opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 890 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Sources of Drinking Water
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 890 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2015

## Sources of Drinking Water

## 890. SHRI AJAY  MISRA TENI:

Will the Minister of DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  names  of  various  sources  of  drinking  water  in  rural  areas  of  the country;
- (b)  whether  there  is  reported  shortage  of  purified  water  in  rural  areas  due  to depleting ground water table; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with various measures taken/being taken by the Government to improve the situation, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

- (a)   The sources of drinking water in rural areas of the country include ground water in  shallow  and  deeper  aquifers,    open  wells,  surface  water  bodies  like  lakes, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, springs and roof-top rainwater harvesting..
- (b) About  85%  of  the  rural  drinking  water  sources  in  the  country  are  based  on groundwater as  source.    As  reported  by  the  State  Governments  into  the  online Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry, as on date, out of the 17.13 lakh rural habitations, 12.89 lakh habitations are reported to have at least 40 liters per capita per day (LPCD) of safe drinking water while 3.6 lakh habitations have safe drinking water but the service level is less than 40 liters per capita per day.  Apart from this, there are 63,764 habitations which have chemical contamination in the form of arsenic, fluoride, salinity, iron or nitrate in one or more drinking water sources.  Depleting groundwater table is one of the reasons for both shortage of safe water as well as increase in chemical contamination in certain cases.
- (c) Rural water supply is a State subject. This Ministry supplements the efforts of the States  by  providing  them  with  technical  and  financial  assistance  under  the centrally  sponsored  National  Rural  Drinking  Water  Programme  (NRDWP)  for providing safe and adequate drinking water facilities in rural areas of the country. States  have  been  delegated  with  the  powers  to  plan,  select  and  implement  the rural water supply schemes in the habitations either through ground water based water supply schemes or through schemes using surface water bodies. States in the Annual Action Plan meetings have been urged to take up rural drinking water schemes based on surface water to avoid the problem of slippages  & contamination  and  to  reduce  the  use  of  ground  water.  Also  as  immediate measures,  States  have  been  asked  to  provide  safe  drinking  water  through community water purification plants in quality affected habitations.  In  the  year 2015-16, an amount of Rs. 2715.47 crore has so far been released to States / UTs for providing safe drinking water to rural areas of the country.
Lok Sabha Question No. 888 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Coal Linkage to Private Power Plants
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.888 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2015

COAL LINKAGE TO PRIVATE POWER PLANTS

†888.  SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI PATIL:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is providing coal linkage to the private power plants;

(b) the production capacity of such power plants; and

(c) whether power from these plants is likely to be sold at reduced rates as coal has been made available to them at lower price?

A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) : Government  has  not  accorded  any  fresh  coal  linkage  to  any  private power plants since 2010.

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

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 887 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Coastal Shipping Trade
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 887 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd  DECEMBER, 2015

## COASTAL SHIPPING TRADE

## 887. DR. A. SAMPATH:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to state:

## पोत प�रवहन मंत्

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  approved  proposes  to  approve  bilateral  coastal  shipping trade with the neighbouring countries; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

- (a) Yes, Madam. Among neighbouring countries, India has signed a bilateral Coastal Shipping Agreement with Bangladesh. A Standard Operating Procedure (SoP)  has also been signed on 15 th November, 2015 between the two countries for  operationalizing this Agreement.
- (b)    The important features of the Coastal Shipping Agreement between India and Bangladesh include:
- (i)  The  movement  of  cargo  would  be  through  River  Sea  Vessel  (RSV)  or  equivalent class vessels. This would reduce the cost of transportation of Exim cargo between the two countries.
- (ii) India  and  Bangladesh  would  give  same  treatment  to  the  vessels  of  the  other country as it would give to its own domestic vessels with respect to port dues and other charges.
- (iii)  The  Agreement  only  includes  merchant  vessels  and  excludes  warships  research vessels, fishing vessels etc.
- (iv) The co-operation in Coastal Shipping between the two countries shall be based on the principles of national sovereignty, mutual benefits as per the national laws and international conventions.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 884 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Electrification of Villages
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.884 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2015

## ELECTRIFICATION OF VILLAGES

†884.  SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of number of villages/habitations electrified in Darbhanga district of  Bihar  under  the  Rajiv  Gandhi  Rural  Electrification  Scheme  during  the  last  three years;
- (b) whether any study has been conducted to ascertain the number of villages/habitations where electrification work is yet to be undertaken in order to fix target; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) : As on 31.10.2015, the number of un-electrified villages electrified under erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), now subsumed under Deendayal  Upadhyaya  Gram  Jyoti  Yojana  (DDUGJY)  in  Darbhanga  district  of  Bihar during the last three years are as under:

|                         |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 As on 30/11/2015 |
|-------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------------------|
| Un-electrified villages |         0 |         0 |         0 |                         25 |

(b) & (c) : As  reported  by  the  State  Power  Utilities,  no  village  is  now  left  unelectrified in Darbhanga district of Bihar.

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 882 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Strike in CIL
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 882 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.15

## Strike in CIL

882. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  any  strike  was  called  in  Coal  India  Limited  and  its  subsidiaries particularly in Bharat Coking Coal Limited;
- (b) If so, the details thereof;
- (c)        whether  any  complaint  has  been  received  from  colliery  Employees  Union, Dhanbad  in this regard; and
- (d) If so, the action taken thereon?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER AND NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a & b): During the year 2014-15, two days' strike on 6 th and 7 th January, 2015 was called  by  four  Central  Trade  Unions  in  CIL  and  its  subsidiaries  including  BCCL. During 2015-16, one day strike on 2 nd September, 2015 was called by four Central Trade Unions.

(c & d):  CIL has informed that as per record available with it, no such complaint was received.

- ------
Lok Sabha Question No. 881 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Development of Ports
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.881 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd  DECEMBER, 2015

## DEVELOPMENT OF PORTS

## 881.SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to state:

## पोत प�रवहन मंत्

- (a) the number of State, national and international waterways in the country and the  number  of  ports  therein  along  with  the  upcoming  schemes  for  future development of these ports;
- (b) the number of cargo ports and passenger ports out of the above inter-State and international ports and the schemes for developing these ports along with the present condition of same;
- (c) the schemes at present to promote international trade through maritime route; and
- (d) the number of international/ national waterways, dams, canal projects completed along with the number of projects facing environmental clearance issues and the action plan of the Government for such projects?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a)to(d):The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 878 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Hinduja National Thermal Plant
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: MIDHUN REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.878 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2015

## HINDUJA NATIONAL THERMAL PLANT

878.   SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether jobs have been awarded to by Hinduja National Thermal Power Plant locals as per the agreement;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether norms has been violated in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the action taken thereon?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) : We  have  been  informed  that  there  is  no  agreement  between  Hinduja National  Power  Corporation  Ltd.  and  Andhra  Pradesh  State  Electricity  Board  for providing  Jobs  to  the  locals  in  either  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  dated 17.07.1992 or in Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) dated 15.04.1998.

(b) to (d) : Does not arise.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 877 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: AIR Service at Shirdi
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE, ALOK SANJAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 877

(To be answered on the 3 rd  December 2015)

## AIR SERVICE AT SHIRDI

## 877. SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE SHRI ALOK SANJAR

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to link Shirdi in Maharashtra with air services;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government has received any requests from public representatives in this regard;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action  taken  by  the Government  in  this  regard;  and
- (e) the time by which Shirdi is likely to be linked with air services?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(a) & (b)  Government has laid down route dispersal guidelines with a view to achieve better regulation of air transport services taking into the account the need for air transport services of different regions of the country. It is, however, up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability. As such, the airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of route dispersal guidelines issued by Government. (c) No, Madam

(d):  Does not arise.

(e):  Shirdi Airport belongs to State Government of Maharashtra. It is upto the State Government and Airlines to start the air services from there.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 876 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Bilateral Trade Agreements
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY

## BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS

## 876. SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  some  State  Governments  including  Andhra  Pradesh  and  Tamil  Nadu  have made bilateral trade agreements with some foreign countries with a view to develop the textile industry in their States;
- (b) if so, the likely impact on the textile industry of the country due to such agreements;
- (c) whether  Pakistan  enjoyed  a  duty  free  status  for  its  textile  exports  to  the  European Union, a luxury that was not available to India;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether in order to improve textile industry in India, will the Government pay attention to India-Bangla agreement [South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA)] India-Latin America, India-EU and India- Russia agreements; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र राज  ् य मंरी ( स्त्वतंर प्रभार ) ( श्री संतोष कु मार गंगवार ) MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): No such bilateral trade agreement with foreign countries in textile   industry has been entered into by the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- (b): Does not arise.
- (c) & (d): Yes. Pakistan enjoys Generalized  Standard  Preference(GSP)+  status  with European Union.
- (e) & (f): Yes.   Various  sectors  including  textiles  are  taken  into  consideration  by  the government  during  Tariff  Liberalization  Programme  (TLP)  negotiations  under  SAFTA.  The Government is presently negotiating a bilateral Broad Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) with European Union (EU) covering a number of track ranging from Trade in Goods to services including textiles. India has Preferential Trade Agreements (PTA) with MERCOSUR(Argentina, Bolivia,  Brazil,  Paraguay,  Uruguay  and  Venezuela)   and  Chile  for limited number of items. In order to enhance India's competitiveness in Textiles sector in LAC region,  India is  expanding its existing PTA with Chile wherein Chile has offered Margin of Preference (MoP) ranging from 30% to 100% on tariff lines under the chapters on Textiles. The process for expansion of India- MERCOSUR has also been initiated. Further, at present, there is no FTA between India and Russia.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 875 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Cabotage or Special Vessels
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO.  875 TO BE ANSWERED ON  3 RD  DECEMBER, 2015

## CABOTAGE OR SPECIAL VESSELS

## 875.SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to state:

## पोत प�रवहन मंत्

- (a) whether the Government proposesto relax cabotage laws for special vessels;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether such relaxation is likely to decongest roads/railways as well as reduce fuel intensity and carbon emissions;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)   the details of cargo likely to be movedannually on such special vessels?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF STATE  IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI  PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

- (a)&(b): The Government has relaxed cabotage restriction for special vessels such as RO-RO, Hybrid RO-RO, RO Pure Car Carriers, Pure Car and Truck Carriers, LNG Vessels and Over Dimensional, Cargo or Project cargo Carriers on 02 nd September, 2015 for a period of five years.
- (c)&(d): Yes, Madam, such relaxation is likely to decongest roads/railways as well as reduce fuel intensity and carbon emissions.
- (e)The  details  of  cargo  likely  to  be  moved  annually  on  such  vessels  are  automobiles, project cargo  and  other  products  such  as  tiles, agri products,  industrial products, clinker, cement, general parcel cargo, polypropoelene, chemicals etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 874 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Supply of LED Bulbs
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Y. S. AVINASH REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 874

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2015

## SUPPLY OF LED BULBS

## 874. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has started Mission LED Bulbs and supplying LED Bulbs free of cost  with  a  view  to  reduce  the  power  consumption  in  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof indicating hindrances if any, faced in the implementation of the scheme;
- (b) the details of the total energy saved/power consumption reduced as a result thereof so far; and
- (c) the  details  of  measures/steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  awareness  among  the people in the country for using LED Bulbs?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POWER, COAL & NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a): No Madam.
- (b): Does not arise.
- (c): There are several measures/steps being taken by the government to increase awareness among the people in the country for using LED bulbs as mentioned below:
-  EESL has taken several steps to enhance awareness of the benefits of using LED bulbs by the  consumers  through  mass  media  including  print,  radio,  television  and  internet.  A website has been launched under the name of ILEDTHEWAY.IN where the general public is informed about the benefits of using LEDs and are encouraged to take pledge of using LED bulbs.
-  BEE has released advertisement on star rating on LED in the National Dailies and other periodicals.

-  Some episodes of 15 minutes Radio programme 'Bachat Ke Sitare Dost Hamare' on LED were broadcast on All India Radio FM GOLD and Rainbow in twenty languages.
-  The message on LED was also displayed on Public Utilities, Hoardings, Panels inside Delhi Metro, Boarding Passes of Air India, electricity bills, Bus Que Shelters etc.
-  BEE displayed the importance of LED through various activities by placing a stall during the India International Trade Fair Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 14 th  to 27 th  November, 2015 such as Nukkad Natak were organised at BEE stall to make awareness regarding LED to the visitors  and  leaflet  on  LED  was  also  distributed  to the  visitors  during  the exhibition.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 873 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Potential of Aviation Services
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: ANOOP MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 873

(To be answered on the 3 rd  December 2015)

## POTENTIAL OF AVIATION SERVICES

## 873. SHRI ANOOP MISHRA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has made any study regarding the potential of aviation services in the country which can provide affordable services; and
- (b) if so, the details and outcome thereof and the benefits likely to be accrued to the transport system of the country as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

a) and (b) : The Government has not commissioned any study on this area.  However,  ICAO  and  CAPA  have  carried  out  studies  on  the

potential  of  the  aviation  sector  in  promoting  development.

The Ministry has released its Draft Civil Aviation Policy for stakeholders' consultation wherein the areas where there is growth potential and will promote the aviation sector have been given a thrust, like the Regional Connectivity Scheme, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services, Air Cargo and Education and Skill Development.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 872 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Introduction of New Air Routes
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 872

(To be answered on the 3 rd  December 2015)

## INTRODUCTION OF NEW AIR ROUTES

## 872. SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA  RAO

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether any efforts have been made during the last three years to
- introduce new air routes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether any study has been conducted to ascertain the methods being adopted by private airlines companies thereby resulting in earning profits;
- (d) if so, the details and the findings thereof; and
- (e)  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the Government to make the national carrier Air India a profitable venture?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

- (a) & (b):  Air routes are decided by airlines and it is their commercial decision.  Government has however, laid down the Route Dispersal Guidelines to achieve connectivity to different regions of the country. It is, however, up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability. As such, the airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to the compliance of route dispersal guidelines issued by the Government. Scheduled domestic airlines are operating from 81 airports within the country as per winter schedule 2015 which includes metro/non metro cities, remote/ regional areas including religious historical/tourist places in the country. Scheduled domestic airlines have introduced new flights from CUDDAPAH, NANDED, AGRA, PANTNAGAR, DURGAPUR, CAR NICOBAR, and PONDICHERY.
- (c) & (d):  No such study has been carried out in this regard.

(e):  The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) in its meeting held on 12.04.2012,  approved a Turnaround Plan (TAP)/ Financial Restructuring Plan (FRP) for operational and financial turnaround of Air India (AI) subject to achievement of certain laid down milestones by AI.  As part of the TAP/FRP, AI has initiated, inter-alia, the following steps  in  order  to  make  the  national  carrier  Air  India  a  profitable venture:(i) Rationalization of certain loss making routes (ii) Induction of brand new aircraft on several domestic & international routes to increase passenger appeal (iii) Phasing out & grounding of old fleet (iv) Establishment of Integrated Operations Control Center and Hub Control Center in Delhi (v) Freezing of employment in non-operational areas. ((vi) Operationalization of Subsidiary Companies such as Air India Air Transport Services Limited and Air India Engineering  Services Limited and  transfer  of  manpower  and  equipment  and  treating  them  as Independent  Profit  Centers  and (vii) Induction of the B787 aircraft on Medium Capacity Long Haul

## Routes.

*****