opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1528 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Geo-Tagging to Monitor Illegal Mining
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Konda Vishweshwar Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1528

ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## GEO-TAGGING TO MONITOR ILLEGAL MINING

1528 SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:

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

- (a) whether the Government is utilizing geo-tagging or other geospatial technologies to monitor and prevent Illegal mining activities across the country and if so, the details of such initiatives;
- (b)  the  States  where  geo-tagging  has  been  implemented  for  monitoring  mining activities along with the results achieved;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  partnered  with  any  technology  agencies  or organizations  to  enhance  geo-tagging  and  satellite  surveillance  for  curbing  illegal mining; and
- (d)   the  extent  to  which  geo-tagging  has  been  effective  in  reducing  illegal  mining incidents alongwith the relevant data during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (d) Yes Sir. Geo-spatial technologies such as GIS and Satellite imagery are used to monitor and prevent illegal mining activities. The Ministry of Mines has launched the Mining Surveillance System (MSS) in October 2016 for major mineral mines. It is a system for detection of incidence of illegal mining by use of space technology and surveillance of area up to 500m outside the lease boundary to check incidences of illegal mining. The MSS has been developed through Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) in collaboration  with  Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  and Bhaskaracharya  Institute  for  Space  Applications  and  Geo-informatics  (BISAG) Gandhinagar. Minor mineral mines, being under the purview of state governments, are monitored locally as per state rules and technological initiatives.

Since the inception of MSS in 2016-17, the project has been implemented in major  mineral  rich  states  which  includes  State  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. The MSS analyzes land pattern changes within a 500-meter radius of mining leases. If discrepancies are detected, alerts are generated and sent to the respective State Government for ground verification.  These  alerts  do  not  automatically  indicate  illegal  mining  but  highlight suspected activities that require on-ground confirmation. During the last 3 years from 2021-22 (phase-III)  to  2023-24  (phase-IV),  total  472  alerts  were  generated  by  the system and communicated to State Governments for further action.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1526 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Trains Delayed/Cancelled due to Fog
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1526

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## TRAINS DELAYED/CANCELLED DUE TO FOG

## 1526. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of trains cancelled/running delayed due to fog this year in the country and the revenue loss incurred by the Government as a result thereof;
- (b) whether any strategy has been prepared to combat the problem of delays due to fog, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  any  new  technology  is  being  implemented  to  reduce  the delay/cancellation of trains due to fog;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the other steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure
- that trains run on time during the winter season?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)      to  (e)  Indian  Railways  makes  all  efforts  to  run  trains  as  per  their schedule  and  punctually.  However,  foggy  weather  conditions  affect  normal operation of train services causing delays, cancellations and partial cancellations. To mitigate the effect of fog and to assist the Loco Pilots in train  operations  during  foggy  weather  conditions,  various  measures  have been taken. These include provision of Retro-reflective sigma boards on the OHE mast as an indication to alert/warn the crew of the stop signal ahead and  GPS  based  Fog  Safe  devices  to  alert  crew  about  approaching  signals, level crossing gates etc. 26977 nos. Fog Safe devices have been provided for train operation up to October, 2024.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1524 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Schemes for Minorities in Chhattisgarh
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Radheshyam Rathiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1524

ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## SCHEMES FOR MINORITIES IN CHHATTISGARH

1524.  SHRI  RADHESHYAM  RATHIYA:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the names of the schemes being implemented for the minorities in Chhattisgarh in 2024;
- (b) the name of the schemes proposed by the Government for minorities in Raigarh Parliamentary Constituency;
- (c) whether the said schemes are being formulated; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)  to  (d):  The  Government  implements  various schemes for the welfare and upliftment of every strata,   including  minorities,  specially  the  economically  weaker  and  lesser  privileged sections  of  the   society.  Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  specifically  implements  various schemes for socio-economic and educational empowerment of the six (6) centrally notified minority  communities,  these  schemes  are  implemented  across  the  country   and  not  state specific. The Schemes/ programmes implemented by the Ministry are as under:

1. Educational Empowerment Schemes
- i. Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
- ii. Post Matric Scholarship Scheme
- iii. Merit-cum-Mean based Scholarship Scheme
2. Employment and Economic Empowerment Schemes
- i) Pradhan  Mantri  Virasat  Ka  Samvardhan  (PM  VIKAS): PM  VIKAS  scheme comprises of the following components which target to improve employability and support in generating better livelihood opportunities for the targeted beneficiaries.
- a) Skilling and Training component
- b) Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship component
- c) Education support component (for school dropouts)

Further, the scheme targets to promote credit and market linkages for the beneficiaries.

ii) National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) :  NMDFC provides concessional loan to 'Backward sections' amongst the notified minorities for self employment,  income  generation  activities  under  its  schemes  of  Term  loan,  Education loan,   Virasat  scheme  &  Micro  Finance  scheme  through  State  Channelizing  Agencies (SCAs)  nominated by respective State Govt./ UT Administration and Canara Bank.

## 3. Infrastructure Development Scheme

i) Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) : To Develop community infrastructure  in  the  Minority  Concentration  areas  of  the  country  in  the  sectors  viz. Health,  Skill  Development,  Women  Centric  Projects,  Drinking  water  and  Supply, Sanitation and Sports.

## 4. Special Schemes

Jiyo Parsi: A Scheme for reversing the population decline of Parsis in India.

The details of these schemes are available on the website of the Ministry www.minorityaffairs.gov.in .

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Operationalization of Transmitter for Akashvani Bhadravati
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri B Y Raghavendra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1522

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024)

OPERATIONALIZATION OF TRANSMITTER FOR AKASHVANI BHADRAVATI

1522. SHRI B Y RAGHAVENDRA:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a)   the  reasons  for  the  delay  in  the  installation  of  the  10  KW  FM Transmitter for Akashvani Bhadravati which was scheduled to be operational earlier this year;
- (b)   the  current  status  of  its  installation  process  along  with  the specific steps required for its completion; and
- (c)   the measures being taken to expedite the installation and ensure that the transmitter becomes fully functional at the earliest?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND MINISTER OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (c):    At  Bhadravati  (in  Karnataka),  an  Akashvani  station  is already operational with 20 kW Medium Wave (MW) transmitter and 1 kW FM transmitter.

In  addition,  a  project  for  setting  up  of  10  KW  FM  transmitter  at Doordarshan  site  in  Shimoga,  25  Kms  away  from  Bhadravati, is approved under Broadcasting Infrastructure  &  Network  Development (BIND) Scheme. The foundation stone has been laid on 19.01.2024 by Hon'ble  Prime  Minister.  The  procurement  of  FM  transmitter  and associated equipment has started.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1519 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Coal Mining Development Agreement
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Tapir Gao, Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1519 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## Coal Mining Development Agreement

## 1519    SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL: SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI: SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE: SHRI TAPIR GAO:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  expected  economic  impact  of  the  recently  executed  coal  mining  development  and production agreements for the Machhakata, Kudanali Lubri and Sakhigopal-B Kakurhi coal mines; and
- (b) the manner in which the said agreements are likely to contribute to the Government's goal of achieving self-sufficiency in coal sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL & MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) On  05.09.2024, Machhakata (Revised), Kudanali Lubri and Sakhigopal-B Kakurhi coal mines have been successfully allocated to NLC India Limited, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation  Limited(GMDC)  and  Tamil  Nadu  Generation  and  Distribution  Corporation (TANGEDCO) respectively. Kudanali Lubri and Sakhigopal-B Kakurhi are partially explored blocks, while Machhakata(Revised) coal block is fully explored having reserve of 1377 MT and PRC of 30 MTPA which is expected to generate Annual Revenue of ~Rs. 2,991 crores and estimated investment of ~Rs. 4,500 crores upon it's operationalization
- (b) The peak-rated capacity of the Machhakata (Revised) coal mine is 30 MTPA while the other  two  mines  are  Partially  Explored  coal  mines.  Once  operationalised,  these  mines  are expected to reduce the coal imports in the country thereby substituting it with the domestically produced coal.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1516 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Financial Condition of MTNL Employees
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Anil Yeshwant Desai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1516 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## FINANCIAL CONDITION OF MTNL EMPLOYEES

## 1516.  SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) the financial position, number of employees and assets and liabilities of MTNL prior to 2020 when VRS was offered to its employees and the number of employees and financial condition of the MTNL as on March 31, 2024;

(b) whether Government made any assessment about the reasons for such huge losses incurred by the State- run-undertaking if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether any responsibility against those officers or employees who have ever been fixed, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

( a ) to ( c ) The number of employees in MTNL was 21,708 as on 31.03.2019, which has gone down to 3,309 as on 31.03.2024. The details in respect of financial position and assets and liabilities of MTNL is published by MTNL in its annual report and available on its website.

MTNL has been incurring losses mainly  due to  stiff  competition  in  the  mobile  segment, absence of 4G services, debt burden and high employee cost.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Tidal Energy Potential
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1514

ANSWERED ON 04/12/2024

## TIDAL ENERGY POTENTIAL

## 1514. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY

Will the MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the potential and the exploitable potential of ocean energy in the country, if so, the details thereof and the works carried out in this regard;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any assessment to determine the economic viability and benefits of ocean energy, if so, details thereof;
- (c) the details regarding the funds allocated and utilised for research and development of ocean energy, during each of the last five years, institution-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted any environmental impact assessment of ocean energy power plants, if so, details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) the details regarding the R&D/pilot project proposals received and approved under the Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD) for tidal power; and
- (f) whether the Government has any schemes/plans/initiatives to set up new ocean energy power plants in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a) The Ministry has assessed the Tidal Power Potential of 12,455 MW and Wave Power Potential of 41,300 MW in the country in December 2014. The exploitable potential of ocean energy has not been assessed in the country.

- (b) No
- (c) No fund has been allocated by Ministry, so far.
- (d) No, Ocean energy-based power plants are still at R&D stage.
- (e) The Ministry received 22 nos. of project proposals under the RE-RTD Programme. Approval has been accorded to two proposals.

(f) The RE-RTD Programme has a provision of financial support for promotion of indigenous technology development for wide spread deployment of new and renewable energy, including ocean energy. The Ministry provides up to 100% financial support to Government/non-profit research organizations and upto 70% to Industry, start-ups, private Institutes, entrepreneur, and manufacturing units.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1510 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Illegal Mining
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1510

ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## ILLEGAL MINING

## †1510 SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to stop illegal mining;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any action against those involved in such acts during the last ten years; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) to (c) The Section 23C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 empowers the State Government to frame rules to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals and for purposes connected therewith. Therefore,  the  control  of  illegal  mining  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  State Government. The Central Government supports and augments these efforts through policy initiatives from time to time. Some of the steps taken by the Central Government for the prevention and control of illegal mining are as follows:
- (i)   The  MMDR  Act,  1957  was  amended  through  the  MMDR  (Amendment)  Act, 2015, wherein Section 30B and 30C read with Section 21 and 23C, inter-alia, provides stringent punitive provisions for combating illegal mining. Illegal mining has been made punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees per hectare of the area. Provisions have also been made for setting up of Special Courts for the purpose of providing speedy trial of offences relating to illegal mining.
- (ii)  In terms of section 5(2)(b) of the MMDR Act, 1957, a mining plan has been made pre-requisite for grant of mining lease for major minerals. The mining plan contains details on annual programme for excavation for a five year period, apart from other essential details on mineral reserves, geology, lithology, type of mining, rehabilitation and restoration of mining area etc.

(iii)   The  Ministry  of  Mines,  through  IBM,  has  developed  the  Mining  Surveillance System (MSS), in coordination with Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and  Geo -informatics ( BISAG ) , Gandhinagar and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), to use space technology for curbing illegal mining activity in the country.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1509 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Sub-standard Quality of Food served in  Express Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1509 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## SUB-STANDARD QUALITY OF FOOD SERVED IN EXPRESS TRAINS

1509. SHRI CHUDASAMA RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  Government  is  aware  of  the  sub-standard  quality  of  food service experienced by passengers on express trains;
- (b) if so, the number of complaints received during the last three years;
- (c)  whether  a  digital  platform  has  been  created  or  proposed  to  be created  for  the  redressal  of  customer  issues  related  to  food  catering services and prices; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (d):  It  is  the  continuous  endeavour  of  Indian  Railways  (IR)  to provide good quality and hygienic food to passengers as per the norms and standards of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Prompt  and  appropriate  punitive  action,  including  imposition  of  fines, disciplinary action, counselling, warning etc., is taken in case of catering related complaints.

There  is  a  robust  digital  mechanism  in  place  for  redressal  of  all passenger service related complaints including catering issues through RailMadad.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1508 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: 4G and 5G Connectivity Index
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1508 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## 4G AND 5G CONNECTIVITY INDEX

## †1508. SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has prepared any index regarding availability and quality of 4G and 5G connectivity;
- (b) if so, the details thereof in respect of Punjab particularly Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to expand the network capacity in the Punjab along with the details of the proposed plan in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) to (c) Availability of 4G and 5G connectivity is assessed by the number of 4G and 5G BTSs installed in the area. There are around 2865 and 1426 BTSs of 4G technology installed in Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts of Punjab respectively. Further, there are 761 and 425 BTSs of 5G technology installed in Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts of Punjab respectively.

For assessment of quality of 4G and 5G connectivity, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issues guidelines and sets benchmarks to monitor Quality of Services (QoS) offered by the Telecom  Service  Providers.  These  parameters  are  assessed  for  entire  licensed  service  area  on quarterly basis for ensuring compliance with the QoS Benchmarks.

Recently, TRAI has notified its revised regulations on the standards of Quality of Services (QoS) of  mobile  network  on 2nd  August 2024. The  regulation has  incorporated  benchmarks  for network availability, accessibility and retainability for assessment of quality of service for 4G and 5G network.

(d) Government  has  launched  4G  saturation  project  for  extending  coverage  to  all  uncovered villages in the country including remote and difficult areas. 47 villages of Punjab State have been identified  to  be  covered  by  4G  mobile  services  under  this  project.  Out  of  these  47  villages,  4G services have already been started in 36 villages.

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