department  (NH Works).  Currently, 14 NH projects of Assam PWD covering a length of 133 km, with an estimated cost of Rs. 2,129 crore, are in progress in Assam.  Of  these,  15  km  have  been  completed.  The  projects  are  at different stages of construction and are expected to be completed in phases by the Financial year 2027-28.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3305 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Flyover at CWRDM-Panath Thazham Road in Kozhikode
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri M K Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3305

ANSWERED ON 20 TH  MARCH, 2025

## FLYOVER AT CWRDM-PANATH THAZHAM ROAD IN KOZHIKODE

3305. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  necessary  steps  to develop New Mysore-Kutta-Purakkattiri (Kozhikode) Highway and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps for construction of flyover at CWRDM-Panath Thazham Road in Kozhikode district under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) in view of the proposals from Member of Parliament (MP) and the State Government and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (b) No such proposal is under consideration.  The Government in the Ministry of Road  transport  and  Highways   is  primarily responsible  for  the  development  and  maintenance  of  National Highways (NHs) in the country. The CWRDM-Panath Thazham road is not  a  NH.  The  proposal for  construction  of  flyover  at  CWRDMPanath Thazham Road in Kozhikode district has not been received from State Government under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme.

*****