opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 293 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 293

ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## Demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas

## 293.     SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

## Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state :

- (a)   whether  the  Government  is  intending  to  release  the  final  notification  identifying  and demarcating Ecologically Sensitive Areas as per the recommendations of Dr. Kasturirangan Panel Report;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether the status of Ecologically Sensitive Areas with respect to Kerala and Karnataka has been finalised, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)   whether  the  Government  has  been  formally  communicated  by  the  State  Governments  of Kerala and Karnataka regarding the concerns pertaining to the recommendations of the said Report adversely affecting the livelihood of people in the region;
- (e)   if so, whether the Government proposes to revise the estimation of recommendations of the said Report in order to allay the concerns raised by various States including Kerala where a significant population resides in and around the proposed buffer zones; and
- (f)   if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (f) In order to protect the rich biodiversity of Western Ghats, this Ministry has issued draft Notification on Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area vide S.O. 3072(E) on 06.07.2022 with  an  area  of  56,825  square  kilometre  spreading  over  six  States,  namely,  Goa, Gujarat,  Karnataka,  Kerala,  Maharashtra  and  Tamil  Nadu,  based  on  the  report submitted by the High Level Working Group (HLWG) Chaired by Dr. Kasturirangan.

The States have persistently asked for modification in the Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) included in the aforesaid draft notification. In order to address the issues raised by the State  Governments,  the  Ministry  has  constituted  a  Committee  to  re-examine  the suggestions of the six State Governments in a holistic manner, keeping in view the conservation aspects of the disaster prone pristine ecosystem, and the rights, privileges, needs and developmental aspirations of the region. The Committee is chaired by ExDirector General of Forest and Special Secretary and its tenure is till 31.03.2024. The concerns of the State Governments including Kerala and Karnataka are deliberated by the Committee and based on the recommendation of the said Committee; the Central Government will proceed with early finalisation of the notification.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: CSR Funds for MPs
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: K. Shanmuga Sundaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 290 ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 MAGHA 16, 1945 (SAKA)

## CSR FUNDS FOR MPs QUESTION

290. SHRI SHANMUGA SUNDARAM K.:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the steps taken or being taken by the Government to ease the availability of CSR funds for MPs;
- (b)  whether  the  Government has any platform to connect MPs and CSR departments of companies  for  execution  of  development  work  in  constituencies  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to mandate a minimum CSR funding amount for every constituency and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF  STATISTICS  AND PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION;  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS [RAO INDERJIT SINGH]

(a) :  The Companies  Act,  2013  ('Act') provides  statutory  framework  for  Corporate  Social Responsibility (CSR) through Section 135, Schedule VII and Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014. Section 135 of the Act mandates every company having net worth of Rs. 500 crore or more, or turnover of Rs. 1000 crore or more, or net profit of Rs. 5 crore or more during the immediately preceding financial year, to spend at least two per cent of the average net profits of the company made over immediately preceding three financial years towards CSR as per the CSR Policy of the Company.

- (b) & (c):  Under  the  Act,  CSR  is  a  Board  driven  process  and  the  Board  of  the  company  is empowered to plan, decide, execute and monitor CSR activities based on the recommendations  of  its  CSR  committee.  As  the  CSR  framework  is  disclosure  based,  the companies  are  required  to  file  details  of  CSR  activities  annually  in  MCA21  registry.  The parliamentary constituency-wise data is not maintained by the Ministry. All data related to CSR filed by companies in the MCA21 registry, including company-wise, state-wise and district-wise are available in public domain at www.csr.gov.in.

(d): No such proposal is under consideration of the Ministry.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Funds Spent on Protection and Restoration of Monuments
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.289

## ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## FUNDS SPENT ON PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF MONUMENTS

## 289\_ SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the protected monuments in Jharkhand as of monument and location-wise; date,
- whether the Government   plans to include more monuments in Jharkhand like Shahpur Fort, in the list of protected monuments; and

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) There are 13 ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains declared as of national importance in the State of Jharkhand. Details are given at Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) website https IJasinicin
- (b) Expenditure incurred on conservation; preservation and maintenance of these
- & Gumla, Jharkhand has been identified for declaring it as a monuments of national
- (c) One monument, namely "Terracotta  Bricks   Temple" at  Doisa in District Nagar,
- (d) importance. However; the Shahpur Fort; is not in the list of monuments of national importance.
- the details of funds spent by the Government on the maintenance, protection and restoration of the said monuments during the last five years, monument-wise;
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

| Year    |   Expenditure (in crore rupees) |
|---------|---------------------------------|
| 2018-19 |                            0.86 |
| 2019-20 |                            1.6  |
| 2020-21 |                            0.88 |
| 2021-22 |                            1.16 |
| 2022-23 |                            2    |
Lok Sabha Question No. 287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Nomination of Cultural Sites for Inclusion in World Heritage List
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 287 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## NOMINATION OF CULTURAL SITES FOR INCLUSION IN WORLD HERITAGE LIST

## 287. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

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

- (a) Whether the Government has any plans to nominate additional culturally significant sites from India for inclusion in the World Heritage List in the near future, particularly from the State of West Bengal;
- b if the details thereof; SO,
- whether the Government has any plans to provide support and resources to ensure the effective preservation and management of Santiniketan following its nomination on the World Heritage List; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof;

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPOMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI G KISHAN REDDY)

- No sir, there is no such plan to nominate any other cultural site of West Bengal in this
- either cultural/natural/mixed can be nominated for any nomination This year, dossier namely "Maratha Military Landscapes of India' has been prioritized. cycle.
- nomination 2024-25. As per the Operational Guidelines, 2023, only one property cycle
- The Heritage Buildings of Santiniketan, designated as a World Heritage Property, are
- & safeguarded, managed, and   preserved by Vishva Bharati   University. As a central (d) university and an institution of national   importance under  the   jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, it assumes responsibility for their protection and conservation as per guidelines laid down in Operational Guidelines, 2023.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Inclusion of unorganised Sector Women in Social Security Code
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 286 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## INCLUSION OF UNORGANISED SECTOR WOMEN IN SOCIAL

SECURITY CODE

286.  SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether  it  is  a  fact  that  under  the  Social  Security  Code,  the
- provisions of maternity benefits are not universal;
- (b)whether it is a fact that maternity benefits are presently applicable for establishments employing 10 workers or more;
- (c)whether  it  is  a  fact  that  in  the  SS  Code,  the  definition  of 'Establishment' does not include the unorganised sector;
- (d)the reasons for not inclusion of unorganised sector in the definition despite  the  fact  that  the  majority  of  India  is  employed  in  the unorganized sector; and
- (e)the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to redress this loophole?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (e): The Code on Social Security, 2020 (CoSS) has been passed by the Parliament on 28.09.2020.  The Code has not come into force. The Code has subsumed various existing social security legislations including the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 applies to every shop or establishment within the meaning of any law for the time being in force in relation to shops and establishment in a state, in which ten or more persons are employed or where employed, on any day of the preceding 12 months.

The Code on Social Security, 2020 also provides for the maternity  benefits  to  women  workers  who  are  covered  under  the provisions of Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948, which has also been subsumed in the Code.   The ESI scheme is applicable to every establishment in which ten or more persons are employed other than a seasonal factory.

The Code on Social Security, 2020 already has provisions inter-alia  for  providing  health  and  maternity  benefits  to  women workers under unorganised sector. Section 45 and Section 109(1) of the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020  already  provides  for  provision regarding framing of welfare scheme(s) including health and maternity benefits for these workers. It also provides for voluntary coverage of an establishment to enable it to obtain benefits of the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Corporation.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Spending of CSR Fund by PSUs
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

*****

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 285 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5 th  FEBRUARY, 2024

## Spending of CSR Fund by PSUs

## 285. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) functioning under the Ministry of Finance;
- (b) the details of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Fund spent by the PSUs in the Scheduled Tribe Areas during the last five years; and
- (c) the number of such institutions which have been benefitted from the CSR Funds of these PSUs, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KISHANRAO KARAD)

- (a) : As per available information, six Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are functioning  under  the  Ministry  of  Finance,  namely,  (i)  Security  Printing  &  Minting Corporation  India  Limited  (SPMCIL),  (ii)  Central  Registry  of  Securitsation  Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India (CERSAI), (iii) National Land Monetization Corporation Limited (NLMC), (iv) India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited  (IIFCL)  and  its  two  subsidiaries,  namely,  (v)  IIFCL  Asset  Management Company Limited (IAMCL) and (vi) IIFCL Project Limited (IPL). (b) and (c) : Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of corporates including CPSEs, are governed in terms of provisions of Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013. The provisions of CSR as per Companies Act, 2013 are not applicable to two of the above six CPSEs, i.e., NLMC and IAMCL. SPMCIL has incurred CSR expenditure of Rs.  6.39  crore  during  last  five  financial  years  (2018-19  to  2022-23)  in  Scheduled Tribe  areas  benefitting  institutions  such  as  villages,  hospitals,  schools,  etc.  in  the States of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 283 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Resorts/Hotels Operational in Elephant Corridors
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 283 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## Resorts/Hotels Operational in Elephant Corridors

283.  Shri A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number of resorts/hotels/homestays which  are operational in Elephant Corridors in all the States of the country;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to remove the said hotels/resorts in the Elephant corridors; and
- (c) the list of resorts/hotels closed in Elephant corridors, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)to(c) The information on resorts/hotels/homestays operational in elephant corridors are not collated in the Ministry. The management of wildlife including mitigation and management of humanelephant conflict (HEC) is primarily the responsibility of State Governments/UTs Administration.    Moreover,  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change,  in coordination with the State Forest Departments, have ground-validated 150 elephant corridors across 15 elephant range states in India and informed the  State  Governments/UT Administrations to take necessary steps to protect and conserve the elephant corridors.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 280 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Ban on RO Water Purifiers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 280

ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## Ban on RO Water Purifiers

## 280. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether many Environment Experts and organizations like the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been advocating the prohibition on the use of Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems which result in wastage of almost seventy per cent of the water;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  whether  any  other  alternative  and  cost  effective  water  filtration  technologies  are  being recommended as alternative to Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c):

Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the matter of O.A. No.134/ 2015 titled 'Friends through  its  General  Secretary  versus  Ministry  of  Water  Resources'  vide  order  dated  the 20.05.2019 directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to come out with regulation on appropriate use of reverse osmosis based water purification system. Accordingly, MoEF&CC has published the Water Purification System (Regulation of Use)  Rules,  2023.  The  rules  outline  guidelines  for  the  proper  management,  storage,  and utilization  of  reject  water  and  discarded  elements  generated  by  these  systems.  These  rules were published on 10.11.2023, and shall come into force w.e.f. 10.11.2024.

Bureau of  Indian  Standards  (BIS)  has  also  notified  the  'IS  16240:  2023  Reverse  Osmosis based  point  of  Use  Water  Treatment  System  for  Drinking  Purposes  -  Specification  (First Revision)' on 16.03.2023.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 279 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: India-UK Infrastructure Finance Bridge
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Tapir Gao, Pradeep Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.279 FOR ANSWER ON 05/02/2024

## India-UK Infrastructure Finance Bridge

279. SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

SHRI TAPIR GAO:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of aims and objectives of the India-UK infrastructure finance bridge;
- (b) whether the collaborative initiative is likely to be resulted in the long-term growth in the country;
- (c) If so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  manner in which this initiative  will  support  India's  National  Infrastructure Pipeline?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a) The aims and objectives of the India-UK Infrastructure Financing Bridge are:
- i)    To  suggest  ways  to  accelerate  the  mobilisation  of  international  private  sector investment into Indian sustainable infrastructure.
- ii) To deliver structured arrangements for an identified shelf of projects, focusing on sustainable infrastructure development in India.
- iii) To work together towards developing knowledge and best practices on sustainable infrastructure  projects  and  how  these  can  be  better  positioned  as  investible  and attractive to international investors.
- (b) to (d) Yes  sir.    This  initiative  is  aimed  at  structuring  infrastructure  projects through innovative financing mechanisms thereby increasing investment into infrastructure projects in India, including those in the National Infrastructure Pipeline.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: RUSA Funding to Educational Institutions in Ernakulam, Kerala
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 271 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## RUSA FUNDING TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN ERNAKULAM, KERALA

## 271. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA) has provided funding to educational institutions  in  Ernakulam  district,  Kerala  and  if  so,  the  details  including  the  list,  name  of  colleges, location, amount for the financial years 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24;

(b) whether the Government has any plans to increase the allocation of RUSA funding to educational institutions in Ernakulam district, Kerala, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  ensure  that  RUSA  funding  is  being  utilized effectively and efficiently  by  educational institutions  in Ernakulam district, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (Dr. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a):  The  details  of  the  funds  released  under  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA)  for  the institutions  approved  in  Ernakulam  district  of  Kerala  including  the  list,  name  of  colleges,  location, amount for the financial years 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 is given at https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/upload\_document/Enrakulam\_Releases.pdf. No funds have been released to Kerala in 2023-24 as on date.

(b):  The  government  has  recently  approved  the  third  phase  of  RUSA  in  the  form  of  Pradhan  Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) with an outlay of Rs. 12926.10 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26 to cater to needs of educationally unserved/underserved areas. Fund release under PM-USHA is dependent upon the submission of proposals by States/UTs subject to the guidelines of the scheme.

(c):  Since  the  scheme of RUSA is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the beneficiary institutions are State  government or  Government-aided institutions, state  government is  primarily  responsible for  the implementation  of  the  scheme  within  the  State.  However,  the  Central  Government  also  regularly monitors the implementation of the scheme through review meetings with the State Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 264 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Allocation of Funds for New Kendriya Vidyalayas
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.264 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR NEW KENDRIYA VIDYALAYAS

## 264. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the funds allocated to the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for opening of new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in the country during each of the last five years and the current financial year 2023-24, State-wise:
- (b) the number of new KVs opened during the last five years including the current year; and
- (c) the number of new KVs that have been made operational during the last five years including current financial year in all the States especially in Gujarat?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

- (a) The budgetary support is provided to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) every year as Grants-in-aid under three distinct Heads of Account viz. Salaries, General and Creation of Capital Assets for opening and functioning of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs).  The funds allocated to KVS during the last five financial years and current financial year are as under: -

## (Rs. in crore)

| Year    |   Funds Allocated |
|---------|-------------------|
| 2018-19 |           5006.75 |
| 2019-20 |           6331.4  |
| 2020-21 |           6437.68 |
| 2021-22 |           6800    |
| 2022-23 |           7461.25 |
| 2023-24 |           8500    |

(b) & (c) As per information received from KVS, 74 new KVs under Civil/ Defence / Institute of Higher Learning / Project Sector, including 01 KV in the State of Gujarat, have been opened and made operational during the last five years including current financial year (i.e. 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24) across the country.

*****