opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 48 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Development Projects by China
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAHUL KASWAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.48 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BY CHINA

- † *48.  SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of various development  projects  by  China  including  road  and  railway network along Indian border;
- (b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that China is considering to construct a tunnel under the Mount Everest to expand its rail connectivity upto Nepal and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has made any assessment of the said project by China and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 48 REGARDING 'DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BY CHINA' FOR ANSWER ON 02.12.2015

(a) to (d) Government  is  aware  that  China  continues  to  undertake  large  scale development  projects  including  construction  of  highways,  railways  and  high  speed rail corridors in Chinese Provinces which are bordering India. China is involved in the construction of or assistance to infrastructure projects in our neighborhood including in Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These infrastructure projects include power projects,  IT projects, housing projects, nuclear energy projects, and construction of highways, motorways, railways, sea and air ports, export processing zones and economic corridors.

Government has seen media reports that China plans to extend its rail link to Nepal which might involve building a tunnel under Mount Everest. Full financial and technical details of the proposal have not come to the attention of the Government.

India  is  an  active  development  partner  of  its  neighbours  and  is  involved  in various projects in these countries. India's relations with other countries stand on their own  footing  and  are  independent  of  the  relations  of  those  countries  with  third countries.  India  is  working  with  its  neighbouring  countries,  including  China,  to enhance road, rail, air and shipping connectivity in the region.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 45 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Railway Projects Awaiting Environmental Clearance
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: R. VANAROJA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 45 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## RAILWAY PROJECTS AWAITING ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE

* 45. SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Railways  ambitious  plan  to  enhance  the  capacity  by focussing on doubling, tripling and four laning of tracks have hit an environmental roadblock;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, location/project-wise;
- (c) whether any assessment of loss of revenue to railways in the event of delay has been made and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Railways  have  urged  the  Environment  Ministry  to expedite clearance in a time bound manner in a fasttrack mode and if so, the response thereof; and
- (e) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Railways  to  obtain  environmental clearance for these projects?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

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

******

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 45 BY SHRIMATI VANAROJA R. TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.12.2015 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS AWAITING ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE.

(a):   77 doubling/tripling/quadrupling projects have been included in the Railway  Budget  for  2015-16  to  decongest  existing  saturated  section and  create  additional carrying capacity. These  projects  have  an aggregate length of 9040 Km and total estimated cost of ` 90,304 Crore. As the lines are to be constructed parallel to running tracks, no major hurdle with respect to forestry clearance is anticipated.

(b) to (e):   Do not arise.

.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 42 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Flood Early Warning System
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: POONAM  MAHAJAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 42

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 02, 2015

## FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

- *42. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed  Flood Early Warning System  (FLEWS) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  FLEWS  has  the  ability  to  forecast  heavy  rains twenty four hours in advance and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether warning system for snow melting and glacier lake bursts has been incorporated in FLEWS and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of areas where FLEWS has been deployed, Statewise; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to further improve the capability of the Flood Early Warning Systems?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e)   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN REPLY TO STARRED QUESTION NO. 42 REGARDING 'FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM' ASKED BY SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN FOR ANSWER ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 02, 2015.

- (a) Yes  Madam.  The  North  Eastern  Space  Applications  Centre (NESAC) of DOS/ISRO has developed the Flood Early Warning System (FLEWS) as a Research & Development (R&D) project in  Assam  State  in  association  with  Assam  State  Disaster Management  Authority  (ASDMA).  FLEWS  is  a  terrain-specific model,  which  employs  satellite  based  inputs,  in-situ  data  on rainfall and river discharge data at critical locations to provide advance  information  on  flood  events  as  an  input  to  disaster preparedness.
- (b) No  Madam.  Presently,  FLEWS  model  is  not  providing  heavy rainfall  forecast.  However,  heavy  rainfall  forecast,  on  an experimental  basis,  is  being  provided  by  Space  Applications Centre, Ahmedabad and hosted on its MOSDAC website.
- (c) No  Madam.  Snow  melting  and  glacier  lakes  bursts  have  not been incorporated in FLEWS model as it is developed only for the state of Assam. However, the impact of snow melt runoff is  incorporated  in  the  model  through  in-situ  observations  of river discharge.
- (d) As R&D project, the FLEWS model is being used in all the flood prone districts  of  Assam  State  (25  districts),  except  two  hill districts of North Cachar and Karbi Anglong. Further, the flood forecasting methodology developed by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO for the Godavari floodplains is transferred to Central Water Commission (CWC), Hyderabad.

(e) The Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources is mandated for flood forecasts in India. ISRO undertakes studies to  develop  methodology  for  flood  forecasting  using  space based and in-situ  observations, as  Research & Development. Also,  ISRO  provides  capacity  building  with  regard  to  spatial flood inundation modeling. ****
Lok Sabha Question No. 690 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Dilapidated Railway Colony in Rajasthan
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 690 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## DILAPIDATED RAILWAY COLONY IN RAJASTHAN

†690.

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL :

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

- ( a) whether the railway staff colony situated at Abu Road in Rajasthan is in miserable condition and lacks basic amenities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the extended roofs of quarters are collapsing and require major maintenance; and
- (d)  if so, the funds spent on the maintenance of the aforesaid colony during the last three years and the current year, year-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ( SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (d) Repair and maintenance of staff quarters of Railway colonies is a continuous process and undertaken as per need and availability of funds.  One  work  costing ` 3.49  crores  for  repair  of  staff  quarters  at Railway  Staff  Colony  at  Abu  Road  has  been  sanctioned.    The  fund spent  during  the  last  three  years and   current  year  on  the  repair /

maintenance of staff quarters of Railway Colony at Abu Road are as under :-

2012-13 -` 55.12 lakhs

2013-14 -` 45.51 lakhs

2014-15 -` 151.99 lakhs

2015-16 ( upto October 2015) -` 90.44 lakhs.

However, the staff quarters which are very old and may require major repairs are abandoned as it is economically not viable to repair them. 507  no.  of  such  staff  quarters  of  Railway  Staff  Colony  at  Abu  Road have already been abandoned.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 689 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Rail Line between Chatra and Gaya
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 689 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## RAIL LINE BETWEEN CHATRA AND GAYA

†689.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether any rail line is proposed between Chatra and Gaya;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the budget allocation made for the line so far;
- (c)  the estimated budget required to complete the Chatra-Gaya railway line;
- (d)   the latest status of the said line; and
- (e)   the time by which the said railway line is likely to be completed?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (e):  Yes, Madam. Gaya-Chatra (97 Km) New Line project has been sanctioned in 2008-09 at an original sanctioned cost of ` 416 crore.  The  project  could  not  take  off  due  to  abnormal  increase  in cost  of  land  and  limited  overall  availability  of  funds  for  new  line projects.  The  anticipated  cost  of  this  project  has  now  reached  to more  than ` 4000  crore.  An  expenditure  of ` 14  crore  has  been incurred upto March 2015 with an outlay of ` 1 crore in 2015-16.

The target date of completion of the project has not been fixed.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Electrification of KozhikodeMangalore Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.688 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## ELECTRIFICATION OF KOZHIKODE-MANGALORE LINE

## 688.  SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is proposing to complete electrification of Kozhikode-Mangalore line during this financial year;  and
- (b)    if so, the details thereof and the probable time of completion of electrification work?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) & (b):  No, Madam.  Electrification of Kozhikode-Mangalore rail line is  not  targeted  for  completion  during  the  current  financial  year  i.e. 2015-16, as construction of transmission line for traction power supply at  2  locations  (Uppla  and  Thokur)  are  yet  to  be  commenced  by  the respective  State  Government  undertakings  i.e.  M/s  Kerala  State Electricity  Board  (KSEB)  and  M/s  Karnataka  Power  Transmission Corporation Limited(KPTCL). The work has been planned for completion by December 2016.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Overloading in Wagons
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: NEELAM SONKER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.686 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## OVERLOADING IN WAGONS

†686. SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether loading is being done beyond the specific capacity of rail wagons in order to earn more revenue;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  railway  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  rail  safety  is affected adversely in long run as a result thereof;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that rail safety is not compromised for want of earning more revenue?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) :  No, Madam.
- (b) to (e):  Do not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Stoppages in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: K. KAMARAAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 685 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## STOPPAGES IN RAILWAYS

685. DR. K. KAMARAJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the Number of temporary and permanent stoppages in railways, State-wise;
- (b) the number of stoppages proposed to be removed along with the reasons for removing the temporary stoppages; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  to  improve  traffic  in  low  revenue  railway stations?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a): Indian Railways do not maintain compendium of temporary and permanent stoppages on State-wise basis.

(b): Temporary stoppages are generally provided for short periods in connection with religious congregations, Mela(s) or on any activity/occasion of National Importance and, as such, their validity normally ceases at their conclusion.

(c): Indian Railways continuously strive to improve passenger traffic across  all  Zonal  Railways  through  various    measures  including augmentation  of  on-board  capacity  by  attachment  of  additional coaches,  running  of  special  trains  during  festivals  and  holidays, running  of  Suvidha  trains,  organizing  intensive  ticket  checking drives including fortress checks etc., augmentation of ticket selling capacity through operation of Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM), Cash-Coin & Smart Card operated Ticket Vending Machines (CoTVM), mobile ticketing, utilizing the services of ticketing agents like  Jan  Sadharan  Ticket  Booking  Sewaks  (JTBS),  Station  Ticket Booking  Agents  (STBA),  Yatri  Ticket  Suvidha  Kendra  (YTSK)  etc. subject to feasibility.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 683 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Stalemate in Nuclear Power Plants
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.683

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## STALEMATE IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

## 683. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  break  the  stalemate  in  nuclear  power projects in light of difficulties in liability clause and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  Nuclear  Power  Corporation  of  India  Limited  (NPCIL)  could  not  take  into shape its proposed nuclear power plants in Gujarat and Rajasthan due to   equipment crunch; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :

- (a) Yes, Sir. The Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP), launched jointly by GIC-Re and a number of other Indian Insurance Companies, provides a market- based mechanism to address liability-related concerns of suppliers under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage  (CLND)  Act  2010.  Further,  the  Frequently  Asked  Questions  (FAQs)  and their answers on CLND Act and related issues published on 8.2.2015 on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Atomic Energy clarify all issues related to the CLND Act.
- (b) The  construction  of  indigenous  Pressurised  Heavy  Water  Reactors  (PHWRs)  at Kakrapar Site in Gujarat (2 x 700 MW) and Rawatbhata Site in Rajasthan (2 x 700 MW) are currently at various stages of construction.

These reactors are indigenously designed and employ 'first of its kind' systems and equipment with the highest quality requirements.

In  view  of  indigenous  development  of  materials  and  equipment  by  the  Indian Industry, there have been delays in manufacturing and delivery of critical equipment like  Steam  Generators,  Reactor  components,  Pressurizer's  etc.  However,  the challenges  in  these  areas  are  now  overcome  and  the  supplies  are  being  received progressively.  Many  of  the  critical  equipment  like  Steam  Generators,  Pressurizer, Reactor components etc. have been received and erected.

- (c) Steps  have  been  taken  to  expedite  the  manufacturing  and  delivery  of  these equipments  to  expedite  projects.  Close  monitoring  by  senior  level  committee's, frequent meetings with vendors, resolution of likely constraints in advance, providing financial  assistance  to  vendors    facing  financial  problems  and  re-sequencing  of construction activities to the extent possible have resulted in the reduction of delay in equipment delivery-schedules.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 682 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Employment to Youth
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 682

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 02.12.2015

## EMPLOYMENTE TO YOUTH

## 682 SHRI SHIVKUMAR  UDASI:

Will the Minister of Communications & Information Technology be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the Government is considering to provide employment to youth through Digital India Programme;
- (b) if so, the steps taken so far by the Government in this regard; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to  (c):  Yes,  Sir.  The  Government  of  India  has  approved  the  'Digital  India'  programme  in August  2014  (formally  launched  on  1 st July  2015)  with  the  vision  to  transform  India  into  a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Digital India is an umbrella programme that covers multiple Government Ministries and Departments and is being coordinated by DeitY.

Digital India aims to provide the much needed thrust to nine pillars of growth areas that is (i) Broadband Highways, (ii) Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity, (iii) Public Internet Access Programme,  (iv)  e-Governance  -  Reforming  Government  through  Technology,  (v)  e-KrantiElectronic delivery of services, (vi) Information for All, (vii) Electronics Manufacturing - Target NET ZERO Imports, (viii) IT for Jobs and (ix) Early Harvest Programmes.

Under  'Pillar  8:  IT  for  Jobs'  of  Digital  India  programme,  the  Government  of  India  is implementing schemes that aim to:

-  train 1 Cr students from smaller towns & villages for IT sector jobs over 5 years.
-  set up BPOs in every north-eastern state to facilitate ICT enabled growth in these states
-  train 3 lakh service delivery agents as part of skill development to run viable businesses delivering IT services
-  train 5 lakh rural workforce by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to cater to their own needs.
- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 680 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Maulana Azad Educational Foundation
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 680 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## MAULANA AZAD EUDCATION FOUNDATION

## 680: SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received complaints of mismanagement and severe shortage of manpower in Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF);
- (b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether a full time post of head is lying vacant for long and the foundation is managing with lower rank officers;
- (d) if so, whether keeping in view all these factors the Government has roped Tata Institute of Social  Science  (TISS)  to  prepare  a  report  and  suggested  complete  overhaul  of  the organization; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the report is likely to be submitted by TISS and the foundation is to work in full stream?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

- (a) to  (c)  Maulana  Azad  Education  Foundation  (MAEF),  an  autonomous  body  under  the Ministry of Minority Affairs, was established to promote education amongst educationally backward  sections  of  the  society,  particularly  minorities.  Since  inception  in  1989,  the MAEF suffered structural and functional weaknesses and lack of expertise to deliver. The issues  related  to  efficiency  and  delivery  of  MAEF  have  been  raised  by  various  sections from time to time. Further, the post of Secretary (MAEF) has remained vacant from time to time  and  held  by  officers  of  the  Ministry  at  appropriate  level  as  additional  charge.  At present, the post is lying vacant since May 2014, and being managed by Deputy Secretary in  the  Ministry  as  additional  charge,  as  the  then  Secretary  (MAEF)  was  removed  on  the charges of misappropriation of funds.
- (d) and (e) In order to restructure MAEF, Ministry of Minority Affairs engaged Tata Institute of  Social  Sciences (TISS) on 26 th February, 2015 to undertake a structural and functional analysis of MAEF and submit a report. Accordingly, TISS has submitted the final report including recommendations in July, 2015, which was accepted by General Body of MAEF on 19.08.2015. Thereafter, MAEF has adopted the report and taken action for recruitment of the manpower in order to make Foundation work effectively.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 679 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Dynamic Fare System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 679 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## DYNAMIC FARE SYSTEM

679.  SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the railways has decided to introduce dynamic fare system  which  would  charge  higher  fare  close  to  journey date; and
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER ( SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) &  (b):  At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to  introduce  dynamic fare system which would charge higher fare close to journey date. However,  there  is  Premium  tatkal  quota  in  identified  trains  in which system of dynamic fare is applicable. Also, Indian Railways is  running  Suvidha/Premium Special trains with variable/dynamic fares where fares increase with the number of berths being sold in a step-function manner.

*******