Operating Cost Of Aluminium Producers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  MINES

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2871

ANSWERED ON-19.12.2011

(a) the details of operating cost of each Aluminium producing company during the last three years;
(b) whether it is a fact that the operating cost have risen during the last one year;
(c) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by Government to reduce the operating cost?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINES
(SHRI DINSHA PATEL)

(a): The primary producers of aluminium in the country viz. National Aluminium Company Limited(NALCO), HINDALCO Industries, Bharat Aluminium Company Limited(BALCO) and Vedanta Aluminium Limited have declined to provide information regarding their operating cost on account of commercial confidentiality.

(b): Yes, Sir. The primary producers have informed that their operating costs have risen during the last one year.

(c): The increase in the operating cost during the last one year is mainly due to the following:-

(i) Increase in prices of major raw materials and energy inputs viz Calcined Petroleum Coke, Coal Tar Pitch, Aluminium Flouride, Caustic soda, Fuel oil, etc.
(ii) Increase in transportation costs.
(iii) Increase in the price of coal by the Coal Companies.
(iv) Increase in employee remuneration and benefits due to high inflation rate and increased cost of living/ pay revision, etc.

(d): The primary producers endeavour to reduce their operating cost through a slew of measures like reducing power consumption by adopting energy conservation methods, modernization of equipments, increase in current efficiency, reducing fallen anodes in smelter, improving productivity of workers, etc. As energy cost is substantial in aluminium smelting, all the primary producers of aluminium have been brought under the ambit of a new initiative launched by the Government of India for energy conservation and assigned a target to reduce specific energy consumption from its base line value within a defined period i.e 2010-11 to 2013-14, to be monitored by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency(Ministry of Power). Besides, the Government also reviews from time to time the rates of various duties including import duty on raw materials required for production of aluminium, reduction in transmission loss, allocation of coal blocks and/or linkage coal to the extent possible, with the objective of reducing the overall operating cost of primary aluminium producers.

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Misuse Of Government's Servers To Attack Network Of Other Countries

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2710

ANSWERED ON-16.12.2011

(a) whether it is a fact that foreign entities are using Government''s servers to attack networks of other countries;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of agencies responsible for safeguarding the country''s IT infrastructure; and

(d) the action taken/being taken by Government against such agencies?

ANSWER

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

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Promotion Of Organic Farming

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2678

ANSWERED ON-16.12.2011

(a) whether there is any Government policy in place for promotion of organic farming, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether Government is providing financial assistance to the farmers for promotion of organic farming;

(c) if so, the details of financial assistance given during the last five years, State-wise and year-wise;

(d) the details of targets fixed/achieved during the last five years in respect of all States;

(e) whether there is any plan to accelerate adoption of organic farming; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

(a): Yes, Sir. Government has a National Policy on Organic Farming which seeks to promote technically sound, economically viable, environmentally non-degrading and socially acceptable use of natural resources in favour organic farming.

(b) to (d): The Government provides financial assistance for promotion of organic farming under various schemes viz. National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). The details of financial assistance given and achievements during last five years under NPOF, NHM and RKVY schemes are given at Annexure-I, II, III, IV & V.

(e) & (f): The Government is already promoting adoption of organic farming by providing assistance for setting up of organic input production units, adoption and certification of organic farmers clusters under National Horticulture Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.


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Slow Down Of Industrial Growth Rate

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2334

ANSWERED ON-14.12.2011

(a) whether it is a fact that industrial growth has slowed during the last three years;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) what are the sectors that have shown slackness;

(d) what are the factors that have contributed for this; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by Government to accelerate the industrial growth?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

(a)&(b): The industrial growth measured in terms of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) has steadily increased during the last three years from 2.5 percent in 2008-09 to 5.3 percent 2009-10 and 8.2 percent in 2010-11. In the current year during Apr-Oct, 2011, the industrial growth is moderate to 3.5% compared to a growth of 8.7% in the corresponding period of the previous year.
(c): The sectoral growth for the last three years and the current year is indicated below:-


(in percent)
Years Mining Manufacturing Electricity General
(141.57) (755.27) (103.16) (1000)
2008-09 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.5
2009-10 7.9 4.8 6.1 5.3
2010-11 5.2 9.0 5.5 8.2
April-October
2010-11 6.9 9.4 4.5 8.7
2011-12 (-)2.2 3.7 8.9 3.5



(d): Factors that have contributed to the moderation in industrial growth during the current year, among others include moderation in the rate of growth of consumption expenditure, underperformance of the construction sector, hardening of interest rates resulting in increase in the cost of capital and global economic uncertainty.

(e): Various steps have been taken by the government to boost industrial production which, inter-alia, include promotion and facilitation of industrial investment including the foreign direct investment; improvement in business environment; development of industrial and other infrastructure through public private initiatives; incentivizing research and development; and development of industry related skills. Government in November, 2011 also announced a National Manufacturing Policy, which aims at making industry globally competitive.


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Steps To Increase Exports

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2333

ANSWERED ON-14.12.2011

a) whether it is a fact that India''s export growth has slumped;

b) if so, what are the main factors contributing to this situation; and

c) the steps being taken to help increase the exports?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

(a)to(c)No, Sir. In the current financial year 2011-2012, India’s export has been growing every month as compared to relevant month of the previous year. Diversification of exports is a continuous endeavour and need based measures are taken by the Government from time to time. The Government has recently announced schemes like Special Bonus Benefit Scheme, Special Focus Market Scheme and also included two new markets viz. Cuba and Mexico under the Focus Market Scheme, for further boosting export of Indian products to different markets.

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Life Insurance Corporation

The Life Insurance Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2011

Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, I rise to speak on the LIC (Amendment) Bill, 2011. I really do not understand this move. Sir, LIC is a very old and giant organization operating for the past 55 years in this country, and, has been functioning very efficiently and serving the nation. Increasing the Paid-Up Capital from Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 100 crore has no relevance because, at present, it is hundred per cent owned by the Government of India, unless the Government is trying to privatize even the LIC or something like that. Sir, I just read a set of rules, and, I don’t think that it is necessary to have this increase. However, too much of interference by the regulatory agencies is making a lot of sectors inefficient day by day.

Moreover, there is no accountability of the regulatory agencies as to what they are doing and why they are impeding the growth in various sectors. At the same time, reducing policy holders’ dividend from 95 per cent to 90 per cent is nothing but making the public sector undertaking more inefficient and less attractive. We have already seen how the Air India, a public sector undertaking, was made an inefficient organization, whereby the private sector gained the benefits. The 
LIC, I am afraid, is going on the similar lines. I don’t see any reason as to why the Government should interfere whereas in the free and liberalization environment, more delegation and empowerment is required to run organizations more efficiently.

There is one more issue. If every policy holder has been expecting to get about 95 per cent of the premium, which they have paid and the benefits or profits, and, you suddenly reduce it by five per cent and take that five per cent into Government fold, it has no meaning. It should be left to the various organizations, particularly, the LIC, being a giant organization, which has proven its efficiency for the past fifty-five years, to run on their own, based on market forces, so that everything takes place according to demand and supply, and, also as per the market forces. It is placing all the conditions like not to have Divisional Law Officers, not to have agents, not to recruit people, and, such other things. Post-nationalization, the RBI has been controlling the public sector banks, whereby a lot of banks went into loss-making. If we start controlling the LIC also, we may fall into similar lines. Therefore, I propose that some of the amendments have to be changed, and, I suggest that this Bill may be withdrawn. Thank you.

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Financial And Technical Assistance To Wind Power Generation

Demand To Provide Financial And Technical Assistance To Wind Power Generation In Andhra Pradesh

Sir, wind power energy is one of the cleanest energies available in abundance, particularly in India. This energy has not been tapped to the full potential in the country so far.

Sir, the Central Wind Energy Institute (C-Wet) has identified 30 locations in Andhra Pradesh for wind power development, spread across Ananthapur, Kurnool, Cuddapah, Chittoor and Nellore Districts. Ananthapur accounts for the highest wind power potential in Andhra Pradesh. As per ICSA India Limited, the Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (Nedcap), Andhra Pradesh has a technical wind potential of around 800 MW against which capacity installed by private sector companies is around 110 MW and the rest is yet to be exploited. Installation of the projects for the remaining potential will not only boost economy and generate employment in the region but also will fulfill the increasing demands of energy in the State. It will also help protect the environment and save the resources. The Government needs to take initiative for developing wind energy in all the potential districts in Andhra Pradesh.
Sir, I urge upon the Government to take necessary action in this direction and provide all financial and technical assistance to the State of Andhra Pradesh required for the purpose.



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