opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2987 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: ROBs/RUBs in Gujarat
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2987 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

ROBs/RUBs IN GUJARAT

2987.  SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  details  of  Railway  Over  Bridges  (ROBs)  Railway  Under  Bridges (RUBs) under construction in Gujarat;

(b)  the  details  of  the  proposals sent by the Government of Gujarat for construction of Over Bridges/Under Bridges at railway crossings; and

(c) the further steps taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINSTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2987 BY SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 11.05.2016 REGARDING ROBs/RUBs IN GUJARAT (a):      In  the  State  of  Gujarat,  115  Road Over Bridges (ROBs) at a total cost  of ₹ 3016.49 crore  with  allocation  of ₹ 63.08  crore  in  2016-17  are sanctioned  in  Railway  Works  Programme.  Further,  in  the  State  of Gujarat, 638 Road Under Bridges (RUBs)/Subways at a cost of ₹ 875.48 crores  with  allocation  of ₹ 76.80  crores  in  2016-17  are  sanctioned  in Railway Works Programme. (b)  &  (c):    Proposals  for  construction  of  ROBs/RUBs  in  lieu  of  Level Crossings (LCs) are normally received at various levels in zonal railways from  State  Government/other  Statutory  Authorities.  After  completing various formalities with State Government/Statutory Authorities, regarding the consent for sharing of cost and closure of LCs, proposals received  for  construction  of  ROBs/RUBs  in  lieu  of  LCs  are  further processed for their inclusion in Railway Works Programme. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2986 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Survey for Foreign Policy
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: VEENA DEVI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2986 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## SURVEY FOR FOREIGN POLICY

## † 2986. SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  getting  a  survey  done  for  the comprehensive review of foreign policy of the country;
- (b) if  so,  the details thereof and the institutions or individuals to whom  the  Government  have  entrusted  the  responsibility  of conducting the survey; and
- (c) the  time  by  which  the  report  of  this  survey  is  likely  to  be received by the Government?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (c) Ministry of External Affairs consults the wider strategic community from time to time on issues of foreign policy. On certain occasions  this  also  takes  the  form  of  seeking  inputs  from  this community on specific questions & issues. It forms part of the work of  Policy  Planning  &  Research  Division  on  an  ongoing  basis.  This consistent  outreach  feeds  into  the  continuous  process  of  selfevaluation of the Ministry and appraisal of foreign policy.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2985 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Telecom Services in Left-Wing Extremism Affected Areas
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI, BAIJAYANT "JAY" PANDA

## MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2985 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  MAY, 2016

## TELECOM SERVICES IN LEFT-WING EXTREMISM AFFECTED AREAS

2985. SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI: SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) whether  the  Ministry  has  taken  steps  to  increase  telephone,  mobile  and internet connectivity in left-wing extremism affected States; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of mobile towers proposed to be installed in such areas, State-wise; (c) whether only a small number of towers has been set up so far; (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, State-wise including Odisha; and the action taken by the Government to expedite the work along with the time-

- (e) frame fixed for the same??

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) Government had approved the project on 20.08.2014 to provide Mobile services in 2199 locations in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas including 253 locations in Odisha. 1748 mobile towers out of 2199 mobile towers have been made operational  by  30.04.2016.  Remaining  mobile  towers  are  targeted  to  be  made functional by the June, 2016. State-wise details are at Annexure.

Contd…2/-

## Annexure

## State-wise number of towers operational as on 30.04.2016 is as below :

| S. No.   | State          | Number of Locations   | Towers - operational As on 30.04.2016   |
|----------|----------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh | 54                    | 45                                      |
| 2.       | Bihar          | 184                   | 184                                     |
| 3.       | Chhattisgarh   | 497                   | 489                                     |
| 4.       | Jharkhand      | 782                   | 561                                     |
| 5.       | Maharashtra    | 60                    | 56                                      |
| 6.       | Madhya Pradesh | 22                    | 22                                      |
| 7.       | Odisha         | 253                   | 149                                     |
| 8.       | Telangana      | 173                   | 77                                      |
| 9.       | Uttar Pradesh  | 78                    | 78                                      |
| 10.      | West Bengal    | 96                    | 87                                      |
| Total    | Total          | 2,199                 | 1,748                                   |

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2983 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Light Metro
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SANGANNA AMARAPPA KARADI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2983 TO BE ANSWERED ON MAY 11, 2016 LIGHT METRO

NO. 2983                     SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be please to state :

- (a) Whether the Government received any proposal for implementation of light metro projects in the State of Karnataka;
- (b) If  so,  the  details thereof and the action taken/being taken by the Government;
- (c) Whether the State Government of Karnataka has requested to the Union Government for financial assistance for the projects; and
- (d) If  so,  the  details thereof and the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) : No, Madam.

(b) to (d):

Does not arise.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2978 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Freight Charges for Transportation of Coal
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL, SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2978 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## FREIGHT CHARGES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF COAL

† 2978.  SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of freight charges for transportation of coal through Railways;
- (b) whether there is a considerable difference in the freight charges for transportation of coal in various railway zones;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Railways  for  making  freight  charges uniform in all the zones?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) Presently, Coal is charged at Class-145.
- (b) No, Madam.
- (c) Does not arise.
- (d) The freight charges are uniform in all the zones.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2977 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Appeal in TDSAT
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: DINESH TRIVEDI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2977 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  MAY, 2016

## APPEAL IN TDSAT

2977. SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  appeals  made  in  Telecom  Disputes  Settlement  and  Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI); and
- (b) the details of cases disposed off and those pending against them?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Details  of  appeals  filed  in  Telecom  Disputes  Settlement  and  Appellate Tribunal  (TDSAT)  against  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  are  as under:-

| Year   |   2001 |   2002 |   2003 |   2004 |   2005 |   2006 |   2007 |   2008 |   2009 |   2010 |   2011 |   2012 |   2013 |   2014 |   2015 |   2016 As on |   Total |
|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------------|---------|
| Filed  |     12 |     15 |     32 |     05 |     12 |     18 |     15 |     11 |     09 |     11 |     02 |     22 |     19 |     07 |     05 |            0 |     195 |

(b)        Details  of  disposal  and  pendency  of  appeals  filed  against  TRAI  Orders  at TDSAT are as under:-

| Year         |   2001 |   2002 |   2003 |   2004 |   2005 |   2006 |   2007 |   2008 |   2009 |   2010 |   2011 |   2012 |   2013 |   2014 |   2015 |   2016 As on |   Total |
|--------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------------|---------|
| Filed        |     12 |     15 |     32 |     05 |     12 |     18 |     15 |     11 |     09 |     11 |     02 |     22 |     19 |     07 |     05 |            0 |     195 |
| Disposed off |     12 |     15 |     32 |     05 |     12 |     18 |     15 |     11 |     09 |     11 |     02 |     22 |     19 |     06 |      0 |            0 |     189 |
| Pending      |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      1 |      5 |            0 |       6 |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2975 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Replacing LPG with PNG in Smart Cities
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2975

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MAY 11, 2016

## REPLACING LPG WITH PNG IN SMART CITIES

No. 2975    SHRI PREM SINGH  CHANDUMAJRA:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to replace LPG with PNG in
- the proposed smart cities;
- (b) if so, the details and the objectives thereof along with the steps taken in this direction;
- (c) whether any consultations have been held with the stakeholders  in  this  regard  and  if  so,  the  details  and  the outcome thereof; and
- (d) the present status of the proposal?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a)&(b): Yes,  madam.  Ministry  of  Petroleum  &  Natural  Gas  has proposed  that  cities  must  be  covered  with  City  Gas Distribution  (CGD)  network  for  supply  of  uninterrupted eco-friendly cooking fuel in form of PNG and transportation fuel to vehicle in the form of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The gas being eco-friendly will have health benefits for the Smart City population. In Phase 1, nine  out  of  twenty  winning  Smart  Cities  namely  Pune, Surat, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Indore, New Delhi Municipal

Council,  Kakinada,  Belagavi  and  Ludhiana  are  being covered with CGD network.

- (c): A workshop for 20 winning cities was organized in Delhi on 22 nd   February 2016 in which consultations were held with  Mission  Directors  and  Municipal  Commissioners  of Smart Cities regarding the convergence of CGD network development with the Smart City Mission.
- (d): CGD networks in three cities namely Kochi, Belagavi and Ludhiana are under development and in the remaining six cities, CGD networks are already in operation. Apart from these,  Bhubaneswar,  Jabalpur,  Davangere,  Udaipur  and Bhopal  have  also  proposed  convergence  for  creation  of CGD networks by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2974 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Skill Development for Domestic Helps
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2974 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR DOMESTIC HELPS

## 2974.  SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

## Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  his  Ministry  is  working  on  a  proposal  to  skill  domestic  helps, particularly those who are going abroad for work;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  skill  development  courses  available  for domestic workers at present;
- (c) whether  his  Ministry  is  implementing  Modular  Employment  Scheme  to improve skills of domestic workers;
- (d) if  so,  the  manner in which the proposed scheme is different from the above scheme; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  the  skill  development  of domestic workers especially those who are migrating overseas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)

(a) to (e) To understand skill gaps and streamlining training of domestic workers, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under Ministry of Skill Development and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)  has  approved  a  Sector  Skill  Council  (SSC)  for Domestic  Workers.  The  SSC  would  certify  25,56,600  candidates,  train  &  certify 1,050  trainers  and  create  standards  for  15  Job  Roles  for  domestic  workers.  The mandate of SSC interalia involve creation of standards for skill training of domestic workers going abroad. SSC for domestic workers has identified 19 job roles which are as under :

- (i) Kitchen Helper
- (ii) Cook
- (iii)General Housekeeper
- (iv)Child caretaker
- (v) Babysitter
- (vi) Housekeeping cum Cook
- (vii) Head cook
- (viii) Housekeeping Supervisor
- (ix)  Infant caretaker
- (x)  Prenatal & Postnatal
- (xi) Household / Resident Manager
- (xii) Elderly caretaker (general/basic)
- (xiii) Assistant Cook - overseas
- (xiv) Nanny/ Governess
- (xv) Nanny - overseas
- (xvi) Caretaker - Semi disabled

(xvii) Caretaker - Fully disabled

(xviii) Housekeeper - overseas

(xix) Elderly care - overseas

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2973 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Rats in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: K. GOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2973 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## RATS IN TRAINS

## 2973.    DR. K. GOPAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has received any complaint with regard to the rat menace in trains;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof and the response of the Railways thereto;
- (c) whether  complaints  regarding  biting  by  rat  while  travelling  in Mangala Express from Ernakulam to Nizamuddin have come to the notice of the Railway Authorities and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Railways  has  asked  its  zonal  railways  to  keep  the surroundings neat and clean so that such incidents do not occur in future and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) & (b): Yes,  Madam.  Some  complaints  and  references  are  being received regarding presence of rats in passenger coaches. Complaints/suggestions, whenever received, are acted upon appropriately by Railways and suitable corrective action is initiated to prevent  its  recurrence.  Passenger  coaches  are  given  pest  &  rodent control treatment at prescribed periodicity in coaching depots.

(c): No, Madam.

(d): Yes,  Madam.  Railways  have  been  advised  to  carry  out  pest  & rodent  control  treatment  in  coaching  complexes,  passengers  yards, station  buildings  and  other  service  buildings  at  terminals  and  all important  stations  enroute  and  to  ensure  thorough  cleaning  of  drains and garbage dumps.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2972 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Inter-connect Agreement
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: HARISH CHANDRA MEENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2972 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  MAY, 2016

## INTER-CONNECT AGREEMENT

## 2972. SHRI HARISH MEENA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has agreed to clear inter-connect agreement between Internet service providers and telecom operators;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of its consequences as monitoring internet voice calls is a big challenge and pose security risks; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the measures taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) As  per  the  existing  Unified  License  conditions  with  authorization  for Internet  service,  'The  Licensee  shall  have  no  connectivity  with  Public  Switched Telephone  Network  (PSTN)/Public  Land  Mobile  Network  (PLMN)/  Global  Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) networks in the country.'
- (c)  &  (d)  Services,  permitted  under  the  scope  of  License  Agreement,  shall  be commenced  by  the  Licensee  only  after  prior  approval  of  the  Government.  The approval is granted only when the Applicable System / Service is broadly compliant to the scope of the License and requisite monitoring facilities are successfully demonstrated  by  the  Licensee.  Thus,  Licensee  can  provide  only  those  services including  internet  Voice  calls  for  which  it  has  successfully  demonstrated  Lawful Interception Monitoring (LIM)/ Lawful Interception System (LIS) facility to the Security Agencies.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2971 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Grants for RTS Buses
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2971

TO BE ANSWERED ON MAY 11, 2016

GRANTS FOR RTS BUSES

No. 2971 SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Union  Government  has  provided  grants  to  various State  Governments for procurement of Regional Transport Service (RTS) buses under the Sustainable Urban Transport Project;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the States which have utilized the said grants for their towns;
- (d)  the  States  where  the  said  grants  have  not  been  utilized  along with the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

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

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2969 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Turnkey Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI, BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL, VIRENDRA  KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2969 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## TURNKEY PROJECTS

2969.  SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA: SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL: DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways is specifying the brand of equipment and material required for turnkey projects;
- (b) if  not,  the  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Railways  to prevent sub-standard equipment/material being supplied by lowest bidder in the turnkey projects;
- (c) the guidelines issued by the Railway Board to different railway organizations in this regard; and
- (d) the  manner  in  which  the  Railways  will  ensure  high  quality standards in future while allotting turnkey projects?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) No, Madam. Generally brands of equipment and material are not specified in turnkey projects.

- (b) The financial & technical eligibility criteria are laid down in the tender documents to enable selection of bidders with appropriate  credentials.    Moreover,  specifications  of  required material/equipment  are  specified  in  the  tender  document  and conformance  of  supplies  and  works  is  ensured  at  the  time  of acceptance.
- (c) Guidelines are issued from time to time by the Railway Board to different railway organizations in this respect.
- (d) As  indicated  in  (b)  above,  the  quality  standards  are  regularly monitored to ensure proper execution of turnkey contracts.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2966 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: BCIM Economic Corridor
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2966 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## BCIM ECONOMIC CORRIDOR

- † 2966. SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of economic corridor between BangladeshChina-India-Myanmar;
- (b) whether  the  said  corridor  is  likely  to  benefit  the  economic activities  of  the  countries  involved  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (c) the measures likely to be taken by the Union Government to address the defence concerns related to the said corridor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) Bangladesh,  China,  India  and  Myanmar  have  agreed  to establish a Joint Study Group on strengthening connectivity in the BCIM  region for closer economic, trade and people-to-people linkages  through  the  development  of  a  BCIM  Economic  Corridor (BCIM EC). There have been 2 rounds of JSG meetings in 2013 and 2014 so far. At the second meeting in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh on 17-18 December, 2014, it was decided that the third meeting would be hosted by India.
- (c) Government  keeps  a  constant  watch  on  all  development having  a  bearing on  India's  security  and  takes  all  necessary measures to safeguard it.

*****