opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Production of Coal in Bihar
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3307 ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## Production of Coal in Bihar

## 3307. SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- (a) whether coal is produced in Bihar;
- (b) if so, whether there has been an increase in the production of coal in Bihar; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (c): Till date, there is no coal production in Bihar.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Tulsidamar Dolomite MIne
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3304 FOR ANSWER ON 09.08.2023

## TULSIDAMAR DOLOMITE MINE

3304. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Tulsidamar Dolomite Mine which was operated by the SAIL in Garhwa District of Jharkhand shut down due to non-renewal of lease and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the 730 labourers working at the mines before its closing registered under B-pharma in the said mine and the payment not released to them for their earlier tenure and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government intends to employ these unemployed labourers and pay their arrears; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL

- (a) No,  Sir.    The  operation  of  Tulsidamar  Dolomite  Mines  operated  by  SAIL  in Garhwa  District  of  Jharkhand  got  suspended/shut  down  as  Govt.  of  Jharkhand stopped issuance of 'Transit Challan' on JIMMS portal w.e.f. 16.02.2020 even though Mining Lease was valid at that point of time (till 31/03/2020).
- (b) For  the  payment  for  full  and  final  settlement,  a  Memorandum  of  Settlement (MOS) was mutually arrived under section 18(1)D of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 between  Management  and  workmen  represented  by  the  Operating  Trade  Unions namely  NMDC  Mines  Worker's  Union(affiliated  to  AITUC),  Bokaro  Steel  Workers' Union (affiliated to INTUC) and Palamau Pramandal Khan Mazdoor Sangh(affiliated to HMS) at Patna on 28th January, 2022.  In accordance with conciliation proceedings dated 28/01/2022 in the office of Central Govt. Labour Authority, the payment for full and  final  settlement  has  been  paid  directly  in  the  bank  accounts  of  the  contract labourers registered under Form 'B', by their employer i.e. the contractors.

(c)&(d): Does not arise in view of (b) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3303 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Prior Permission for Holding Positions
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Deepak Baij

(a)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3303 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## PRIOR PERMISSION FOR HOLDING POSITIONS

## †3303. SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Central  Civil  Services  (Conduct)  Rules  1964  and Railway Services (Conduct) Rules 1966 lay down that it will be necessary  for  any  Central  Government  employee  to  take  prior permission from his/her employer if he or she desires to hold an elective office in any co-operative banking society;
- (b) if  so,  whether the members of the Board of Directors of the NE and  EC  Railway  Employees  Multi  State  Primary  Co-operative Bank  Ltd.,  Gorakhpur  had  taken  prior  permission  from  the Railway Administration to contest the General Body election and Board of Directors election of this co-operative banking society; and
- (c) if  not,  the  action  likely  to  be  taken  as  per  Railway  Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966 against the Railway employees/shareholders elected to the General Body and Board of  Directors of this Banking Society, if they have contested the said elections without taking prior permission from the Railway Administration?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  3303  BY  SHRI  DEEPAK  BAIJ  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA  ON  09.08.2023  REGARDING  PRIOR  PERMISSION  FOR  HOLDING POSITIONS.

(a)  to  (c):  Rule-15  of  the  Railway  Services  (Conduct)  Rules,  1966, which  deals  with  'Private  trade  or  Employment'  lays  down  that  no Railway  Servant  shall,  except  with  the  previous  sanction  of  the Government, hold an elective office in any body, whether incorporated or  not.  A  similar  provision  exists  in  Rule-15  of  the  Central  Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.

Further,  Indian  Railway  Establishment  Manual,  Volume-II,  Chapter XXIII  lays  down  that  the  Government  Policy  is  directed  towards encouraging co-operative movement on Indian Railways and it accordingly provides for operation of Cooperative Credit Societies and Banks  on  Indian  Railways  together  with  the  facilities,  inter-alia,  of recovery  of  loans,  bank  deposits,  and  compulsory  thrift  deposits through the salary bills  of  the  staff  concerned,  as  also  provisions  of Casual Leave and passes for members of the Managing Committee to attend  meetings  etc.  The  NE  and  EC  Railway  Employees  Multi  State Primary Co-operative Bank Ltd., Gorakhpur falls under the category of such Cooperative Credit Societies and Banks and as such the practice has  been  that  the  aforesaid  provisions  of  Rule  15  are  not  attracted unless the element of Private trade or Employment is involved.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3301 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Concessions in Trains going to Religious Places
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Keshari Devi Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3301 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## CONCESSIONS IN TRAINS GOING TO RELIGIOUS PLACES

†3301.  SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to provide concession in trains having less number of passengers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government also proposes any kind of concession in other trains going to religious places; and
- (d) if  so,  the  number  of  such  trains  and  the  details  of  concessions proposed to be provided?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): Indian Railways strives to provide affordable services to all strata  of  society  and  gave  subsidy  of ` 59,837  crore  on  passenger tickets in 2019-20. This amounts to concession of 53% on an average, to every person, travelling on Railways. This subsidy is continuing for all passengers. Further, concessions beyond this subsidy amount are continuing for many categories like Divyangjans, students and patients.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Loss incurred by Vacant Berths
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: C.N. Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3300 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## LOSS INCURRED BY VACANT BERTHS

3300. SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the quantum of loss incurred in a year by Railways on account of vacant berths in the trains;
- (b)  whether  the  Railways  has  any  plans  to  introduce  discount  on vacant seats/berths after the preparation of charts in all trains;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  mechanism  worked  out  for  this purpose;
- (d) whether the Government is contemplating to introduce fare system of  airlines  in  Railways in case tickets are booked by the passengers months before and if so, the details of the provision for rebate being made/likely to be made in percentile terms;
- (e)  whether  due  to  exorbitant  increase  in  the  fares  in  Railways,  the first  and  second  class  berths  remain  vacant  in  almost  all  the  trains; and
- (f) if so, whether the Government proposes to rationalize the rail fares?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*******

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  3300  BY  SHRI  C.N  ANNADURAI  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 09.08.2023 REGARDING LOSS INCURRED BY VACANT BERTHS. (a)  to  (f):  On  Indian  Railways,  occupancy  pattern  of  trains  is  not uniform throughout the year and it varies over lean and peak periods. During  peak  rush  periods,  the  occupancy  of  the  trains  especially  on popular  routes  remains  full  whereas  during  lean  period  and  on  less popular  routes,  there  is  sub  optimal  utilization.  During  the  financial year  2022-23  and  2023-24  (upto  June  2023)  overall  occupancy  of reserved accommodation has been more than 100%. Indian Railways strive to provide affordable services to all strata of society and gave subsidy of ₹ 59,837 crore on passenger ticket in 2019-20. This amounts to  concession  of  53%  on  average,  to  every  person,  travelling  on Railways. This subsidy is continuing for all passengers. Further, fare rationalization  is  a  continuous  process  to  optimise  the  utilization  of travel accommodation in trains.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Meetings of DRUCC/ZRUCC
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3299

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## MEETINGS OF DRUCC/ZRUCC

## 3299.   SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  meetings  of Divisional Railway  Users  Consultative Committee  (DRUCC)  and  Zonal  Railway  Users  Consultative  Committee (ZRUCC) are being held on a regular basis;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the  number  of  meetings  to  be  held  during  the  entire  tenure  of  two years as per the guidelines laid down?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (d)  Divisional  Railway  Users'  Consultative  Committees  (DRUCCs) have been reconstituted for a two years' term with effect from  01.01.2021 to 31.12.2023 and Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committees (ZRUCCs) have been reconstituted for a two years' term with effect from 01.02.2023  to  31.01.2025.  As  per  extant  provisions,  ordinarily  three meetings of each DRUCC and ZRUCC should be held in a year. All efforts are made to  hold these meetings as per schedule, however, at times, due to  various  reasons  as  mentioned  below,  it  is  not  feasible  to  hold  these meeting as per schedule:-
- i.  Imposition  of  Model  Code  of  Conduct  on  account  of  announcement  of Elections.
- ii.  The condition of non-holding of ZRUCC meetings during Parliamentary Sessions.
- iii. Other reasons including unforeseen circumstances.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Manual Scavenging in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3294 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## MANUAL SCAVENGING IN RAILWAYS

## 3294. SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  cognizance  of  sweepers employed in performing manual scavenging in Railways, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b)  whether the sweepers are mandated to wear gloves and protective equipment, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the sweepers are provided with hygiene awareness workshops, if so, the details thereof and the number of workshops held in the past three years, State-wise, if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  whether any technology is used to clean train toilets and tracks, if so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  details  of  trains  using  it  and  the percentage of tracks cleaned through this technology, if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3294 BY SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S. TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  09.08.2023  REGARDING  MANUAL SCAVENGING IN RAILWAYS

(a)    to  (c)  There  is  no  manual  scavenging  being  done  on  Indian Railways. (d) The station/platform cleaning activities at major railway stations are carried  out  through  mechanized  means  by  using  high  pressure  jets, mechanized  floor  scrubber,  walk  behind  automatic  scrubber  dryer, battery  operated  ride  on  scrubber,  vacuum  cleaner,  flippers,  wet  and dry vacuum cleaner etc., along with the requisite manpower. Wherever, concrete  washable  aprons  are  provided  on  platform  tracks,  they  are cleaned with water jet whenever necessary. With  the  installation  of  bio-toilets  in  all  passenger  coaches  of Indian Railway System, no human waste fall on the tracks and the biotanks have sufficient microbes  to convert the fecal matter into gas and treated  water  only  is  released  onto  ground.  External  cleaning  of coaches  is  progressively  done  at  Automatic  coach  washing  Plants (ACWP). For internal cleaning of coaches, proper tools and equipments are  used  along  with  handheld  scrubbing  machines,  vacuum  cleaners. Toilets are cleaned using high pressure jets with prescribed chemicals.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3293 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: FDI in Space Sector
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Kuruva Gorantla Madhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3293

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2023

## FDI IN SPACE SECTOR

## 3293. SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Government  intends  to  open  the  Space  Sector  to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), in order to allow ISRO to focus more  on  new  technologies,  exploration  missions  and  human spaceflight  programmes  and  to  promote  technology  transfer and research innovations in the Space Sector;
- (b)
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Yes Sir.
- (b) Currently, FDI in space sector is permitted under the heading 'Satellites - Establishment and Operations' via the Government route upto 100 %.

Recently Government has approved the Indian Space Policy 2023 which envisages a greater role for private sector across the  entire  value  chain  of  space  activities.  The  policy  also envisages  ISRO  to  work  on  new  technologies,  exploration mission, human spaceflight programmes and national prerogatives, while promoting technology transfer and research innovations in the space sector.

In order to facilitate the Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) for their participation in the space sector activities in line with the Cabinet decision for Unlocking India's potential in Space Sector and  Indian  Space  Policy,  Department  is  in  consultation  with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for reviewing the sectoral guidelines pertaining to space in the FDI policy.

- (c) Does not arise.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Coal Blocks in Odisha
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Chandrani Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3291 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## Coal Blocks in Odisha

## 3291.  MS. CHANDRANI MURMU:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:-

- (a) the number of coal blocks that is up for auction in Odisha;
- (b) the details of the valuation of these coal blocks and the expectation of the Government therefrom;
- (c) the number of such blocks in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts;
- (d) the  details  of  the  norms  to  be  followed  by  the  companies  that  have  been  allocated/ auctioned coal blocks in order to control pollution; and
- (e) the number of the companies who have violated environmental norms and the action taken against them?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL, MINES & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a) & (b) 17  coal  mines  from  Odisha  were  put  up  for  auctions  under  7 th round  of commercial coal mine auctions launched on 29.03.2023 to achieve self-reliance in coal sector and reducing the expenditure of precious foreign reserves associated with coal imports. Total Peak Rated Capacity of these mines in 62 Million Ton Per Annum (MTPA) with cumulative Geological reserves of 14,752.46 Million tonnes.
- (c) No mines under 7 th round of auctions from Odisha falls in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts.
- (d) Coal  companies  are  required  to  take  Environmental  Clearance  (EC)  and  Forest Clearance (FC) before start of actual production from coal mines and to take requisite actions as per conditions of EC/FC to control pollution. Clause 11.5 of Coal Block Development and Production  Agreement  (CBDPA)  also  mandates  that  Successful  Bidder  shall  implement mechanised coal extraction, transport and evacuation in the Coal Mine, in line with modern and prevalent technologies. Further, the Successful Bidder shall strive to minimize the carbon footprints from operations at the Coal Mine, undertake steps to reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainability, in accordance with Good Industry Practice.
- (e) No such report has been received for violation of environmental norms as no coal block is located in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts in Odisha.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Post Offices in Telangana
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Gaddam Ranjith Reddy, Venkatesh Netha Borlakunta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3289 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## POST OFFICES IN TELANGANA

## 3289.   DR. G. RANJITH REDDY: SHRI VENKATESH NETHA BORLAKUNTA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  true  that  Twenty  Five  post  offices  in  Telangana  have  either  been  closed  or relocated or downgraded during the last three years; if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the reasons for closing/downgrading/relocating each of the above post offices?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

- (a) No post office in Telangana has been closed during the last three years. Sixteen post offices have been relocated and four post offices have been downgraded in Telangana during the last three years.  Year-wise details of number of post offices closed, relocated or downgraded in Telangana during the last three years are given in Annexure .
- (b) Post Offices in Telangana have been downgraded/relocated during the last three years based on establishment norms prescribed by Department of Posts.

## ANNEXURE

## Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) for Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.  3289 to be answered on 9 TH  August, 2023 regarding 'Post Offices in Telangana'

| Serial Number   | Financial Year   |   Number of post offices closed |   Number of post offices relocated |   Number of post Offices downgraded |   Total |
|-----------------|------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|---------|
| 1               | 2020-21          |                               0 |                                 02 |                                  00 |      02 |
| 2               | 2021-22          |                               0 |                                 07 |                                  03 |      10 |
| 3               | 2022-23          |                               0 |                                 07 |                                  01 |      08 |
| Total           | Total            |                               0 |                                 16 |                                  04 |      20 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Survey of Exclusive Economic Zone
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Maddila  Gurumoorthy

- (a) Yes Sir.
- (b) The  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  (MoES)  has  carried  out  multi-beam  swath  bathymetric surveying of  the  Exclusive Economic  Zone (EEZ) of India through National  Centre for Polar  &  Ocean  Research  (NCPOR)  as  the  nodal  organization,  along  with  the  National Institute  of  Ocean  Technology  (NIOT),  National  Institute  of  Oceanography  (NIO),  and Geological Survey of India (GSI). Bathymetric survey of 93% of the deep- water (water depth >500m) area of the EEZ and shallow water bathymetry along the Andhra Pradesh and  West  Bengal  coast  to  cover  0  to  30  m  water  depth  is  completed.  A  marine geoscientific  database  has  been  established  at  NCPOR.  Centre  for  Marine  Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) has carried out the exploratory surveys on the living resources  in  the  Indian  EEZ.  The  Ministry  of  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  (MoPNG) through  Directorate  General  of  Hydrocarbons  (DGH)  has  carried  out  the  exploration in unappraised basinal part of Eastern sector, Western sector and Andaman Sector of India EEZ and has acquired about 80,000 KLM (Line kilometres) 2D seismic data.
- (c) The bathymetric survey is useful for safe navigation and construction activities, geohazard potential  assessment,  oceanographic  research,  demarcating  geohazard  susceptible  zones such  as  submarine  landslides  and  is  essential  for  nearshore  modelling,  inundation mapping, coastal flooding and coastal process studies. 2D seismic surveying is beneficial to identify potential area available for exploration of petroleum  and  natural  gas. Exploratory surveys on the living resources provides distribution and abundance of marine living resources.
- (d) Yes Sir.
- (e) For bathymetric survey, India is self- reliant as well as scientifically and technologically competent for carrying out such surveys.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3288

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 9 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## SURVEY OF EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE

## 3288.  SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is taking measures to provide for survey of Exclusive Economic Zone;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the benefits proposed in this respect;
- (d) whether India intends to engage with other countries in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)