opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2691 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Closure of Small Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAKESH SINGH, RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2691 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  MARCH, 2016

## Closure of Small Schools

## †2691. SHRI RAKESH SINGH: SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT मानव संसाधन �वकास मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that several schools are likely to be shut down in the country because of the mandatory rules regarding land and recognition provided in the RTE Act regardless of the fact that such schools have been functioning before the framing of such rules and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is aware that a number of students are likely to be affected due to such decisions of the Government and if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  any  remedial  measures  to  keep  such schools functioning?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (c):  Central  Government  has  enacted  the  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 with the aim of universalizing elementary education in the age group of 6 to 14 years in the country. Section 18(1) of the RTE Act, 2009 mandates that no school, other than a school established, owned or controlled by the appropriate Government or the local authority, shall, after the commencement of this Act, be established or function, without obtaining a certificate of recognition from such authority.

The  process  of  recognition  and  withdrawal  of  recognition  of  schools  is  in  the  domain  of State/UT  Governments  and  the  data  on  the  grant  of  recognition  or  the  shutting  down  of schools is not maintained centrally. However, as per Unified District Education System for Education 2013-14, against a total of 14,48,712 schools in the country, only 21,351 (1.47%) were unrecognized.

The  State  Governments/Union  Territories  are  the  appropriate  authority  to  ensure  effective compliance with the norms specified under the RTE Act.

Section  18(3)  of  RTE  Act  further  states  that  on  the  contravention  of  the  conditions  of recognition, the prescribed authority shall, by an order in writing, withdraw recognition. Such order shall contain a direction as to which of the neighbourhood school, the children studying in the derecognized schools, shall be admitted.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Ideology of Kabir
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: SHARAD TRIPATHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2688 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.3.2016 ****

## IDEOLOGY OF KABIR

## †2688.     SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  any  institute  to promote the culture and ideology of Kabir, the manner in which it has established the institutes to promote Budha and Tibetan culture;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to set up any institute at National level to promote the ideology and culture of Kabir at Maghar, where Kabir Das attained Nirvana; and
- (c) if so, the time by which this process is likely to be started?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR CIVIL AVIATION

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) No, Madam.
- (C)           Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2687 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Promotion of Art Forms and Language of Anglo-Indians
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Richard Hay

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2687 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

## PROMOTION OF ART FORMS AND LANGUAGE OF ANGLO-INDIANS

## 2687:   PROF. RICHARD HAY

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for promotion of art forms and language of Anglo-Indians and for preservation of their cultural identity;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has been assisting the NGOs involved in such activities ;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR CIVIL AVIATION (Dr. MAHESH SHARMA)

## ANSWER

- (a) No, Madam.

- (b) to (e) Do not arise in view of (a) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Agitation in Institutions
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MIDHUN REDDY, RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2686 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.3.2016

## Agitation in Institutions

2686.  SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY: SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the student agitation in various Higher Educational Institutions in the country including Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU);
- (b) if so, the details thereof during the last year and the current year;
- (c) whether the Government has any evidence of involvement of anti-social elements in these incidents;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) to  (e): Education  is  a  concurrent  subject  and  majority  of  Higher  Educational Institutions  (HEIs)  come  under  the  purview  of  State  Governments/Union  Territory Administrations.  The data of all HEIs in this regard is not maintained centrally. Moreover, Central  Universities  are  autonomous  bodies  created  under  the  Acts  of  Parliament  and they enjoy complete autonomy in administrative and academic matters. The Government has  taken  note  of  the  student  agitations  which  took  place  recently  in  University  of Hyderabad and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Regarding anti-social activities, the  Universities,  being  autonomous  organizations,  are  competent  to  deal  with  them alongwith local authorities.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2683 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Diamonds Trading by Farmers
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY

भारत सरकार

खान मंऽालय

लोक सभा

## 14 , 6

## अतारांिकत ूँ न सं . 2683 माचर् 201 को उत् तर के िलए

## िकसानों द्वारा हीरे का व्यापार

## 2683. ौी कु ण्डा िवश्वेश्वर रेड्डीः

क्या खान मंऽी यह बताने की कृ पा करेंगे

िकः

- ( क ) क्या के न्ि सरकार ने इस तथ्य का संज्ञान िलया है िक तेलंगाना के कु छ क्षेऽों , जैसे महबूब नगर और आंी ूदेश के कु रनूल और रायलसीमा क्षेऽों में िकम्बरलाइट के उच्च िनक्षेपों के कारण मृदा की सतह पर हीरे अत्यंत समीप हैं और िकसानों द्वारा आसानी से ूाप् त िकए जा सकते है ;
- ( ख ) यिद हां , तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है ;
- ( ग ) क्या िकसानों द्वारा िवशेषतः मानसून के दौरान िमट्टी के बह जाने के बाद हीरे चुने जाते हैं
- और व्यापािरयों या डीलरों को गैर -कानूनी व्यापार में अिधकांशतः अनुिचत कीमत पर बेच िदए जाते है ; और
- ( घ ) यिद हां , तो क्या सरकार का िवचार इन हीरों को िकसानों से सीधे खरीदने का है और यिद हां , तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है और यिद नहीं , तो इसक े क्या कारण है ?

## उत् तर खान एवं इः पात राज् य मंऽी ( ौी िवं णु देव साय )

( क ) से ( ग ) : भारतीय भूवैज्ञािनक सवेर्क्षण ( जीएसआई ) के सवेर्क्षण के अनुसार , तेलंगाना के महबूबनगर िजले से िरपोटर् की गई िक ं बरलाइट पाइपों और लैम् ूोआइटस िनकाय ( हीरे की मूल ॐोत चट्टान ) गैर -हीरामय लौह हैं । तथािप , आंी ूदेश के करनूल और अनंतपुर ( रायलसीमा )

िजले से िरपोटर् की गई बहुत कम हीरामय लौह हैं ।

ूाक ृ ितक आपदाओं के द्वारा ूितक ू ल मौसम तथा ः थानीय मौसम के कारण , सतह के नज़दीक के पाइप क्षिरत , नं ट और साधारणतया बह जाते हैं । आंी ूदेश सरकार द्वारा यथासूिचत , बािरश के पँ चात हीरा चुनना बहुत दुलर्भ घटना है । तथािप , करनुल िजले में िकसानों के िवरूद्ध दो मामले दज़र् िकए गए । लेिकन अनंतपुर िजले में अब तक कोई भी मामला

दजर् नहीं हु आ है ।

( घ ) : सरकार का अभी ऐसा कोई ूः ताव नहीं है ।

## *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2682 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Mismanagement in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY, RAMA DEVI, PRATAPRAO GANPATRAO JADHAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2682 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

## Mismanagement in Schools

2682.  SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY: SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  cases  of  carelessness  and  mismanagement  against  the schools in the country and if so, the number of such cases reported during the last three years, State/UTwise and year-wise;
- (b) whether there is an increase in number of cases of murder and kidnapping in educational institutions in the country especially in Delhi and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  action  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  in  such  cases  reported  from  concerned  State Governments and the Police; and
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the fact that in some cases parents/guardians of the students had moved to the Court in this regard and if so, the number of such cases reported against the Central Board of Secondary Education Affiliated/aided schools pending with the Courts as on date, State/UT-wise and school-wise?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d) Education is a subject in the Concurrent list and majority of schools in the country are under the administrative control of the States/UTs Government. However, Ministry receives sporadic complaints against schools regarding fee hike, capitation fee, donation, non payment of salary as per prescribed  pay  scale,  forceful  termination  of  teachers  etc.  Such  complaints  are  forwarded  to  the concerned States/UTs or Education Boards for taking appropriate action as per their existing rules.

Two cases of murder and kidnapping in the Kendriya Vidyalayas have been reported in the last 3 years.  In the first case of gunning down of a girl student by another boy student on 13.03.2014, action has been initiated against the concerned Principal and the Invigilators under CCS(CCA) Rules, 1965. In the  second  case  of  kidnapping  of  one  girl  student  of  Kendriya  Vidyalaya,  Balasore,  Orissa,  the suspected missing teacher has been terminated from service under Article 81 (D) of Education Code for Kendriya Vidyalayas. A writ petition  WP (CRL) No. 25/2015 filed by the mother of the girl in this regard is pending in the Hon'ble High Court of Odisha, Cuttack.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2675 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Permanent Patta to Tribals
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kantilal Bhuria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2675

TO BE ANSWERED ON.14.03.2016

## PERMANENT PATTA TO TRIBALS

## 2675.    SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to give permanent patta of land to tribal who had been living on forest land prior to the year 1980;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the number of applicants who received their right and the number of denied who cases and the reasons of denial?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA)

(a) (b) & (c)    Ministry of Tribal Affairs administers the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA in short) which was notified for operation with effect from 31.12.2007. It is an act to recognize and vest the Forest Rights and occupation  in  forests  land  in  forest  dwelling  Scheduled  Tribes  and  other  traditional  forest dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded. These are usufruct rights and not ownership rights.

The  recognition  and  vesting  of  forest  rights  under  the  said  act  to  the  forest  dwelling Scheduled  Tribes  and  to  other  traditional  forest  dwellers  in  relation  to  any  State  or  Union Territory in respect of forest land and their habitat is subject to the condition that such Scheduled Tribes or tribal communities or other traditional forest dwellers had occupied forest land before the 13 th day of December, 2005.

As per FRA and the rules made thereunder, the responsibility for implementation of FRA lies with the State Governments/ UTs.

As per information received from the States/ UTs till 31.12.2015, 44,13,727 claims have been filed and 17,11,045 titles have been distributed, number of claims rejected being 2,064,536.

The major reasons for rejection of claims that have come to the notice of this Ministry are non-occupation  of  forest  land  as  on  13.12.2005,  claims  being  made  on  land  other  than  forest land/revenue land, multiple claims and lack of evidence of residing on the forest land for the specified period of time (this is particularly in the case of Other Traditional Forest Dwellers).
Lok Sabha Question No. 2674 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Complaints Related to School Admissions
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, LAXMAN GILUWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2674 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

Complaints Related to School Admissions

## 2674. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI: SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA:

Will  the  Minister  of  HUMAN  RESOURCE  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of discrimination in admission process  on  the  basis  of  religion  in  the  schools  under  Central  Board  of Secondary Education;
- (b) if so, the number of such complaints received by the Government during the last three years; and
- (c) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to keep check on such practices and take action against the erring officials?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) : No such complaints have come to the notice of Government or Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Affiliation byelaws of  CBSE stipulate that admission in CBSE affiliated schools shall be made without any distinction of religion, race, caste, creed, place of birth or any of them. There are provisions in the CBSE Affiliation Bye-laws to initiate proceedings for withdrawal of affiliation in case schools are found violating Section 17 of Affiliation Bye-laws.

(b) & (c): Do not arise.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: SEZs for Textiles
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2667 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  MARCH, 2016

## SEZS FOR TEXTILES

## 2667. SHRI ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE:

Will  the  Minister  of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to establish any Textile Special Economic Zones in the State of West Bengal;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has received any proposal/request from West Bengal Government in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

वािणÏ य एवं उɮयोग राÏ य मंत्री ) Įीमती िनमर्ला सीतारमण ( ( èवतंत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) and (c): No Madam.

- (b) and (d): Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Harassment of Domestic Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: PREM DAS RAI, ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY, KIRIT SOMAIYA, PASHUPATI NATH SINGH

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2661 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

## HARASSMENT OF DOMESTIC WORKERS

## 2661. SHRI PREM DAS RAI:

SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY:

DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

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

- (a)whether the abuse/mistreatment/atrocities/violence/harassment/ sexual harassment of the domestic workers/helps by the employers Recruitment Agencies has increased during each of the last three years and the current year in the absence of centralised legislation to protect their rights in the country;
- (b)if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the number  of  such  cases  reported  during  the  said  period,  State/UTwise;
- (c)whether the Government proposes to enact a Centralised Legislation in this regard;
- (d)if so, the salient features of such legislation along with the time by which such legislation is likely to be enacted; and
- (e)the other corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government
- to protect the interests of domestic workers/helps in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): No such information is available at Central level.
- (b): The Law  &  Order is a State Subject; it is primarily the responsibility  of  the  State  Government  to  take  necessary  action  for protecting  people  including  the  domestic  workers  in  the  State.  The State  Government  is  empowered  to  enact  legislation  for  domestic workers for their protection.

(c): No  madam,  the  National  Policy  for  Domestic  Workers  is  under consideration of the Government. (d): The salient features of the National Policy for domestic workers have not been finalized so  far  and the  finalization  of  the  Policy  may take some more time. (e): The  Central  Government  has  enacted  the  Unorganized  Workers Social  Security  Act,  2008  for  the  social  security  of  unorganized workers  which  include  domestic  workers  also.  In  addition  to  this, various labour laws, like the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Employee Compensation Act, 1923, the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 and InterState  Migrant  Workmen  (RECS)  Act,  1979  are  directly  or  indirectly applicable to these workers.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2660 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Credit to MSMEs
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY, K. MARAGATHAM, AJAY NISHAD, RENUKA BUTTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2660

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 14.03.2016

## CREDIT TO MSMEs

2660.

SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY: SHRIMATI  K. MARAGATHAM: SHRI AJAY NISHAD: SHRIMATI BUTTA RENUKA:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Public  Sector  Banks  are  providing  loans  to  Micro,  Small  and  Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at the interest rate higher than other sectors, if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  considering  changes  in  credit  norms  to  boost  MSME sector and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the employment opportunities created and the contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by MSMEs?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

- (a): Interest  rates  have  been  deregulated  by  the  Reserve  Bank  of  India  and  commercial banks determine their actual lending rates on loans and advances with reference to their Base rate.
- (b): The following steps have been taken by the RBI to boost the credit flow to MSME sector:
- i) A target of 7.5% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent Amount of off Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher, has been prescribed for scheduled  commercial  banks  for  lending  to  Micro  Enterprises.  This  target  is  to  be achieved in a phased manner i.e. 7% by March, 2016 and 7.5 % by March, 2017.
- (ii) Loans to Medium Enterprises engaged in the manufacturing or production of goods  and  loans  upto  Rs.10  crore  to  Medium  Enterprises  engaged  in  providing  or rendering of services form part of priority sector.

(c): As per latest estimates available, upto 2013-14 the employment opportunities created by MSMEs was to the tune of 1114.29 lakh.  On the basis of the data on Gross Domestic Product  (GDP)  published  by  Central  Statistics  Office  (CSO)  collected  as  per  the  revised methodology  suggested  by  CSO  and  final  results  of  the  latest  MSME  Census  (Fourth Census), conducted (with base reference  year 2006-07), wherein the data was collected till 2009 and results published in 2011-12, the estimated contribution of MSME manufacturing sector to GDP, during 2012-13, is 7.04%.  However, taking into account the contribution of MSME services sector, which is estimated at 30.50% during 2012-13, the share of MSME sector in GDP of the country, during 2012-13, is 37.54%.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2658 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Extinction of Saraswati River
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY, RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2658 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016 PHALGUNA 24, 1937 (SAKA)

## EXTINCTION OF SARASWATI RIVER

## † 2658  DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY : SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any project is currently going on for the revival of the ancient river Saraswati;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and allocated  funds for the project;
- (c) whether tests have been done so far by collecting samples from the revival sites of the projects and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  any  feasibility  studies  have  been  conducted  or  report  prepared  so  far regarding the fact that the revival of Saraswati river can help in recharging the ground water, developing eco-tourism and maintaining ecological balance; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A  N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) AND MINISTER OF STATE, CIVIL AVIATION

(DR.  MAHESH SHARMA )

- (a) No, Madam. No such project has been taken up by the Archaeological Survey of India.
- (b) Question does not arise.
- (c) Question does not arise.
- (d) No,  Madam.  Several  studies  including  explorations  and  excavations  have  been
- & carried out both by the Governmental and non-governmental organizations along
- (e) the  palaeochannel, represented today by the Ghaggar river in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan  and  Gujarat.  Some  researchers  have  ascribed  this  palaeochannel  to the Sarasati river mentioned in Ancient Indian Literature, but no scientific evidence to establish this correlation exists.