'17'

    Shri Murasoli Maran, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, has approved 34 cases of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of about Rs.1544.00 crore on the recommendations of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The proposals cover various sectors like manufacture and sale of adhesive and glue, health care & beauty care products, manufacture of automotive accessories, generation & export of film software and electronic media entertainment software, mining activities, manufacture of enamelled copper wires, developing, importation and transportation of liquid fuel natural gas, setting up of pulverised coal-fired power station, cellular mobile telecommunication services, manufacture of compressors, refrigerators and washing machines, water meters and NBFC activities. A list of proposals cleared is enclosed.

'23'

    During June 2000, the Railways transported 39.49 Million Tonnes (MT) of revenue earning goods. This was 2.98 MT more than the goods transported during the same period last year and 1.09 MT more than the target set for the month.

    In June 2000 the Railways transported 18.50 MT of coal, 3.08 MT of Raw Materials, 0.94 MT of Iron and Steel, 1.21 MT of Iron Ore Export, 4.14 MT of cement, 2.20 MT of foodgrains, 2.11 MT of Fertilizers and 3.11 MT of POL and 4.20 MT of other goods which include 0.77 of containerised goods.

    Syria is keen on having greater cooperation from India for various railway projects in that country. This was disclosed by H.E. Dr. Issam Al-Zaim, Planning Minister of Syria during his meeting with the Railway Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi, last evening.

    The Minister of State for Railways Shri Digvijay Singh, Chairman Railway Board, Shri V.K. Agarwal and Member Traffic, Shri Shanti Narain also took part in the deliberations.

'42'

    The Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Suresh Prabhu made a call here today, for a public-private partnership in the field of genomics. The Minister was speaking while making the Vision Statement at the "Round Table on Developing India’s Capability in Genomics: New Era of Public-Private Partnership in Genomics, Information Technology and Medicine".

    To mark the significance of "Vijay Diwas" today on the first anniversary of "Operation Vijay", the first of the LPG Distributorships were handed over to the next of kin of Kargil martyrs one each in the State of Haryana and U.P. Shri Ram Naik, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, paid rich tributes to the Indian soldiers while handing over the LPG distributorship at Barara, District Ambala, (Haryana) to Smt. Surjit Kaur who is the proud mother of Shaheed Manjit Singh. A Sepoy in 8 Sikh Regiment, Shaheed Manjit Singh laid down his life on 7^th June, 1999 while fighting the enemy courageously in Kargil area. Only 20 years of age, the young martyr hailed from the proud Barara Tehsil of Ambala District. Aptly named Shaheed Manjit Singh Gas Service, the LPG agency has been commissioned by the Navaratna oil PSU, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL).

'17'

   The Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries is implementing a number of schemes for the promotion and development of small, tiny khadi and village industries. Some of the important schemes are the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY), the Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP), the Integrated Infrastructure Development Centres (IIDs) and the National Programme for Rural Industrialisation (NPRI).

    The PMRY was launched in 1993 with the aim to provide employment to more than one million persons in both urban and rural areas of the country. The REGP provides interest subsidy for Khadi sector and margin money assistance for village industries for promotion and development of Khadi and Village Industry activities in rural areas. Under the IID Scheme, the Central Government provides Rs. 2 crores (Rs. 4 crores for the North – Eastern States and Sikkim) as grant to each centre and Rs. 3 crores is provided as loan by the SIDBI or as share by the concerned State Government. Land for the project is made available by the State Government concerned.

    In the year 1999-2000, this Ministry launched the National Programme for Rural Industrialisation (NPRI), under which rural clusters with forward and backward linkages are developed by dove-tailing the existing programmes of Rural Development.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries, Smt. Vasundhara Raje in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

'17B'

    The Government have constituted a Group of Ministers on the 28^th June 2000. The Group headed by Shri L.K. Advani consists of S/Shri Murasoli Maran, Kashiram Rana, Yashwant Sinha, K.C. Pant and Smt. Vasundhara Raje.

    The Group will look into various recommendations including the specific suggestions made by the Ministry of SSI and ARI, to formulate an integrated and balanced package of policy measures necessary to strengthen the SSI sector, particularly in the context of the dismantling of QRs and the consequent increase in international competition. The Group will consider and evolve a road map for selective de-reservation in respect of certain products presently reserved for the SSI Sector, as may be considered necessary for enabling a phased and orderly transition and increasing national competitiveness.

    The issue of reservation/de-reservation of items for exclusive manufacture in the SSI Sector is examined on a continual basis by the Government and decisions in this respect are taken after considering all relevant aspects.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries, Smt. Vasundhara Raje in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

'14'

    The Government has formulated a policy of regulating the procurement, archival and dissemination of high-resolution satellite data within the country, after appropriately taking care of the sensitivity aspects. According to this policy, Department of Space has been identified as the nodal agency for the procurement and supply of high-resolution satellite data. Supply of the data to the users is regulated by the National Remote Sensing Agency under the Department of Space after appropriately, taking care of the sensitivity of the data as per the Government of India guidelines.

    The American Space Imaging Company’s IKONOS satellite has been imaging various parts of the world since its launch in late 1999. Being a commercial venture, many users have been procuring the data from Space Imaging under the UN open sky policy. Federation of American Scientists (FAS), in its website, has displayed satellite imagery of various establishments including nuclear and defence establishments in different parts of the world, including some the Indian sites in Andhra Pradesh, as obtained from IKONOS.

    This information was given by Minister of State in the Department of Space, Smt. Vasundhara Raje in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

'14'

    All the operating Nuclear Power Reactors in India have achieved near total compliance with the limits prescribed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). So far no employee has been affected by any health hazard including cancer due to exposure to Tritium or any other radiation. Epidemiological studies carried out by Tata Memorial Centre indicate that the cancer incidence among the workers or their family members is similar to the relevant control group of population. In our Nuclear Reactor, the process systems and components containing heavy water are designed and engineered to international standards in such a manner that, during normal operation there is no significant out-leakages of Tritium laden heavy water into the working environment. In addition, adequate instrumentation is provided to detect even very small leakages at the incipient stage itself. Also a number of Tritium air monitors are provided to detect the presence of Tritium in air, so that mitigatory actions can be taken, if required. Whenever plant workers have to perform maintenance work in areas having even low levels of Tritium activity, they are provided with protective clothing/equipment such as ventilated plastic suits and fresh air breathing respirators. All the plant workers are medically examined periodically to ensure that radiation doses to the workers are below the regulatory limits. These medical examinations on workers due to exposure to Tritium or any other radiation.

    Appropriate mechanisms are already in place to ensure the safety of uranium mine workers. The radiation levels in and around Jaduguda on account of releases from the mines/plants of UCIL are regularly measured and are found to be within the limits prescribed in this behalf by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) which are, in turn, based on the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

    This information was given by Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy, Smt. Vasundhara Raje in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

'14'

    The Government has entered into agreements with various countries for co-operation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. In the context of nuclear power projects, an Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) was signed between the Republic of India and former Soviet Union (FSU) on November 20, 1988 for setting up of 2x1000 MWe VVERs (Pressurised Water Reactors) at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. Subsequently, a "Supplement to the IGA" was signed between the Republic of India and the Russian Federation on June 21, 1998 to incorporate the revised terms for the implementation of the project. Consequent to this, a contract for preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed project was signed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the Russian Organisation "ATOMSTROYEXPORT’ on 20^th July, 1998. The "Supplement to IGA" has come into force with effect from 18^th September, 1998 after ratification by the Government of India. The DPR contract has come into effect from 4^th April, 2000. Presently, the DPR is being prepared and is expected to be completed by the end of year 2001. A techno-commercial offer will be submitted by the Russian side and approved by the Government of India, after which the decision on setting up of the project will be taken. The total expenditure likely to be incurred would emerge at that stage.

    This information was given by Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy, Smt. Vasundhara Raje in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

POOR COMPLIANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS FOR MINING PROJECTS: BAALU

    Minister for Environment and Forest Thiru T.R. Baalu has said that the industrial and economic gains of mines need to be very carefully evaluated in the face of adverse environmental impacts caused by it. Speaking at the 34^th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries here today, Thiru Baalu pointed out that although diversion of fresh forest area for mining activities has come down substantially, we should resort to diversion of forest land only to meet the barest minimum needs.

    "The tendency to get diverted unnecessarily larger extents of forest land than the actual requirement without considering the capacity to mine during the lease period has to be checked", the Minister asserted.

    Observing that the status of compliance of environmental safeguards stipulated for various mining projects is poor, Thiru Baalu stated that "if perceptible improvement in performance on environmental matters is not to be seen, the Government will be constrained to take a hard view".

    The Minister further said that several measures have been taken to cut procedural delays in granting clearance for mining projects on forests land under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. "We are actively considering enhancing the processing power of Regional offices from the present limit of 20 hectares to 40 hectares. We are also working on a proposal to make provisions in the Forest (Conservation) Rules whereby an appeal against order of rejection can be within 30 days of the date of order", he added.

    Stating that the forest land is presently available for mining projects at very subsidised rates, Thiru Baalu said that the State Governments have been advised to work out realistic net present value of the forest land for ensuring minimum diversion.

    Inaugurating the Meeting, Minister for Mines, Sports and Youth Affairs Thiru S.S. Dhindsa said managing the interface of mining activities and environment is one of our formidable tasks. This has to be given careful attention so that economic development is not hampered yet environment is protected. Once mining is over, the land can be put to more appropriate uses.

   In order to provide impetus to the Prime Minister’s dream project viz., the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) connecting four metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta and corridors linking Srinagar with Kanyakumari and Silcher with Saurashtra, the Union Minister of Surface Transport, Shri Rajnath Singh has emphasized the need for speed and transparency in the bidding procedure for National Highway contracts.

    The Ministry of Rural Development has launched the Gramin Awaas component of Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY). The guidelines for this scheme have been finalized and circulated to all the States/UTs by the Ministry. Accordingly, the States are sending their proposals; some projects have since been sanctioned.

    Visakhapatnam Steel Plant’s (VSP) production has gone up in the first quarter of this fiscal registering 10 per cent rise in saleable steel and 3 per cent in liquid steel. Saleable steel production has been 534,000 tonnes in place of 485,000 tonnes in the same quarter of the previous year. Liquid steel production has gone up from 571,000 to 588,000 tonnes. Most of the units have shown record performance during the quarter. VSP, a premier public sector undertaking of the Steel Ministry has earned Rs.717 crore from steel marketing during the quarter which was 31 per cent more than Rs.546 crore of the earning of April-June, 1999-2000. This was revealed in a quarterly performance review taken by the Steel Minister, Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy here today. He took note of the considerable improvement of the company in captive power generation, energy consumption and gross margin.

    The Minister was also happy to know that the company has earned an operating profit of Rs.249 crore during 1999-2000 and the financials of the company improved by about Rs.200 crore. Shri Tripathy urged the authorities to take all possible steps for improvement, so that this premier steel making company can make up gradually its Rs.568 crore net loss of the year 1999-2000. The Chairman of the Company, Dr. B.N. Singh apprised the Minister of the expenditure and cost control measures and other austerity measures taken to improve its economic conditions. The company has also taken a number of steps to avoid wastage and pilferage of equipments.

    The Chairman said that the company has taken some measures to improve the morale of the work force through innovative communication exercises. The Minister advised to maintain constant mutual dialogue between executives and work force for better industrial relations.

'44'

    Union Minister for Mines, Shri S.S. Dhindsa said that mining industry has actually emerged as a socially responsible and environment friendly industry and is not the enemy of forest and environment as it is made out. He was inaugurating the 34^th Annual Session of Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) here today. He also distributed the Shri Sita Ram Rungta Memorial Social Awareness Awards for 1999-2000. Shri Dhindsa appealed to the Minister for Envrironment and Forests Shri T.R. Baalu for support in regulating the surface use of mineral bearing areas as minerals are where they are and man does not have a choice in the matter. Concerted efforts need to be initiated to assess the mineral resources available in mineral rich area located in forests, agriculutre and grazing lands.

    The Drawback Arrears’ Clearance Month observed by the Customs department all over the country has resulted in the disbursement of drawback to the tune of Rs.902 crore. More than 1,75,000 cases have been finalised, of which 93,000 were settled at Mumbai, 29500 cases at Chennai and 55,000 at Delhi.

    The month long drive was launched on 15th May this year but was extended till the 14th of July, 2000 in view of the overwhelming response from trade and business. During this period drawback claims were finalised expeditiously and efforts were made to settle such claims before the statutory deadline for payment of interest. The observance of the Clearance Month is an effort by the Revenue Department to achieve the ultimate goal of attaining zero pendency. Experts are of the view that unless drawback is extended in the shortest possible time after exports, it hits the fund flow and sends the exporters’ financial situation into a tizzy.

    In terms of the Customs & Central Excise Duties Drawback Rules, 1995 and in consonance with the internationally accepted practice of providing relief from input taxation, duty drawback is extended to the exporters to make their products competitive in the international market.

    The Expert Group on Service Tax has called for suggestions from public and representatives of trade and industry on issues related to service tax. A questionnaire developed by the Group in this connection can be accessed at the website: dgst@servicetax.gov.in.

    The Expert Group which met for the first time recently since its constitution in June 27 has started the task of conducting a complete review of the Service Tax structure and will be submitting its interim report by 31st October. Its final report is likely by 31st December 2000.

'24'

    The Minister of Communications, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has ordered an enquiry into yesterday’s breakdown in telecommunication network at Mumbai following the allegations made by the BJP and Shiv Sena Members of Parliament from Maharashtra when they called on him today. The MPs complained to the Minister that the telecommunication network was disrupted by the local telecom officials with the connivance of the Congress Party workers and the local police. Shri Paswan told them that according to the information received from his officials the reason was purely technical as the telecommunications network went temporarily out of gear because of overload of telecom traffic on the telephone exchanges in the city. However, the Minister assured the Members that an enquiry will be ordered into the incident and a report will be called for immediately to ascertain the factual position on the matter.

'31'

    Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P.Thakur has announced that the World Bank funded Reproductive Child Health Programme will be reactivated in 100 hundred backward districts spread over the country during the next eight months at a cost of Rs. 30-35 crore. 265 districts have been identified for implementation of this programme.

'42'

    India and Brazil held discussions on co-operation in the pharmaceutical sector, here today, when the Brazilian Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Jose Serra and his delegation called on the Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Suresh Prabhu.

Lok Sabha

NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LABOUR TO STUDY INTRODUCTION OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SCHEME TO WORKERS

    The Government has decided to refer to the National Commission on Labour the recommendation of the Task Force on Social Security for introduction of unemployment insurance scheme to workers in the organised sector. Disclosing this during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha today, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Muni Lall said the scheme proposes periodical benefits to workers during involuntary unemployment. In a written reply the Minister said as the scheme entails heavy financial implication, it has been decided to refer the entire report of the Task force to the Labour Commission for an in-depth study.

Lok Sabha

GOVERNMENT CANCELS TWO REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES AND SUSPENDS 32 OTHERS AGAINST AGENCIES PROVIDING OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT

    Two Registration certificates were cancelled while 32 others were suspended during the last three years following complaints of cheating of intending emigrants by the agencies engaged in the business of recruitment of Indian workers for overseas employment. This was stated by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Muni Lall in a written statement during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha today. He said that of the 163 complaints received during 1999, the maximum number of 48 were from Maharashtra and 39 from Delhi followed by 22 each from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

'11'

    Following is the text of the statement on new Uplinking Policy made by the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Arun Jaitley, in Rajya Sabha today:

    Earlier, satellite TV channels were not permitted to uplink their programmes from India. However, as the Honourable Members would recollect, satellite based TV channels have started beaming their programmes into India by uplinking their channels from hubs abroad since early nineties, as the satellite technology has become available. As a result they have remained outside the Indian jurisdiction. In order to bring them back under the purview of the Indian laws, the uplinking policy was relaxed for the first time on 09.06.1998 and the Indian broadcasting companies with a minimum of 80 per cent Indian share holding and Indian management control were permitted to uplink their channels from India but only through VSNL. This permission was restricted to only those Indian companies, which were being released foreign exchange for uplinking from abroad. The policy was further liberalised on 26.03.1999 and all Indian companies which were broadcasters, with a minimum 80 per cent Indian share holding and Indian management control were permitted to uplink their channels through their own earth station as well.

    The Cabinet in its meeting on 25.07.2000 has decided to further liberalise the uplinking policy. As per the new policy, an Indian company, which need not be a broadcaster, will be permitted, subject to necessary security clearance, to set up uplinking hub or teleport facilities for purposes of hiring it out to broadcasters. Permissible foreign equity in such companies will be the same as in case of Telecom sector, which is presently 49 per cent, inclusive of NRI/OCB investments with Indian management control. These companies will be permitted to uplink only those TV channels which would be specifically approved or permitted by the Government. All TV channels irrespective of their equity holding, ownership or management control will be permitted to uplink their programmes from India, subject to necessary security clearance, provided they undertake to comply with our Broadcasting codes. This new policy will not only bring a large number of TV channels within the discipline of our broadcasting codes but also generate substantial employment opportunities, as India becomes an important hub offering state of the art facilities for uplinking.

    Our news agencies have been seriously handicapped vis-à-vis their foreign counterparts as they have been deprived the use of the latest technology of Satellite News Gathering (SNG) for purposes of news gathering and their further distribution. Because of this handicap, the news disseminated by Indian News Agencies reaches the electronic and print media late and in the intervening period contrary point of view remains unchallenged in the world media. the new uplinking policy of the Government would remove this handicap and permit uplinking facility to the Indian News agencies for news gathering and its further distribution to other news agencies/broadcasters. For this purpose, Indian news agencies would mean those incorporated in India and accredited by the Press Information Bureau and 100 per cent owned by Indians with Indian management control. This will give the Indian news agencies the much-desired competitive edge over the foreign news agencies.

    As in case of earlier policy, such uplinking facilities will be permitted with both Indian and foreign satellites. However, proposals envisaging Indian satellites will be accorded preferential treatment.

Rajya Sabha

POWER MINISTER CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF SYSTEM

    The Power Minister Shri P.R. Kumaramangalam has called for transparency in the subsidy system of electricity consumption. Speaking during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today, Mr. Kumaramanglam said the centre has urged the state governments to give importance to the collection of electricity dues. He said that the deficit of the State Electricity Boards, SEBs, has been increasing because even those who could afford to pay their electricity bills have not been doing so. The Minister said that all State Electricity Boards together owe over Rs.2,251 crore to the Rural Electrification Corporation, REC.

Rajya Sabha

DRAFT RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY STATEMENT READY

    The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has prepared a draft Renewable Energy Policy Statement. This was stated by the Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources Shri M. Kannappan in a written reply during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today. He said the objective of the Policy Statement is to enhance the contribution of renewables, namely solar, wind, biomass and small hydro by meeting minimum rural energy needs and providing decentralised’ off-grid supply for agriculture, industry, commercial and household sectors in rural and urban areas. It also envisages grid quality power generation and supply.

'8'

    Indian students have bagged 2 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals in the International Olympiads for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.

‘38’

LOK SABHA

    A two day National Seminar on Rain water Harvesting was held on 22^nd and 23^rd May, 2000 at New Delhi.

    The Prime Minister stressed the need to conserve and store water and to devise an effective policy for scientific and equitable harnessing of ground water. He also invited a nationwide debate on this issue to evolve proper policies and practices.

    The action taken in respect of the suggestions made by the Prime Minister in the seminar include implementation of a Central sector Scheme for Artificial Recharge of Ground Water at an estimated cost of Rs. 25.00 crore during the Ninth Plan period. The scheme is implemented in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Karnatka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and NCT of Delhi. The Government has also taken initiative to promote rain water harvesting and making roof top rain water harvesting mandatory in buildings in the urban areas. With a view to ensure scientific and equitable harnessing of ground water and to check its over-exploitation, the Government have constituted a Central Ground Water Authoritiy which is empowered to notify areas. It also registers ground water extraction structures. For evolving proper policies and practices through a nation wide debate on the issue, this is a continuous process.

    As regards the steps taken by the Government for proper management of available water resources and to overcome ensuring water crisis, the Union Government has taken various policy and programme initiatives for the optimum utilization of available water resources in the coutry. These include adoption of National Water Policy (1987), Command Area Development Programme, Preparation of National Perspective Plan for transfer of water from surplus basins to water deficit areas, water management paractices promoting efficient and economic use of water for various purposes, emphasis on water conservation through various methods including use of latest technologies and peoples participation in management of water for diverse use, setting up of National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development Plan in September, 1996 as well as lauching of Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme since 1996-97 for expeditious completion of selected ongoing major and medium irrigation and multi-purpose projects. Government is also promoting rain water harvesting and watershed management to replenish ground water.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty, in a written reply to a question from S/Shri Mohan Rawale, Uttamrao Patil, Y.S.Vivekananda Reddy, in the Lok Sabha today.

‘38’

LOK SABHA

    The Government of Orissa has reported that Bhimkund Multipurpose Project conceived on Baitarani river is under survey and investigation stage. Presently, approximate cost of the Phase-I of the project envisaging irrigation and flood control is Rs. 325 crore.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty, in a written reply to a question from Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, in the Lok Sabha today.

‘38’

LOK SABHA

    Deo Irrigation Project in Orissa is presently estimated to cost Rs. 123.55 crore with an annual irrigation of 15,640 hectares of land. Irrigation being a state subject, irrigation pr4ojects are taken up for implementation by the state governments themselves out of their own resources and according to their priorities.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty, in a written reply to a question from S/Shri Mohan Rawale, Uttamrao Patil, and Y.S.Vivekananda Reddy, in the Lok Sabha today.

‘38’

LOK SABHA

    The rivers flowing from Nepal are causing floods in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. During 1999 monsoon season 24 districts of Bihar and 11 districts of Uttar Pradesh were affected due to floods. A team led by Chief Engineer (Yamua Basin), Central Water Commission visited Nepal from June 5-12, 2000 to attend the 1^st Technical Level Meeting between India and Nepal on the Project and to undertsake the joint Indo-Nepal field visit to the proposed sapta Kosi High dam and sun Kosi Multipurpose project area.

    The details of works and preliminary cost estimates for preparation of detailed projecct report in respect of sapta Kosi High Dam and sun Kosi Multipurpose project were jointly worked out during the visit.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty, in a written reply to a question from S/Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadev, Zora Singh Mann, Dr. M.P. Jaiswal, Prabhunath Singh, Nawal Kishore Rai, and Suresh Ramrao Jadhav, in the Lok Sabha today.

‘38’

LOK SABHA

    There is no dispute between Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra regarding Krishna River waters, The allocation of Krishna River waters are governed by the award of Krishna Water disputes Tribunal. The award of Tribunal is, however, open for review on any day after 31.05.2000 by a competent authority or tribunal on a reference received from any of the three Krishna Basin States by the Central Government. However, none of the three Krishna Basin States has requested Central Government so far to constitute a new Tribunal.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty, in a written reply to a question from Shri N. Janardhana Reddy and S.D.N.R. Wadiyar, in the Lok Sabha today.