SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to satate :- (a) whether it is a fact that Current Account Deficit (CAD) has been on rise during the last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that the Current Account Deficit (CAD) will remain high for two more years; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by Government to contain it as quickly as possible?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) & (b) Current account deficit (CAD) during the last three years is given below. ------------------------------------------------ Year CAD (US$ billion) CAD as per cent of GDP 2010-11 48.1 2.8 2011-12 78.2 4.2 2012-13 88.2 4.8 ------------------------------------------------
(c) & (d) The Government has taken a slew of initiatives to boost exports and to contain imports to lower trade deficit and thereby CAD. The Government announced various export enhancing measures in June 2012, December 2012 and April 2013. In July 2013, Government has increased the rate of interest subvention from 2 per cent to 3 per cent to benefit the exporters of small and medium enterprises and also for the most of the labour intensive sectors. In order to lower the import of gold, the Government had raised the import duty from 2 per cent to 4 per cent on gold in the Budget 2012-13, which was enhanced to 6 per cent in January 2013 and further to 8 per cent in June 2013. As a step towards restricting the gold imports, Government has linked the gold imports with the gold exports, whereby 20 per cent of the imported gold has to be channelized for gold exporters. Inflation Indexed Bonds has been introduced on June 04, 2013 to wean away investors from the gold to other savings instruments and help in moderating gold demand. Apart from these measures, the Government has revised diesel prices and capped subsidized LPG cylinders to consumers to contain the fiscal burden of subsidies in September 2012. In January 2013, oil marketing companies were permitted to raise diesel prices in small measures periodically. These measures are expected to moderate the demand for oil imports. Given the steps taken by the Government to enhance exports and to lower imports, it is expected that CAD will moderate in the current fiscal. Twitter Link To This Post Facebook Link To This Post Google + Link To This Post
SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to satate :- (a) whether GDP growth rate in the first year of Twelfth Plan will remain below 5 per cent;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the steps taken or being taken by Government to boost the GDP growth rate?
ANSWER
FINANCE MINISTER (SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 119 BY SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY REGARDING “STEPS FOR BOOSTING GDP GROWTH RATE” FOR ANSWER ON AUGUST 13, 2013
As per the provisional estimates released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measured at factor cost at constant (2004-05) prices, in the first year of the Twelfth Plan (2012-13) is estimated to be 5.0 per cent. The Government has taken several steps to revive growth in the economy that, inter alia, include measures to speed up project implementation via the creation of the Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI); boost to infrastructure financing by encouraging Infrastructure Debt Funds, enhancement of credit to infrastructure companies; provision of greater support to MSMEs; strengthening of financial and banking sectors, etc. Initiatives by the Government also include liberalisation of FDI norms in several sectors including telecom; deregulation of the sugar sector; decision to launch inflation indexed bonds to incentivize households to save in financial instruments; fiscal consolidation through fiscal reforms viz. reduction in the subsidy of diesel, cap on the number of subsidised LPG cylinders; new gas pricing guidelines, etc. The Government has taken several measures to increase exports, contain imports and attract foreign investment in order to reduce the current account deficit and improve the outlook of the external sector. Some of these measures include raising the rate of interest subvention from 2 to 3 per cent that will benefit exporters of small and medium enterprises, hike in import duty on gold, etc.
SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether the Ministry has received any requests from Andhra Pradesh Government for allocation of coal linkages to its various power projects; (b) if so, the details and the status thereof; and (c) the steps taken/being taken by Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
**** Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 99 for 12.08.2013
(a)to(c): Yes, Sir. The State Government of Andhra Pradesh had requested for the coal linkage for the following projects:-
S.No. Name of TPP and Promoter /project developer Location of the Unit Total capacity in MW 1. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Sattupalli/Khammam, Distt. Andhra Pradesh. 600 2. Vodarevu STPS of M/s. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Kanauparti Village, Naguluppalapadu Mandal, Prakasam, Distt. Andhra Pradesh. 4000 3. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Palvancha, Khammam Distt. Andhra Pradesh 800 4. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Ibrahimpatnam, Krishna Distt. Andhra Pradesh 800 5. Andhra Pradesh Power Development Company Limited Nelatur Village, Muthukuur Mandal, SPSR Nellore, Distt. Andhra Pradesh. 800 Total 7000
Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiary coal companies have issued 176 Letters of Assurance (LoA) for coal supply, covering the capacity of about 1,08,000 MW. During the last three years of 11th Plan, capacity of about 26,000 MW has been commissioned and the balance capacity of about 82,000 MW is likely to be commissioned during 12th Plan period and beyond. Since LoAs amounting to more than 80,000 MW for setting up the power projects already exist and subsidiary companies of Coal India Limited (CIL) are reporting negative coal balance, there is prima facia no scope for the grant of new coal linkages/LoAs for 12th Plan Power Projects. Twitter Link To This Post Facebook Link To This Post Google + Link To This Post
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 542
ANSWERED ON 08.08.2013
SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to satate :- (a) the details of anti-corruption bills introduced during the last three years, the status thereof; and
(b) the steps taken/being taken by Government to pass anti-corruption bills at the earliest?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) (a): During the past three years, the Government has introduced the following anti-corruption Bills in the Parliament for effectively tackling corruption:- Year Name of the Bill Present Status 2010 The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosure Bill, 2010 (The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, 2011). The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 27.12.2011 and presently is pending in the Rajya Sabha 2011 The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 27.12.2011 and presently is pending in the Rajya Sabha The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organizations Bill, 2011 The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 25.3.2011 and yet to be passed by the Lok Sabha 2012 ------
(b): These Bills are under consideration of the Parliament. Government is keen on early passage of these Bills.
SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether Government has constituted any Committee to look into the various aspects of Slum Statistics and Census; (b) whether the Committee has submitted its report to Government, if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether Government has taken action on the report submitted by the Committee?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION [DR. (Ms.) GIRIJA VYAS] (a) to (c): Yes Sir, a Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, was constituted in July 2008 to look into various aspects of Slum Statistics/Census and guide conduct of Slum Census 2011. The Committee submitted its Report in August 2010. The summary of recommendations of the Committee is annexed. As per Report of the Committee, the methodology for coverage of slums and criteria to decide slum like household was adopted in Census 2011. *****
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO RSUQ No. 527 FOR 08.08.2013 The summary of the recommendations of the Committee
Estimated Slum Population in the Country: The estimate of slum population in the country for the year 2001 was 75.26 million and the projected slum population in the country for the year 2011 was 93.06 million. (Statement –I & II)
Coverage for Slum Census 2011: All the Statutory Towns will be covered in 2011 census as per the following Methodology:
1. The ORGI will use exactly the same definition used in Census 2001 for delineating the ‘slum blocks’ in the notified, recognized and identified slum areas of each statutory town. The M/O Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (M/O HUPA) will issue suitable instructions requesting all the State Governments and municipal Commissioners to extend necessary support in earmarking these areas during the House listing Operations scheduled to commence from April 2010.
2. In addition, the House listing and Housing Census data will be used for earmarking the ‘slum-like’ clusters uniformly throughout the country, since the condition of census house where the households live, the amenities available to the households, etc. is recorded at this phase of the Census operations.
3. The ORGI will identify all the House Listing Blocks (HLBs) where at least 20 households satisfying the set criterion exist. Subsequently, the ORGI will hand over the layout maps of these HLBs to the M/O Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (M/O HUPA).
4. The M/O HUPA will undertake independent ground verification at these HLBs to decide whether these blocks can be additionally earmarked as blocks with ‘slum-like’ clusters. The ORGI will not be involved in the ground verification phase.
Criteria to decide a slum-like household based on Census 2011 House listing and Housing Census data 1. Any household which satisfy all the four conditions mentioned underneath will be considered as a ‘slum-like’ household. The four conditions are: i. Predominant material of Roof of the Census House: Roof should be made of any material other than concrete. “Concrete’ would include both Reinforced Bricks Concrete (RBC) and Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC), ii. Availability of drinking water source: Source of drinking water should not be available within the premises of the census house, iii. Type of latrine: Household does not have any latrine facility within the premises of the census house, i.e., they either have public latrine or no latrine. iv. Type of drainage: Household does not have closed drainage.
2. Any House Listing Block with at least 20 households devoid of the four facilities with respect to housing condition, drinking water, latrine and drainage, as explained above, will be considered as a HLB having a chance of having a ‘slum-like’ cluster.
3. The ORGI would provide the layout maps of these earmarked HLBs to M/O HUPA.
4. The M/O HUPA would confirm the same after independent ground verification of these earmarked HLBs, whose layout maps would be provided by the ORGI.
All the households from slum like clusters and the households in slum EBs as per census definition would together give the slum population in the country. This method would be employed in every Census so that the Ministry would have periodic and comparable updates and growth trends.
*****
Statement -I Table: State wise Estimated Slum Population for all 5161 Towns in 2001 Please check http://164.100.47.4
Source: Report of the Committee on Slum statistics/Census 2010
SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to satate :- (a) whether it is a fact that Current Account Deficit (CAD) has been on rise during the last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that the Current Account Deficit (CAD) will remain high for two more years; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by Government to contain it as quickly as possible?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) & (b) Current account deficit (CAD) during the last three years is given below. ------------------------------------------------ Year CAD (US$ billion) CAD as per cent of GDP 2010-11 48.1 2.8 2011-12 78.2 4.2 2012-13 88.2 4.8 ------------------------------------------------
(c) & (d) The Government has taken a slew of initiatives to boost exports and to contain imports to lower trade deficit and thereby CAD. The Government announced various export enhancing measures in June 2012, December 2012 and April 2013. In July 2013, Government has increased the rate of interest subvention from 2 per cent to 3 per cent to benefit the exporters of small and medium enterprises and also for the most of the labour intensive sectors. In order to lower the import of gold, the Government had raised the import duty from 2 per cent to 4 per cent on gold in the Budget 2012-13, which was enhanced to 6 per cent in January 2013 and further to 8 per cent in June 2013. As a step towards restricting the gold imports, Government has linked the gold imports with the gold exports, whereby 20 per cent of the imported gold has to be channelized for gold exporters. Inflation Indexed Bonds has been introduced on June 04, 2013 to wean away investors from the gold to other savings instruments and help in moderating gold demand. Apart from these measures, the Government has revised diesel prices and capped subsidized LPG cylinders to consumers to contain the fiscal burden of subsidies in September 2012. In January 2013, oil marketing companies were permitted to raise diesel prices in small measures periodically. These measures are expected to moderate the demand for oil imports. Given the steps taken by the Government to enhance exports and to lower imports, it is expected that CAD will moderate in the current fiscal. Twitter Link To This Post Facebook Link To This Post Google + Link To This Post
SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to satate :- (a) whether GDP growth rate in the first year of Twelfth Plan will remain below 5 per cent;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the steps taken or being taken by Government to boost the GDP growth rate?
ANSWER
FINANCE MINISTER (SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 119 BY SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY REGARDING “STEPS FOR BOOSTING GDP GROWTH RATE” FOR ANSWER ON AUGUST 13, 2013
As per the provisional estimates released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measured at factor cost at constant (2004-05) prices, in the first year of the Twelfth Plan (2012-13) is estimated to be 5.0 per cent. The Government has taken several steps to revive growth in the economy that, inter alia, include measures to speed up project implementation via the creation of the Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI); boost to infrastructure financing by encouraging Infrastructure Debt Funds, enhancement of credit to infrastructure companies; provision of greater support to MSMEs; strengthening of financial and banking sectors, etc. Initiatives by the Government also include liberalisation of FDI norms in several sectors including telecom; deregulation of the sugar sector; decision to launch inflation indexed bonds to incentivize households to save in financial instruments; fiscal consolidation through fiscal reforms viz. reduction in the subsidy of diesel, cap on the number of subsidised LPG cylinders; new gas pricing guidelines, etc. The Government has taken several measures to increase exports, contain imports and attract foreign investment in order to reduce the current account deficit and improve the outlook of the external sector. Some of these measures include raising the rate of interest subvention from 2 to 3 per cent that will benefit exporters of small and medium enterprises, hike in import duty on gold, etc.
SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether the Ministry has received any requests from Andhra Pradesh Government for allocation of coal linkages to its various power projects; (b) if so, the details and the status thereof; and (c) the steps taken/being taken by Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COAL (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
**** Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 99 for 12.08.2013
(a)to(c): Yes, Sir. The State Government of Andhra Pradesh had requested for the coal linkage for the following projects:-
S.No. Name of TPP and Promoter /project developer Location of the Unit Total capacity in MW 1. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Sattupalli/Khammam, Distt. Andhra Pradesh. 600 2. Vodarevu STPS of M/s. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Kanauparti Village, Naguluppalapadu Mandal, Prakasam, Distt. Andhra Pradesh. 4000 3. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Palvancha, Khammam Distt. Andhra Pradesh 800 4. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Ibrahimpatnam, Krishna Distt. Andhra Pradesh 800 5. Andhra Pradesh Power Development Company Limited Nelatur Village, Muthukuur Mandal, SPSR Nellore, Distt. Andhra Pradesh. 800 Total 7000
Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiary coal companies have issued 176 Letters of Assurance (LoA) for coal supply, covering the capacity of about 1,08,000 MW. During the last three years of 11th Plan, capacity of about 26,000 MW has been commissioned and the balance capacity of about 82,000 MW is likely to be commissioned during 12th Plan period and beyond. Since LoAs amounting to more than 80,000 MW for setting up the power projects already exist and subsidiary companies of Coal India Limited (CIL) are reporting negative coal balance, there is prima facia no scope for the grant of new coal linkages/LoAs for 12th Plan Power Projects. Twitter Link To This Post Facebook Link To This Post Google + Link To This Post
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 542
ANSWERED ON 08.08.2013
SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to satate :- (a) the details of anti-corruption bills introduced during the last three years, the status thereof; and
(b) the steps taken/being taken by Government to pass anti-corruption bills at the earliest?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) (a): During the past three years, the Government has introduced the following anti-corruption Bills in the Parliament for effectively tackling corruption:- Year Name of the Bill Present Status 2010 The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosure Bill, 2010 (The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, 2011). The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 27.12.2011 and presently is pending in the Rajya Sabha 2011 The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 27.12.2011 and presently is pending in the Rajya Sabha The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organizations Bill, 2011 The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 25.3.2011 and yet to be passed by the Lok Sabha 2012 ------
(b): These Bills are under consideration of the Parliament. Government is keen on early passage of these Bills.
SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether Government has constituted any Committee to look into the various aspects of Slum Statistics and Census; (b) whether the Committee has submitted its report to Government, if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether Government has taken action on the report submitted by the Committee?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION [DR. (Ms.) GIRIJA VYAS] (a) to (c): Yes Sir, a Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, was constituted in July 2008 to look into various aspects of Slum Statistics/Census and guide conduct of Slum Census 2011. The Committee submitted its Report in August 2010. The summary of recommendations of the Committee is annexed. As per Report of the Committee, the methodology for coverage of slums and criteria to decide slum like household was adopted in Census 2011. *****
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO RSUQ No. 527 FOR 08.08.2013 The summary of the recommendations of the Committee
Estimated Slum Population in the Country: The estimate of slum population in the country for the year 2001 was 75.26 million and the projected slum population in the country for the year 2011 was 93.06 million. (Statement –I & II)
Coverage for Slum Census 2011: All the Statutory Towns will be covered in 2011 census as per the following Methodology:
1. The ORGI will use exactly the same definition used in Census 2001 for delineating the ‘slum blocks’ in the notified, recognized and identified slum areas of each statutory town. The M/O Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (M/O HUPA) will issue suitable instructions requesting all the State Governments and municipal Commissioners to extend necessary support in earmarking these areas during the House listing Operations scheduled to commence from April 2010.
2. In addition, the House listing and Housing Census data will be used for earmarking the ‘slum-like’ clusters uniformly throughout the country, since the condition of census house where the households live, the amenities available to the households, etc. is recorded at this phase of the Census operations.
3. The ORGI will identify all the House Listing Blocks (HLBs) where at least 20 households satisfying the set criterion exist. Subsequently, the ORGI will hand over the layout maps of these HLBs to the M/O Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (M/O HUPA).
4. The M/O HUPA will undertake independent ground verification at these HLBs to decide whether these blocks can be additionally earmarked as blocks with ‘slum-like’ clusters. The ORGI will not be involved in the ground verification phase.
Criteria to decide a slum-like household based on Census 2011 House listing and Housing Census data 1. Any household which satisfy all the four conditions mentioned underneath will be considered as a ‘slum-like’ household. The four conditions are: i. Predominant material of Roof of the Census House: Roof should be made of any material other than concrete. “Concrete’ would include both Reinforced Bricks Concrete (RBC) and Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC), ii. Availability of drinking water source: Source of drinking water should not be available within the premises of the census house, iii. Type of latrine: Household does not have any latrine facility within the premises of the census house, i.e., they either have public latrine or no latrine. iv. Type of drainage: Household does not have closed drainage.
2. Any House Listing Block with at least 20 households devoid of the four facilities with respect to housing condition, drinking water, latrine and drainage, as explained above, will be considered as a HLB having a chance of having a ‘slum-like’ cluster.
3. The ORGI would provide the layout maps of these earmarked HLBs to M/O HUPA.
4. The M/O HUPA would confirm the same after independent ground verification of these earmarked HLBs, whose layout maps would be provided by the ORGI.
All the households from slum like clusters and the households in slum EBs as per census definition would together give the slum population in the country. This method would be employed in every Census so that the Ministry would have periodic and comparable updates and growth trends.
*****
Statement -I Table: State wise Estimated Slum Population for all 5161 Towns in 2001 Please check http://164.100.47.4
Source: Report of the Committee on Slum statistics/Census 2010
