WEDNESDAY, THE 12TH MARCH, 2003 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11-00 a.m.) 11-00 a.m. 1. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered:- Starred Question No.302 regarding Return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants. Starred Question No.303 regarding Crimes against women. Starred Question No.305 regarding Assistance to States affected by power crisis. Starred Question No.306 regarding Schemes for rural electrification. Starred Question No.307 regarding Development of “Controlled Shut Reactor (CSR)” for power transfer. Starred Question No.308 regarding Production of coking coal. Starred Question No.309 regarding Priority to drought affected States under “Haryali” scheme. Starred Question No. 310 regarding Power sector reforms. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos. 301, 304 and 311 to 320 were laid on the Table. 2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 2162 to 2316 were laid on the Table. 12 Noon 3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Kariya Munda (Minister of Coal) laid on the Table:— I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Coal Notification G.S.R. 108(E) dated the 13th February, 2003, publishing the Coal Mines Pension (Amendment) Scheme, 2003, under section 7A of the Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1948. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (a) Eighty-first Annual Report and Accounts of the Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Kothagudem Collieries, for the year 2001- 2002, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of thereon. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Company. Shri Ramesh Bais (Minister of State (Independent charge) of the Ministry of Mines laid on the Table:- I. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Hindustan Copper Limited, Kolkata, for the year 2001-2002, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Company. (2) Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Mines) and the Hindustan Copper Limited for the year 2002-2003.

Shri M. Kannappan (Minister of State (Independent charge) of the Minisytry of Non-conventional Energy Sources) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers: — (a) Fourth Annual Report and Accounts of the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), Chennai, for the year 2001-2002, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Centre. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

Shri Harin Pathak (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Statement regarding modification of the Award given by the Board of Arbitration in CA reference No.1 of 1998, under the Joint Consultative Machinery and Compulsory Arbitration in respect of the pay scales for the post of Computor in the Office of Registrar General, India.

Shri Basangouda R. Patil (Minister of State in the Ministry of Textiles) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (a) Seventeenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Jute Manufactures Development Council, Kolkata, for the year 2001-2002, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Council. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. 12-02 p.m. 4. Messages from the I The Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2003 II The Appropriation Bill, 2003 III The Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2003 Secretary-General reported to the House the following messages received from the Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha:— (I) “In accordance with the provisions of rule 96 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to enclose the Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2003, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 11th March, 2003. The Speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of article 110 of the Constitution of India.” (II) “In accordance with the provisions of rule 96 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to enclose the Appropriation Bill, 2003, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 11th March, 2003. The Speaker has certified that this Bill is Money Bill within the meaning of article 110 of the Constitution of India.” (III) “In accordance with the provisions of rule 96 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to enclose the Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2003, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 11th March, 2003. The Speaker has certified that the Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of article 110 of the Constitution of India.” 5. Bills Laid on the Table Secretary-General laid on the Table the following Bills, as passed by Lok Sabha:— (I) The Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2003; (II) The Appropriation Bill, 2003; and (II) The Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2003. 12-03 p.m. 6. The Budget (General), 2003-2004 Further discussion on the Budget (General), 2003-2004, continued. The following Members took part in the discussion:— 12-03 p.m. 1. Shri Dina Nath Mishra** (Continued from 11-3-2003) 12-26 p.m.## 2. Shri Nilotpal Basu

______** Spoke in Hindi. ## From 12-23 p.m. to 12-26 p.m. some points were raised.

1-27 p.m.## (The House adjourned at 1-27 p.m. and re-assembled at 2-31 p.m.) 2-49 p.m.$$ 3. Shri Pranab Mukherjee 3-22 p.m. 4. Shri S. Viduthalai Virumbi 3-50 p.m. 5. Shri J. Chitharanjan 4-13 p.m. 6. Shri Ekanath K. Thakur 4-31 p.m. 7. Shri Lalit Suri 4-41 p.m. 8. Shri ** 4-57 p.m. 9. Shri R.P. Goenka** 5-03 p.m. 10. Shri Kalraj Mishra** 5-30 p.m.@ 11. Shrimati Saroj Dubey** 5-55p.m. 12. Shri Ashwani Kumar

The discussion was not concluded. 7. Statement by Prime Minister% Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee made a statement regarding Iraq situation. 8. Announcement by Chair@@ The Vice-Chairman (Shri Santosh Bagrodia) after taking the sense of the House announced that the Half-an-Hour Discussion listed in today’s Revised List of Business would be taken up tomorrow (13-3-2003) at 1-00 p.m. ______## From 12-46 p.m. to 1-27 p.m.see item No.7. $$ From 12-31 p.m. to 2-49 p.m. Shri Nilotpal basu continued his speech. ** Spoke in Hindi. @ From 5-11 p.m. to 5-12 p.m. see item No.8. % At 12-46 p.m. @@ At 5-11 p.m. 6-11 p.m. 9. Government Resolution Shri , Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Company Affairs moved the following Resolution:— “That this House approves the proposal of the Government to reject the Award given on February 12, 1999 by the Board of Arbitration in C.A. Reference No. 13 of 1992 in respect of grant of Touring Special Pay to Audit staff in Indian Audit and Accounts Department in terms of Para 21 of the scheme for Joint Consultative Machinery and Compulsory Arbitration, as the implementation of the Award involves an expenditure of over Rs.5,47,18,800/- in payment of arrears and a recurring expenditure of Rs.1,36,79,700/- per annum will lead to diversion of scarce resources from development expenditure to non-productive expenditure and will thus adversely affect the National Economy.” The following Members took part in the discussion:— 6-13 p.m. 1. Prof. Saif-ud Din Soz 6-21 p.m. 2. Shri R.S. Gavai 6-23 p.m. Shri Anandrao Vithoba Adsul replied. 6-28 p.m. The Resolution was adopted.

(The House adjourned at 6-29 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Thursday, the 13th March, 2003)

______