Supply Of Gas At Regulated Prices

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

QUESTION NO  3071

ANSWERED ON  30.08.2011

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to satate :-


(a) whether it is a fact that Government is considering to supply gas at regulated prices to some priority consumers only;

(b) if so, the details of the proposal; and

(c) by when it is likely to be implemented?
   
ANSWER
     
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI R.P.N SINGH)

(a) to (c): The price of Administered Price Mechanism (APM) gas is determined by Government. The following sectors are being supplied APM gas at APM rate:

1. Fertilizers

2. Power

3. Court Mandated Customers

4. Small Customers Having Requirement of gas less than 50,000 SCMD.
The gas produced from various other fields has no sector wise variations in price.
 
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Subsidies On Cooking Gas And Kerosene

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

QUESTION NO  3066

ANSWERED ON  30.08.2011

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to satate :-


(a) whether it is a fact that Government is considering to stop subsidies on cooking gas and kerosene from next year;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government is also considering to give cash subsidy to the States every month to support the poor;

(d) the details of subsidies paid by Government during the last three years on cooking gas and kerosene; and

(e) the details of subsidized gas used by the industries during the last three years?
   
ANSWER
     

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

(SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)

(a)&(b): A proposal is under consideration with the Government to restrict the number of cylinders to be supplied at subsidized rate to registered customers of Domestic LPG. The proposal is intended to put a cap on the number of subsidized Domestic LPG cylinders, so as to reduce the burgeoning subsidy burden on account of Domestic LPG.

(c): The Government is considering a proposal for direct transfer of subsidies on PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG on a pilot basis to the intended beneficiaries. The Government has constituted a Task Force in February, 2011 under the Chairmanship of Chairman, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to recommend an implementable solution for direct transfer of subsidies on PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG to the intended beneficiaries. The Task Force has submitted its Interim Report to the Government on 05.07.2011.

(d): The Government is providing subsidy of ` 0.82 per litre on PDS Kerosene and ` 22.58 per cylinder of Domestic LPG from the fiscal budget under the ‘PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme, 2002’ to the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) namely, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). The details of subsidy paid on PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG from the fiscal budget during the last three years are given below:- (` crore) Year PDS Kerosene Domestic LPG
2008-09 974 1,714 2009-10 957 1,814 2010-11 930 1,974 In addition to the above fiscal subsidy, the OMCs have incurred under-recoveries on the sale of PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG during the last three years as given below: (` crore) Year Total Under-recoveries PDS Kerosene
Domestic LPG 2008-09 28,225 17,600 2009-10 17,364 14,257 2010-11 19,484 21,772 Gross under-recoveries without considering oil bonds/cash assistance.
Under the burden sharing mechanism being followed, these under-recoveries are shared by the Government and the Public Sector oil companies.

(e): The OMCs have informed that they do not supply subsidized LPG to the industrial units.

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Increasing Procurement Targets

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

QUESTION NO  2824

ANSWERED ON  29.08.2011

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to satate :-


(a) whether it is a fact that Government is considering to increase procurement of grains from 10 million tonnes to 70 million tonnes;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether present storage capacity is adequate, considering the increase in procurement; and

(d) if not, the steps taken by Government to increase the storage capacity?
   
ANSWER
     
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a)& (b): The procurement of foodgrains is open-ended and no targets are fixed for procurement. As per existing policy of Government of India, all quantities of wheat, rice and coarse grains conforming to the FAQ specifications brought by the farmers are purchased by FCI and state agencies at Minimum Support Price (MSP).

(c ) & (d): The Food Corporation of India has a total of 333.63 lakh MTs of storage capacity including Covered and Cover and Plinth (CAP) both owned and hired with a capacity utilization of 90% as on 15.7.2011. The state agencies also store foodgrains. Due to the increased procurement of foodgrains and to reduce the storage in Cover and Plinth (CAP), the Government formulated a Scheme for construction of storage godowns through private entrepreneurs, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs).
Based on this analysis and criteria laid down in the scheme, State wise capacity requirement and locations were identified. Under the scheme, the Food Corporation of India would now give a guarantee of ten years for assured hiring to the private entrepreneurs. A capacity of 152.97 lakh tonnes is to be created in 19 states under the scheme through private entrepreneurs and Central and State Warehousing Corporations. Out of this sanctioned capacity tenders have been finalized for creation of storage capacity of 52.32 lakh tonnes by the private entrepreneurs. CWC and SWCs are constructing 5.31 and 15.49 lakh tonnes respectively under the Scheme, out of which a capacity of about 3.5 lakh tonnes has already been completed by CWC/SWCs.


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Ban On Speculative Trading

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

QUESTION NO  2823

ANSWERED ON  29.08.2011

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to satate :-


(a) whether it is a fact that 70 per cent rise in food prices is because of speculative trading;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government is considering to put a ban on such trading; and

(d) if so, by when such trading would be banned?
  
ANSWER
      
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(PROF. K. V. THOMAS)


(a) : No Sir.

(b) : In view of the reply to part (a) above, question does not arise.

(c) : No Sir.

(d) : In view of the reply to part (c) above, question does not arise.


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The Transplantation Of Human Organs

The Transplantation Of Human Organs (Amendment) Bill, 2011

Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, I am happy that the hon. Minister has covered almost all the critical points by bringing forward the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Bill, 2011. In addition to that, our hon. experienced Members have covered almost all the points. Hopefully, the hon. Minister will consider those points. We all are aware that this Bill has come into existence mainly because of our great scientists’ success about human organ transplantation, which is very critical and important to maintain certain quality assurance. I, personally, feel that instead of saying this as Authorisation Committee or Appropriate Authority, if we can make it as a quality assurance and regulatory body, that will be better. I suggest ---some of the Members have also mentioned -- that instead of going by merely certain bureaucrats, proper, credible and qualified people should also be made members. Though, in most of the States, there is a condition that hospitals have to be registered, registration is becoming a mere formality. Instead of that, before registration, hospitals should be vigorously checked about the quality and they should be approved by this Board. That will improve the mortality rate. I also suggest that whoever wants to go for an organ transplantation, they should apply to the Board, if not for permission, at least for the information, so that, subsequently, it could be made mandatory for them to file proper, periodical returns so that at the national level, we can always have proper information about the success rate of human organ transplantation.

Talking of penalties, instead of financial penalties, if the Bill can provide more rigorous punishments such as life imprisonment, it would be better. We are all aware that while we pass Bills, we are not able to execute them properly. For that purpose, proper propaganda must be done in order to create awareness about the rules and procedures involved. That would help the common man understand the procedures better.



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Child Labourers In The Country

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

QUESTION NO  2449

ANSWERED ON  24.08.2011

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to satate :-


(a) whether it is a fact that at present there are more than six crore child labourers in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether around Rs. 1,20,000 crore is pocketed as profit by employers of child labour annually in India, an amount that is rarely reported as income to Government in order to evade taxes; and

(d) the steps taken/being taken by Government to stop exploitation of child labour?
  
ANSWER
      
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

(SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE)

(a) & (b): As per 2001 census, the total number of working children between the age group of 5-14 years in the country was 1.26 crore. However, in the Survey conducted by NSSO, in 2004-05 the number of working children were estimated at 90.75 lakhs.

(c): No such report has been received in the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India.

(d): The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986, prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 years in 18 Occupations and 65 Processes. Any person who employs a child in any occupation or process where employment of children is prohibited under the Act, is liable for punishment with imprisonment for term which shall not be less than 3 months but which may extend to one year or with fine ranging from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 20,000/-.


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Renegotiation Of Tax Treaty With Mauritius

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  FINANCE

QUESTION NO  2233

ANSWERED ON  23.08.2011

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to satate :-


(a) whether Government is renegotiating tax treaty with Mauritius into avoid Double Taxation;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether by renegotiation of tax treaty with Mauritius, India will have access to bank details besides tax related information; and

(d) by when the Tax Treaty Agreement will be signed?
  

ANSWER

      
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

( SHRI S. S. PALANIMANICKAM)

(a) & (b) A Joint Working Group (JWG) cornprisinq members from the Government of India and the Government of Mauritius was constituted in 2006 to inter-alia, put in place adequate safeguards to prevent misuse of the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC). Six rounds of discussions have taken place so far. There was unwillingness on the part of Mauritius to co- operate in addressing this problem. We have now proposed next round of discussion to which Mauritius is yet to respond.

(c) Yes, if Mauritius side agrees to amend the relevant Article on Exchange of Information in the DTAC.

(d) Mauritius is yet to respond. Therefore, it is not possible to fix a time limit for signing the revised treaty.

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Information On Black Money From Maritius

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  FINANCE

QUESTION NO  2208

ANSWERED ON  23.08.2011

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether Government of Mauritius have provided any details of black money during the current financial year; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
   

ANSWER

     
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI S. S. PALANIMANICKAM)
(a) & (b) The information given by Government of Mauritius in response to requests under the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention(DTAC) during the current financial year are under examination and any information exchanged shall be treated as secret and governed by the provisions of Article 26(Exchange of Information) of the DTAC.

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Shifted from Fixed Fee to Revenue Sharing Model

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

QUESTION NO  2059

ANSWERED ON  19.08.2011

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to satate :-


(a) the details of guidelines which have enabled telecom operators to migrate from commitments on licence fees to a revenue sharing model;

(b) whether the decision for adoption of the revenue sharing model for telecom operators was justifiable; and

(c) the details of revenue loss caused to Government exchequer by shifting from fixed fee to revenue sharing fee?
   

ANSWER

     
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ( SHRI MILIND DEORA)

(a) & (b) Sir, the Migration Package to licensees of Cellular (Metros and Telecom Circles) and Basic Telecom Services for migration to New Telecom Policy-1999 regime was offered based on the decision of the Union Cabinet. The Licensees were required to accept all the conditions of migration package in its entirety and simultaneously to withdraw all legal proceedings against Department of Telecom (DoT) or Union of India (Uol). The migration package also provided that the licensee will forego the right of operating in the regime of limited number of operators and would operate in a multipoly licensing regime. A copy of letter of letter of migration package as offered to Cellular Mobile Telephone Service (CMTS) operators is given in as Annexure-I.

(c ) Any loss of revenue would have to be seen in a complete context. However, the impact on Licence Fee collection due to migration offered. vide NTP-99 in respect of CMTS as well as Basic Service Providers existing at that time is given in Annexure-II.  

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Splitting Of OBC Quota

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

QUESTION NO  1981

ANSWERED ON  18.08.2011

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether it is a fact that Government is considering to split 27 per cent OBC quota among different backward caste groups; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
   

ANSWER

     
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI D. NAPOLEON)
(a) At present there is no such proposal.
(b) Does not arise.

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Dumping Of Toxic Waste By Ships

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  SHIPPING

QUESTION NO  1974

ANSWERED ON  18.08.2011

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to satate :-


(a) whether ship Probo Koala containing tons of hazardous asbestos, after being banned by Bangladesh, headed to India;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is a fact that India is becoming the dumping ground for toxic waste belonging to ships endangering the human lives and environment; and

(d) if so, the action proposed to be taken?
   

ANSWER

     
MINISTER OF SHIPPING

(SHRI G.K. VASAN)

(a) & (b): Ship Probo Koala has not visited the Indian shore as per the information received from the various ports and Mercantile Marine Departments as on 10.08.2011.

(c) & (d): No, Sir.

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Early Completion Of Cuddapah-Bangalore Railway Line

DEMAND FOR EARLY COMPLETION OF CUDDAPAH-BANGALORE RAILWAY LINE

The Cuddapah- Bangalore new railway line is one of the South Central Railway's largest projects and the foundation stone for the project has been laid at the Cuddapah Railway Station. The new line will reduce the distance considerably between Cuddapah and Bangalore. It has the potential to boost the economy and generate employment in the region. The Cuddapah-Bangalore railway line once completed will shorten the distance by 226 kms. as compared to the route via Renigunta and will also provide a shorter alternative route between north India and Bangalore.

The project involves an investment of Rs. 2,000 crores, which the Central Government and the States of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have agree to bear on a 50:50 basis.

In view of the benefits that are likely to accrue to the people of the region and the economy from the new railway line between Cuddapah and Bangalore, I urge upon the hon. Minister of Railways to take interest in the railway line and ensure that the line is completed at the earliest. Thank you.

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