(Interruptions)
[Translation]
SHRI SHANKARSHINH VAGHELA:Mr. Speaker. Sit, I do not want to go into the details of statewise dues to be recoverbd by the NTPC. I would like to know that whether
23 Oral Answers
in the matter of recovery of dues some states are being favoured by you and whether recovery of dues pending against any State like DESU has been waived off and secondly what is the cost of production of electricity viz Hydel, Thermal or Gals based power? What is the permunit power tariff charged from all the States and whether there is uniform policy in this matter or different policies are adopted for different states.
My supplementary is in two part. Have you waived of dues of DESU or any other State and what is the cost of production of power?
SHRI KALP NATH RAI: Mr. Speaker, Sir, in reply to the question of the hon. Member I would State maximum amount is outstanding against Bihar like to State that i.e. Rs. 253 crore. Rs. 222 crore is outstanding against Madhya Pradesh and Rs. 100 crore is outstanding against Rajasthan. Request for payment of outstanding dues are made to all the State Governments. The power supply situation can only be improved with mutual understanding and co-operation between the States and the centre. Since you have expressed you desire to know the statewise details of outstanding due, I would like to inform you that on top is the State of Bihar closely followed by Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
SHRI SHANKER SINH VAGHELA: I am not asking anything about
outstanding? (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: No, not like this. You cannot ask more than one supplementary.
(interruptions).
MR. SPEAKER: please reply to his main supplementary only.
SHRI KALP NATH RAI: Mr. Speaker, Sir, for recovery of dues the Government can just make humble requests to the State Government, but cannot resort to strong arm tactics. (interruptions)
[English]
MR. SPEAKER: Now, Question No. 268-Shri S.N. Vekaria. Mr.
Shankersinh Vaghela, your next question.
Oral Answers 24
(Interruptions).
MR. SPEAKER: I will go to the other question if you don't want.
(interruptions).
MR. SPEAKER: I have been watching that some that Members are asking the questions interrupting the Ministers and doing like this.
This is not correct. Is it in your interest or is it in the interest of the Members who want to ask the question? If you want to ask only question, I will allow it.
(Interruptions).
MR. SPEAKER: If you want only one question to ask, I will allow you one question to be asked, but not like this. Now. Question No.
268, Shri S. N. Vekaria.
[Translation]
Irrigation Projects
*268 SHRI SHIVLAL NAGJIBHAI
VEKARIA:
SHRI SHANKERSINH
VAGHELA:
Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES be pleased to state:
(a) the number of proposals for small, medium and major Irrigation projects received by the Union Government during each of the last three years, State-wise;
(b) the number of proposals which have since been cleared, State-wise;
(c) the number of proposals still pending with the Union Government State-wise and the reasons therefore;
(d) the time by which these are likely to be cleared; and (e) the details of estimated cost in each case?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI VIDYACHARAN SHUKLA): (a)to(e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Oral Answers 25,26
STATEMENT
A. While Major & Medium Irrigation Projects are received at the Centre for investment clearance by the Planning Commission Minor (small) projects are given clearance by the States themselves.
B. Statement giving number, Status of appraisal and estimated cost of now Major and Medium Irrigation Projects received from 1.1.1989 to 31.12.1991 is given below.
Status of Appraisal
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sl.No State Total Projects Projects considered received by Advisory
------------------------- committee & found 1989 1990 1991 Total accepted subject to comliance of certain observation by the State
-------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Andhra Pradesh 6 2 5 13 - 2. Assam 1 7 - 8 0
3.Bihar 11 7 - 18 2
4. Gujarat - 5 6 11 4
5. Haryana - 2 5 7 -
6.J & K 1 1 - 2 0
------------------------------------------------------------------- Project put Project on projects Estimated
up to the which State sent back cost
Advisory Govts. are to the Rs. crores committee but to sort out State
consideration Various Govt.
deferred techno-eco-
nomic issues
---------------------------------------------------------------- 8 9 10 11
---------------------------------------------------------------- - 4 9 1553.82
1 2 5 485.29
0 6 10 2796.03
0 4 3 284.90
1 5 1 1250.38
0 0 2 14.65
Oral Answers 27,28
7. Karnataka - - 3 3 0
8. Kerala - 2 - 2 0
9. M.P. 5 4 4 13 2
10. Maharashtra 3 15 6 24 8
11. Manipur 1 - - 1 0
12. Orissa 5 - 3 8 3
13. Punjab - - 3 3 0
14. Rajasthan 1 1 13 15 2
0 2 1 395.41
0 1 1 127.16
1 9 1 4210.92
0 8 8 964.25
0 1 0 1345.00
0 3 2 1281.74
0 1 2 49.33
0 4 9 1017.18
Oral Answers 29,30
15. U.P. 1 4 3 8 5
16. Arunachal Pradesh 2 - - 2 0
----------------------------------------------------
Total: 37 50 51 138 26
-----------------------------------------------------
C. The approval of project depends on how soon the State Government complies with the observations of Central Appraising Agencies and obtains clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forests from Environment and Forests angles and from the Ministry of Welfare on rehabilitation and resettlements aspects if displaced population include scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
0 0 3 807.18
0 0 2 1417.82
----------------------------------------
3 50 59 17641.06
----------------------------------------
31 Oral Answers
SHRI SHIVLAL NAGJIBHAI VEKARIA: Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the reply furnished it is stated that 11 projects in Gujarat are to be taken up at the estimated cost of Rs. 234.90 crore. I would LIKE to know why these are being kept pending.
SHRI VIDYACHARAN SHUKLA: Mr. Speaker, Sir, there were many shortcomings in the project proposals for which clarifications have been sought from the State Government and as soon as the clarifica- tions are received, the projects for investment scruting will be sent to the Planning Commission after through escorting by the Central Water Commission. After the clearance by the Planning Commission, the work on the projects will be taken up.
SHRI SHIVLAL NAGJIBHAI VEKARIA: Mr. Speaker, Sir, out of total 138 project proposals. 3 have been referred to the Advisory Committee but it has deferred the consideration and 59 have been sent back to the State Government and out of these 59 project proposals 10 pertain to the State of Bihar. I would like to submit that the reply is not totally correct, as even after taking into account the figures of proposals of projects sent back to the State Government the figures are confusing. The hon. Minister may provide details about Bihar.
SHRI VIDYACHARAN SHUKLA: Mr. Speaker, Sir, these figures have been put before this august House only after through scrutiny. No figure out of these is wrong. All these matters have been pending for a long time. There can be difference of opinion about the clearance of these project proposals, but no figure is wrong.
SHRI SHANKERSINH VAGHELA: Just
Oral Answers 32
now the hon. Minister of power was saying......
(interruptions)
[English]
MR. SPEAKER: Let it be a very loan and pointed question;
otherwise you will got amorphous answers and you will complain later.
[Translation]
SHRI SHANKERSINH VAGHELA: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the question pertains to whole country. It has been stated that the decision on these projects has been pending for the last three years. States submitted proposals regarding Forest Act, 1980. but unilateral decision has been arrived at regarding 10 acres of forest land. Regarding forests the Centre has got powers and the States have got concurred powers. If should not happen that the States keep running to the Centre and whether the States will be given powers to clear projects on their own, if these do not come under the purview of Forest Act.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it a pointed question.
[English]
It is a corpulent question.
[Translation]
SHRI VIDYACHARAN SHUKALA: Mr. Speaker, Sir, only medium and large irrigation project proposals are submitted to the Centre for approval and it the forest area affected is upto 10 acres and these are small irrigation projects then there is no need to sent those to the centre for approval.
33 Oral Answers
[English]
SHRI C.K. KUPPUSWAMY: Mr. Speaker, Sir, is there proposal
pending with the Government of India from Tamil Nadu about the implementation of Pandiyaru-Ponambalaru scheme in order to give irrigation and drinking water facilities to Coimbatore and Periyar districts? And also is there any major proposal from Tamil Nadu Government pending with the Union Governmentin order to make Thanjavur and Tiruchy districts industrially viable?
Sir, I see, there are proposals from the 16 State in the statement given. But there is no proposal for Tamil Nadu. There is no irrigation facility in this area. I would request the Minister to took into the matter.
SHIR VIDHYACHARAN SHUKLA: The statement which I have placed on the Table of the House gives the full particulars of the proposals received for the last three relevant years.
MR. SPEAKER: Today is the birthday of Mr. Kuppuswamy. You can give him something.
SHRI VIDHYACHARAN SHUKLA: The scheme about Tamil Nadu which is an old scheme has not been enquired about in this particular question.
[Translation].
SHRI SHARAD YADAV: Mr. Speaker. Sir, these issues are very complicated ones and issues pertaining to environment, forest and irrigation departments are very important from the point of view agriculture and any delay in solving these matters results in escalation of production costs. The hon. Minister is requested to evolve such a method by which an early decision could be taken in these matters so as to facilitate early clear-
Oral Answers 34
ance of these projects and also to prevent cost escalation, which results in wastage of resources of the country. Therefore, these issues need to be sorted out through mutual understanding and discussions with all the parties, because everytime procided replise are put before the House on every occasion and therefore, will you take action to clear these so that the cost of production may not escalate?
SHRI VIDYACHARAN SHUKLA: Many difficulties are being faced in the disposal of these cases. Many a suggestions have been given to the State Governments. Some State Government have heeded to those sugges- tion and Central Water Commission had to overcome many hurdles in these by setting up Central Design Bureau but now the State Government have started to sort out these at their level on our advise. This will help the early settlement of these matters. It is true that delay in clearance to projects results in cost escalation and breeds anvariety of difficulties. It is the endeavour of the Central and a few progressive State Governments have given their full co-operation in this regard. This facilitates speedy clearance after scrutiny otherwise it takes a lot of time to clear all the problems. The issues pertaining to irrigation, especially projects involving more than one State, are so complex that as long as all the aspects are not examined thoroughly many a problem are faced in granting clearance.
[English]
SHRI SOBHANADREESWARA RAO VADDE: From the answer given by the hon. Minister, it is obvious that out of 138 project proposals which have come before the Union Government, only three project projects are sent to the Advisory Committee.
I would like to know from the hon. Minister is it not a fact that due to abnormal delay
35 Oral Answers
that is taking place in clearing the project, the estimated costs are increasing a lot. The other day, the hon. Prime Minister was good enough to say that the Government has done away with licence and permit system and have deregulated the licensing system.
I would like to know from the hon. Minister whether the Government will change the present procedure where for some time it is examined in the Central Water Corn mission and after two or three years, it is sent to environmental and forest clearance. To minimise the time for examining and clearing the proposal in the will the Government bring forward categorical changes in the procedure being followed? Now they have invented a new procedure thereby they simply return the proposal to the State Government. The Centre says, Nothing is pending with us. They send it back to the State Government even for petty things. In respect of Vamsadhara Project Stage II, both the Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa have agreed and the officials have also met and agreed. The submerged area is only 106 acres.
Will the hon. Minister take immediate steps for clearing the Vamsadhara Project Stagell?
SHRI VIDYACHARAN SHUKLA: The delay is often because the procedure laid down by common consent of the State Government and the Central Government is not property followed. That is the main reason for delay that takes place.
As far as the environment and the forest clearance is concerned, it is the responsibility of the State concerned to obtain these clearances.
As far as this particular Ministry is con-
Oral Answers 36
cerned, we go into the technical questions of hydrology, water availability and various other technical matters regarding the dam safety.
But if there is delay in environmental matters and forest clearance, we would like to help the State Government Concerned but the State Government themselves have to take steps to get expeditious clearance from the concerned Ministries.
As far as this Vamsadhara Project which the hon. Members is anxious to know is convened, it has already been referred to the Advisory Committee and they have cleared it. Now, it is under implementation and I hope there would be no further delay in the matter.
Underutilisation of Equipments by AIR Doordarshan
*269 SHRI C. P. MUDALA GIRI-
YAPPA:
SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
(a) whether sophisticated broadcasting equipments available with the All India Radio and Doordarshan are underutilised: and
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government for the proper utilisation of these equipments?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (KUMARI GIRIJA VYAS): (a) and (b) The broadcast equipment available with All India Radio and Doordarshan is optimally utilised in a planned manner, ac-
37 Oral Answers
cording to requirement and availability of resources.
SHRI C.P. MUDALA GIRIYAPPA: Will the hon. Minister be pleased to state whether there are certain equipments like paint box in Delhi Doordarshan which are under-utilised for want of enough trained personnel and infrastructure both to operate and to make use of it and also is it true that when there are modern versions of those machines, outside agencies are making use of the same machines much more than what the Delhi Doordarshan is making use of them?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI AJIT PANJA): I need separate notice on whether in this particular station, the Delhi Doordarshan paint boxes are under- utilised. I will write a letter to the hon. Member so far as this question is concerned after ascertaining the facts.
SHRI C.P. MUDALA GIRIYAPPA: There is hot switch system through which all the major Kendras in the country can contribute to national news bulletins. But I understand that this hot switch system is not being used at present. Does it not prove that facilities are there but they are not being utilised?