______

SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______

Tuesday, March 17, 2015 / Phalguna 26, 1936 (Saka) ______

CALLING ATTENTION

Re: Situation arising due to use of harmful pesticides, especially

endosulfan in the country and their adverse impact on human

life

SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN called the attention of the Minister of

Agriculture to the situation arising due to use of harmful pesticides, especially endosulfan in the country and their adverse impact on human life.

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF

AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV BALYAN): Pesticides play an important role in sustaining agricultural production in the country by protecting crops from pests and diseases. Availability of safe and efficacious pesticides and their judicious use by the farming community is critical to a sustained increase in agricultural production and productivity.

Pesticides are also useful in health programmes for controlling vectors responsible for diseases like malaria. However, pesticides have toxic properties and need a well ordered system of management and regulation which encompasses all important stages in the life-cycle of pesticides, i.e., from import or production to sale and disposal.

The existing legislation for regulation of pesticides is the Insecticides

Act, 1968. This Act regulates the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risks to human beings or animals, and for matters connected therewith. Pesticides are registered under the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968 after a thorough technical evaluation of safety to human animal and environmental health.

Pesticides are not likely to cause adverse effect on human health, flora and fauna, provided the usage is in accordance with the manner prescribed in the labels and leaflets approved by the Registration Committee.

The National Policy for Farmers, 2007 acknowledged that ‘the triple alliance of pests, pathogens and weeds is cause of substantial crop losses every year’. The All Report on Input Survey 2006-07 found that only

41 per cent of gross cropped area in the country was treated with chemical pesticides. The average pesticide application of around 500 gram active ingredients per hectare in India is far less than many developed and developing countries. Therefore, responsible and judicious use of pesticides is a sine qua non for sustainable agriculture and food security of the nation and global exports. While recognizing the importance of chemical pesticides in Indian agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture has nevertheless taken steps to promote more ecology friendly strategies for pest management. The

Government of India has set up 31 Central Integrated Pest Management

Centres (CIPMCs) in various parts of the country under the central sector

‘Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India’

(SMPMA) Scheme to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in agriculture. The mandate of these Centres is to accord primacy in their activities and training programmes for Agriculture/Horticulture Extension

Offices and farmers to alternative pest management solutions like pests/disease monitoring, production and release of bio-control agents/bio- pesticides, conservation of naturally occurring bio-control agents. The IPM approach permits judicious and responsible use of chemical pesticides as a measure of last resort. Several State Governments have taken initiatives to promote IPM in their States and have accessed funds under Rashtriya Krishi

Vikas Yojana to support such activities.

The Central Government has taken other significant steps on this issue, some of which are enumerated:

1. Guidelines for registration and commercialization of bio-pesticides

have been made less stringent as compared to those for chemical

pesticides. 2. The safety of chemical pesticides are reviewed periodically by

Expert Committees. So far 28 pesticides and some of their

formulations have been banned/restricted from import, domestic

production and use in the country. Currently a technical review of

safety of 66 pesticides is being carried out. Approval for use of 43

pesticides on 111 crops have been withdrawn for want to

Maximum Residue Levels.

3. The Central Government notified amendments in the Insecticides

Rules 1971 to make Labels/Leaflets of pesticides containers more

informative and farmer friendly.

4. Packages of practices for pest management in 69 crops have been

reviewed and revised recently in an effort to align them with Good

Agricultural Practices.

5. State Governments and stakeholders are being exhorted to support

a ‘Grow Safe Food’ campaign centered around the five essential

principles of judicious pesticides use – application of pesticides on

the right crop, against pests for which the pesticide has been

approved, at the right time, in approved doses, and as per approved

method of application through training and media campaigns in

Gram Panchayats and rural areas. 6. Advisories have been sent to pesticides dealers to promote

responsible and judicious use of pesticides.

The Central Government has placed a complete ban on production, sale and use of the pesticide, endosulfan in the country on 14.5.2011 in compliance with an ad-interim order of the Supreme Court of India in Civil

Writ Petition No.213 of 2011, Democratic Youth Federation of India versus

Union of India and others. The matter is still pending before the Court.

Responding to the issue raised by Shri P. Karunakaran, the

Minister further stated: When this problem cropped up in Kasargod, Rs.3 crore were released by the Government in 2014-15, Rs.2.28 crore in 2013-14 and Rs.5.36 crore in 2012-13. However, Health Ministry is looking after the work of rehabilitation. So far as the ban on certain pesticides in foreign countries is concerned, it is not necessary that we should also ban them immediately. We have our own system. We have constituted a committee regarding the ban on 66 pesticides in other countries. If the committee recommends to impose ban on these pesticides, it will be followed. So far as ban on endosulfan is concerned, it is banned in India since 2011.

SUBMISSIONS BY MEMBERS

(i) Re: Growing insecurity and fear due to rising incidents of religious intolerance across the country THE MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT, MINISTER OF

HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND

MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI M.

VENKAIAH NAIDU) responding to an issue raised by several hon.

Members said: Regarding incidents which occurred in West Bengal,

Haryana, Assam and Uttar Pradesh, I would like to say that what is important is that we should focus on the issue and highlight it in the House and at the same time the concerned Government should take action in this regard. All of us should join together in condemning such heinous acts be in

Bengal, be in Haryana, be in other places.

(ii) Re: Gang rape of a Christian missionary in West Bengal.

THE MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT, MINISTER OF

HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND

MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI M.

VENKAIAH NAIDU) responding to an issue raised by several hon.

Members said: The Government of India will not shirk its responsibility as and when required to take necessary action. Keeping that in mind, the sensitivities also in mind - an atrocious thing has been done to an elderly nun who is serving the people - the Government of the day in Bengal has assured that they are taking action. (iii) Re: Reported death of an IAS Officer at his residence in Bengaluru.

THE MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT, MINISTER OF

HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND

MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI M.

VENKAIAH NAIDU) responding to an issue raised by several hon.

Members said: Appeasement for none and justice for all is what our

Government believes. Under the leadership of hon. Prime Minister the country is peaceful and the country is perfect and people are happy.

*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

(i) DR. laid a statement regarding need to

accord environmental clearance to Kanera Irrigation Project in

Bhind district of .

(ii) SHRIMATI JYOTI DHURVE laid a statement regarding need to

enhance the pension of retired coal mine workers particularly those

retired from Pathakhera coal mines in Baitul district of Madhya

Pradesh.

(iii) SHRI BHARAT SINGH laid a statement regarding need to

provide clean drinking water to villages under Ballia Parliamentary

Constituency, Uttar Pradesh.

* Laid on the Table as directed by the Speaker. (iv) SHRI DADDAN MISHRA laid a statement regarding need to

provide adequate compensation to farmers who suffered from

damage to their crops caused by recent unseasonal rains and

hailstorms in Shrawasti and Balrampur districts of Uttar Pradesh.

(v) SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL laid a statement regarding

need to make provision for measurement of weight of goods-laden

trucks at Toll tax booths on National Highways.

(vi) SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN laid a statement regarding need to

formulate a strategy to check land-erosion caused by Brahmaputra

in Assam and also take measures to rehabilitate the homeless and

landless people in the State.

(vii) SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM laid a statement regarding need to

construct a bridge over river Sone near Srinagar in Garhwa district

of Jharkhand.

(viii) SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN laid a statement regarding need

to expedite construction of railway over-bridge between Nadiad

and Uttarsanda railway stations in Kheda Parliamentary

Constituency, Gujarat.

(ix) DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK laid a statement

regarding need to raise additional Battalions of Eco Task Force for

maintenance and restoration of ecology in hill States. (x) DR. NEPAL SINGH laid a statement regarding need to take

stringent measures to check adulteration of milk and also take

measures to stop slaughter of milch animals in the country.

(xi) SHRIMATI laid a statement regarding need to

check the increasing pollution in Singrauli district, Madhya

Pradesh.

(xii) SHRIMATI R. VANAROJA laid a statement regarding need to

expedite widening of National Highway No. 66 between

Tindivanam and Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu.

(xiii) SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL laid a statement regarding

need to take measures for welfare of honey-collectors in

Sundarbans region of West Bengal.

(xiv) SHRIMATI SAKUNTALA LAGURI laid a statement regarding

need to convert National Highway No.6 into four lane between

Kharagpur and Sambhalpur and construct a flyover/by-pass in

Keonjhar city in Odisha.

(xv) SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT laid a statement regarding

need to address the problems of fishermen in the country.

(xvi) SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK laid a statement regarding

need to establish circuit bench of High Court of Bombay at

Kolhapur. (xvii) KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH laid a statement regarding

need to undertake electrification of all the villages under Rajiv

Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana in Pratapgarh district, Uttar

Pradesh.

(xviii) SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA laid a statement regarding

need to shift all district courts in Delhi under one single court

complex at Pragati Maidan, Delhi.

(xix) SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN laid a statement regarding

need to provide adequate funds for the timely completion of gauge

conversion work of railway line between Punalur (Kerala) and

Sengottai (Tamil Nadu).

BUDGET (GENERAL), 2015-2016-- GENERAL DISCUSSION

DEMANDS FOR GRANTS ON ACCOUNT (GENERAL), 2015-2016

SUPPLEMENTARY DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (GENERAL), 2014-

2015 - Contd.

PROF. SUGATA BOSE: The best research in economics over the last three decades has exploded the myth that cuts for the rich will somehow spur economic growth. Our economy needs the stimulus of greater public spending, particularly in social sectors, to quicken the pace of growth rather than any unnecessary tightening of the fiscal belt. Has the Finance Minister truly embraced the States as equal partners in the country's development as he claimed? The marginal increase in the State's share of revenue resources has come courtesy of the Finance Commission, not through the largesse of this Government. The abolition of the Planning Commission does not bode well for the future of federalism. The key economic decisions regarding allocations are being centralized under the Finance Ministry. The

Government talks about federalism and acts to centralize. As I had said on the budget last year that our future development has to be built on three pillars - infrastructure, education and health. I commend the Finance

Minister once more for committing public funds to infrastructure projects, even though the funds may get clogged up if the infrastructure projects are not implemented fast. I must express my deep disappointment again at the utter neglect of education especially school education and public health.

Spending on flagship projects on education such Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has suffered severe cuts. In the spirit of cooperative federalism, I urge the

Finance Minister to support the most promising State Universities and the fanfare over the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is masking the Government's unwillingness to address the public health crisis looming across the country which should be done on a war-footing. To conclude the Finance Minister's

Budget Speech brought cheer to a handful of billionaires in our country. I hope his reply today will offer something that might warm the hearts of a billion ordinary Indians. The Amirs can take care themselves. Please look after the interest of the fakirs of India.

SHRI BHAGAT SINGH KOSHYARI: The State of Uttarakhand has suffered a loss of about Rs. 2500 crore under new devolutionary system.

It may be due to some faults in parameters but I request the Minister to revamp the parameters as Uttarakhand is a border State. The hon. Minister has tried his best to inculcate the habit of saving through schemes like

Sukanya Yojana, Atal Yojana etc. announced in the budget. There are many provisions in the budget for the middle class. The persons earning up to

4,44,022 rupees have not to pay any income tax. The hon. Minister also mentioned in his budget speech to set up a Monetary Bank for the unemployed youth, the poor, the artisans, backward peoples and small workmen engage in petty works. I hope all the expectations will be fulfilled.

I also expect that my State Uttarakhand will also get the benefit on the lines of Chattisgarh and Jharkhand.

SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA: No budgetary allocation has been made for the schemes such as 'Per drop, more crop', Soil Health Card as also for traditional agriculture development scheme. Similarly no fund has been provided in the budget for providing compensation to the farmers for the crops which get damaged due to drought and hailstorms. The hon.

Finance Minister had said that the MNREGA Scheme would be linked with agriculture but this has not been done in all these 10 months. We had demanded a central veterinary university in order to promote our indigenous breed of cattle. But the Government has not made any such provision. Not even a single rupee has been provided in the budget for constructing warehouses and godowns. Crops worth thousands of crore get perished due to shortage of storage capacity. Though we talk of strengthening our panchayats, not a single paisa has been budgeted for the purpose. We should pay as much attention on the development of rural areas also as much we pay on the urban areas. A cut has been effected for the first time in the budget provided for the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana. The

Government proposes to lay 7.50 thousand km of optic fiber to provide internet connectivity to the rural areas. But I think that the Government should have given more importance to the linking of remote rural areas with roads. As for smart cities, no layout has yet been finalized. I would like to request to the Government to provide additional funds for the development of current eight counter magnetic cities of the NCR-Delhi. There is no separate fund provided for the development of rural health infrastructure. I request the hon. Minister to kindly introduce a separate scheme for the development of health infrastructure in rural areas. Besides, the

Government should also focus on the cleaning of rivers and canals. I would also like to request the hon. Minister to kindly undertake the construction of those dams which could provide us additional power and could also tide over the water crisis being faced by Haryana and Delhi. Today there is urgent need of skill development in rural areas. I want to know whether this skill development would be confined to nearby villages of NCR only. I would also request to develop Kurukshetra in Haryana as tourist spot. The 2 per cent cess levied as service tax for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan should rather be levied on the corporate tax in order to provide relief to the poor and common man. Finally, I would like to request that MPLADS funds which is presently Rs. 5 crore should be enhanced to 10 crore.

*SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT:

*SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

*SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

*SHRI AKSHAY YADAV:

*SHRI R. DHRUVANARAYANA:

*SHRI JASVANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:

*SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA:

*SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

*SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI:

*KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

*SHRI DHARMENDRA KUMAR:

* Please see Supplement *SHRI RAMESHWAR TELI:

*SHRIMATI KAMLA PAATLE:

*DR. YASHWANT SINGH:

*SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

*SHRI A.T. NANA PATIL:

*SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA:

*SHRI HARISHCHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI:

SHRI S. S. AHLUWALIA: The area from which I come is surrounded by four international borders and is also connected with two

States. No development has taken place there even today. Good quality of fruits are grown there but there is no processing industry for their proper utilization. Nepali language is allowed for writing the UPSC exams but this language is not allowed for writing WBCS exams. This kind of step- motherly treatment is meted out to the youth of my area. Our demand of including 11 communities in the list of tribal communities is still pending with the Ministry of Tribals. This demand should be met. I demand establishment of a Central University; National Institute of Technology

(NIT); construction of an alternative National Highway from Siliguri via

Mirik along Balasan River to Darjeeling; establishment of a Fashion

Technology Institute; establishment of a Sainik School; establishment of

National Games and Sports Academy; establishment of a Tea Auction Centre at Darjeeling; Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to be revitalized for boosting the tourism sector; establish a Broad-gauge Railway Terminal

Station at Sukna; strengthening and widening of National Highway 55 and

31 A; Central Government Engineering College funded by Government of

India; Revival of trade route of Tibet via Jelep-la from Kalimpong; and reservation of seats for students of this region in college/ institution of higher education including engineering, technical, medical and management, etc. all over India. We also need smart corridor. We also want an elevated highway by using latest technology from Ghoshpukar to Sewak Road without displacing people of the area.

*SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

*SHRI RAGHAV LAKHANPAL:

*SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO:

*SHRI P.C. GADDIGOUDAR:

*SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

*SHRI K. PARASURAMAN:

*SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

*SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

*SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

*SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

* Please see Supplement *SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

*SHRI LALLU SINGH:

*SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

*SHRI HARISH MEENA:

*DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

*SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

*SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

*SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

*SHRIMATI JAYSHREEBEN PATEL:

*SHRI BAHADUR SINGH KOLI:

*SHRI OM BIRLA:

*SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

*SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN:

*SHRI DADDAN MISHRA:

*SHRI CHANDULAL SAHU:

*SHRI RAVINDER KUSHAWAHA:

*SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL:

*DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK:

*SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

*SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

* Please see Supplement *PROF. :

*SHRI :

*SHRI AJAY TAMTA:

SHRI ANTO ANTONY: It is a budget without a clear vision and a

Budget which ignored the common people in the country as well as a Budget introduced for protecting the interests of the rich and the corporate. The answer is that it delays the path of fiscal consolidation and it delays big-bang reforms. Little allocations to the key sectors such as agriculture, education, environment, women welfare, health care etc., have proved that the Budget ignored the middle class, women and common people in the country. In

Kerala, cooperative societies are the back-bone of rural economy.

Cooperative societies in Kerala have deposit of more than Rs. 1 lakh crore. I would request the Government to grant the exemption enjoyed by the nationalized banks to the cooperative societies also. The problem faced by the rubber growers in the State that there is a large influx of foreign rubber and a subsequent fall in price of domestically produced rubber. I request the

Government to increase the import duty on rubber by 25 per cent. I also appeal to the Government to release Rs. 1,000 crore, the amount collected from the farmers as rubber cess, for procuring the excess rubber in the domestic market. I also request the Government to enhance the import duty on tyre from 12 per cent to 20 per cent. I would also request the Government to kindly establish carbon markets in the country. The real

India lives in its villages. Therefore, I would request the Government to kindly enhance allocations for rural development, agriculture, education and social sectors.

SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY: In this Budget a lot of thought has been given to the welfare of the poorest person of the society. The

Budget talks about cleanliness and development all around the country. The river Damodar is the lifeline of Jharkhand. There are a number of power plants on the bank of river Damodar due to which it has become extremely polluted. I would like to urge upon the hon. Minister that scheme may be prepared making the river Damodar pollution free. There is a need to think about presenting a separate agriculture budget keeping in view the importance of this sector in the country. A big project should be started in

Kodarma.

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: The budget of 2015-16 is a living example of the misdirected priorities. However, fall propaganda is being carried out by terming it as the budget for the development. I would like to ask as to whose development it is talking about? Are they talking about the development of the common man or of the corporates? Corporates are being given tax exemptions and it is being said that exemptions are going to be done away with. There is a need to clarify as to what are the exemptions which are proposed to be phased out with and what exactly would be the schedule for this purpose. The government has severely cut down on social sector allocations. It is being said that the economy has been growing at the rate of 7.5 per cent but I would like to know why the tax collection of the government is not growing at the commensurate rate?

There is a long pending demand of constructing a bridge on river Ganga in my district Sahibganj. This demand should be fulfilled.

DR. UDIT RAJ: It seems that one opinion has built up in the entire country that the politicians and bureaucrats are nothing short of villains. We should try to remove this image from the mindset of the people. There is large scale revenue leakage in the country. It needs to be plugged so that the fiscal deficit of the country could be reduced. There is a need to ensure the proper utilisation of the funds allocated for the Scheduled Castes Component

Plan. I would also request the hon. Minister to reconsider the allocation of

DSP and SCP which is on the lower side.

*SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

*SHRI KARADI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

*DR. KULAMANI SAMAL:

*SHRI NANA PATOLE:

*SHRI MUKESH RAJPUT:

* Please see Supplement *SHRI HARI MANJHI:

*SHRIMATI JYOTI DHURVE:

*SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY:

*SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY: The Government has planned many industrial corridors one of which goes from Madras and stops at

Vizag. I would like to know why does it not get connected to Kolkata so that we will get the benefit? I would like to urge upon the Government not to throttle the enterprising people within the country who are setting up small businesses because the government have brought such laws that family members cannot even give loans to small start off companies which will affect business within this country and it will affect the small and medium businessmen. You have said that anybody purchasing anything above a lakh of rupees will have to produce the PAN Card. There are many farmers in my constituency who do not posses PAN Cards. So, clandestinely, the

Government is bringing agriculture under taxation process. Taxing the rich is my last point. I would urge the Government to think of ways and means by which the tax net could be broadened. A State like Odisha which is paying so much money to the Railways, to the Central Government and deserve to be getting a better deal. THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, MINISTER OF CORPORATE

AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND

BROADCASTING (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY) replying said: When the first budget for the truncated year was presented by the government the country was facing different kind of economic environment and the world was having a different take on India. During the last 9-10 months the attitude of the world towards India has undergone a big change and therefore, I am of this opinion that it is a historical opportunity for all the political parties, political leaders and the parliamentarians to give a thought as to how we can take the country on the path of rapid development. There is a need for us to rise above the rhetoric of slogans and party politics and think in terms of preparing the roadmap of concrete policies to realise this objective. The financial architecture of this country has undergone a radical change in terms of the cooperative federalism and this is to be seen in the backdrop of presentation of this budget. This is exactly the reason why we have started to give much more importance to the model of cooperative federalism any time during the last thirty years. The states get some money out of the central divisible pool of taxes. The Fourteenth Finance

Commission made a recommendation to increase this allocation by ten per cent. The centre has completely accepted this recommendation which has resulted into the centre becoming poorer by ten per cent. If we have a look at the fiscal architecture then the share of centre is 58 per cent while the share of states is 42 per cent. Some of the money still goes to the states for municipalities, panchayats and disaster relief out of that 58 per cent share left with the Centre. On the whole the entire tax basket of both the states and the Centre reveals that the total share of states is 62 per cent while remaining 38 per cent is left with the centre. Under the new arrangement the states are going to get Rs.1,86,000 crore more as compared to the previous year out of the divisible pool. It is obvious that when the States become richer, I become poorer, but the country as a whole gains. I am a little disappointed that the principle argument is that your revenue has gone down by 10 per cent because you have given more to the States. Therefore, if I am ten per cent poorer this year, because you are 10 per cent richer in the States, it is obvious that with the increase in the tax revenue, the amount being spent in states would be much more because it will be my money and your money taken together. Therefore, the principle argument which has been raised is this. Is the Centre's allocation less? Let me inform the hon. Members about the two basic errors in that argument. The first basic error is what goes to the States is also going to be spent on poverty alleviation schemes and development. Therefore, when both of us spend and the country spends more though the Chief Ministers and less through the Central Government, the country as a whole is going to spend more though my allocations may suffer. For MNREGA I allocate Rs.34,000 crore in the Budget and I am now managing more resources, that is, Rs.5,000 crore more and so, it will about Rs.39,000 crore. We consciously decided to up the MNREGA expenditure and we should maintain it. It will be spent through the States.

The UPA system of accounting was you give a certain amount and spend

Rs.1,20,000 crore less. Therefore, there was a big difference between the

Budget Estimate and the Revised Estimate. Compare my expenditure in the next year with the Revised Estimates of UPA and may own Revised

Estimates. I am giving so much money to the States. Despite giving more money to the States, I am going to be spending much more in every category than what has been spent in the past. The major part of this debate is that I am pro-rich. This country will not get rid of poverty by just redistributing the existing sources. The previous Government concentrated on the distribution of the existing resources. The steps which were required to generate higher growth rates took a back seat. We have created a social security mechanism. The effort is to convert a pensionless society into a pensioned society. So, this is the concept of social security that we tried to introduce. This year, I hope to grow by 7.4 per cent next year, it should be eight per cent plus. Our Current Account Deficit which till two years ago was 4.7 per cent, has come down to below two now, it is 1.3 per cent.

Hopefully, it would be less than one per cent. Agriculture growth rate is only one per cent, industrial growth rate comes to about two or three per cent. What is our strategy? We need investment in this country. We need domestic investment as well as international investment. Investment will be the beginning of any economic activity. You need to increase manufacturing. Investment will lead to jobs. Investment must also lead to profitability. It is only then that you will get taxes. It is that money which will create jobs. It is that money which will help us to create infrastructure.

If you create a circumstance where investment does not take place in India then you will become a nation of traders and not a manufacturing nation.

You prevent infrastructure and you perpetuate India as a poor nation. That is not a course which we are going to follow. That is not a road map on which we are going to ply. We must have more money from within and outside coming into this country. We must ease the doing of business.

Were we not hurting the economy in the process? Our interest rates have to moderate. Power supply has to increase. Our infrastructure has to improve.

If there will be no land for infrastructure, then the country and the economy is going to suffer. The first proposal of 49 per cent FDI in insurance sector came from Shri Vajpayee's Government. We are competing for investment, not only foreign investment but India investment also. Indians are preferring to set up their industries abroad because of higher corporate tax. I have seen every country's corporate tax. The Government intend to bring down the corporate tax to 25 per cent. I have borrowed this idea from the UPA

Government. When investment will come in, the Government will have more money in its pocket to fund schemes like MGNREGA and the Pradhan

Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The issue of black money was raised here in this House. I assure the House that we are bringing strict law against black money and this will be brought in this very session. The Public Private

Partnership model is not succeeding. I have to balance growth and fiscal consolidation. Coming to gold monetisation, gold is an ideal asset. There is a need to invest in Gold Bonds rather than buying gold. With regard to domestic petroleum prices, we passed the burden to the consumers eleven times. In addition, the benefit because of reduction in crude oil prices will go to railways and highways. I have allowed companies to buy tax free bonds. I am creating an Investment Fund with the Government and its PSUs putting in Rs.20,000 crore, international funding coming, which will permanently fund infrastructure. Therefore, infrastructure is the sector on which we need to concentrate. We have Rs.25,000 crore for rural infrastructure, Rs.15,000 crore for long-term credit, Rs.15,000 crore for short-term cooperative credit, Rs.15,000 crore for funding Rural Regional

Banks (RRBs), Rs.8.5 lakh crore for agriculture credit. Therefore, it is in the interest of each State to put in more money from this enriched monies that the States have, into irrigation. People have to come out of agriculture and get into manufacturing. We want investment to come in domestic and international projects. The global situation today suits us. The IMF says that India this year is in the pace of growth rate may overtake China. That is a historic opportunity. I used a phrase 'India is not merely co-operate federalism, it is also competitive federalism'. Even in the Land Acquisition

Act, we have left the discretion to the states. If the backward states adopt a progressive policy, they will get out of backwardness. With these words, I commend the Budget to the Hon. House.

The discussion was concluded.

All the Demands for Grants on Accounts (General) were voted in full.

All the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) were voted in full.

APPROPRIATION (VOTE ON ACCOUNT) BILL, 2015

The Bill was passed.

APPROPRIATION BILL, 2015

The Bill was passed.

ANDHRA PRADESH REORGANIZATION (AMENDMENT) BILL,

2015

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME

AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU) moved that the Bill further to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, be taken into consideration.

SHRIMATI SONIA GANDHI initiating said: The Indian National

Congress was equally and strongly committed to protecting and promoting the interest of the successor State of Andhra Pradesh and to ensuring its rapid development. In addition, the then Prime Minister of India had committed on the floor of the Rajya Sabha that the successor State of

Andhra Pradesh will be granted special category status. But it is disappointing to find that the NDA Government has not shown any interest in fulfilling these commitments. The State of Andhra Pradesh is presently facing a huge revenue deficit, which is adversely impacting it and its people.

To make matters worse, the recommendations of the 14th Finance

Commission have not done full justice to the needs of the State. The

Polavaram Project must be implemented with urgency and with complete regard to environmental sustainability and with full sensitivity to the re- settlement and rehabilitation of all the affected families. Adequate resources have to keep flowing to the Andhra Pradesh state for its Capital. Sadly, nothing substantial has yet been provided. In addition to the above, many other commitments such as sanction of the Railway zone to Andhra Pradesh, the Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor, a steel factory in YSR Kadapa

District, a Petro-chemical refinery, a Petroleum University and the development of the Dugarajapatnam Port, all of these still remain only on paper. That is why, through you, I urge the Prime Minister to give his personal and immediate attention to this most important and urgent matter.

THE MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT, MINISTER OF

HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND

MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI M. VENKAIAH

NAIDU): As Andhra Pradesh, combined State, is divided into two, Andhra

Pradesh and Telangana, there was an error committed while drafting the Bill.

They said that the total strength of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly will be 175 and one-third of it will be the strength of the Andhra Pradesh

Legislative Council. We are now trying to correct that one-third of 175 is not 50 but it will be 58. Government of India has inherited a situation and we are trying to address all those concerned and all those issues one after another. In 2004, the issue of division of the State was raised by Telangana

Rashtra Samiti (TRS), supported by the , Telugu

Desam Party, Communist Parties and by the Congress Party also. But unfortunately, a lot of people had to sacrifice their lives. When this was done and a new State is created, people of Telangana are happy. The congress Party and the TRS were together in the Government. And took almost nine and a half years to fulfill that promise. Certain things which the previous government made in this Bill are being attended to. Foundation has been laid for one Indian Institute of management at Visakhapatnam. One

All India Institute of medical Sciences is sanctioned at Guntur or

Vijayawada. The Rajya Sabha Members of parliament who were elected from combined Andhra Pradesh and who belonged to Andhra Pradesh, have been allocated Telangana. People who were born in Telangana have been allocated Andhra Pradesh. It is a very peculiar situation. This also needs to be addressed. Special status is not part of the Bill. Why? Only the people who brought the Bill can explain. The second issue is on Polavalam. In the first Cabinet meeting two important things were adopted. The first was about constituting a Special Investigation Team for bringing back black money; the second was issuing an Ordinance for Polavaram. If we were not sincere, we would not have done it. There is a certain amount of concern with regard to the on-going process of fulfilling these commitments made.

Every Minister is addressing the issues concerning them. For Polavaram project, last year Rs.250 crore was given in the Budget. It could not be spent because the Act says that you have to create an Authority. The concerned

Minister and I discussed it with Andhra Pradesh and things have been worked out to take that also forward. It requires certain amount of time and patience, understanding and cooperation from all sides to solve the issue.

With regard to railway zone it is at an advanced stage. Similar is the case of

Kazipet Coach Factory and Power Project. Concerned Minister has taken a historic initiative of trying to revive the Ramagundam Fertilizer Factory.

With regard to protecting the interest of the tribals and also with regard to their rehabilitation the Government of India is giving topmost priority.

SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA: If somebody would have taken care on the date of formulation of the original Bill 2014, possibly this amendment of today would not have been required at all. The successor

State of Andhra Pradesh has 175 seats and one-third of it is 58 and not 50.

Now this Bill proposes to amend section 22 and 23 of the 2014 Act to enhance the number from 50 to 58. Let me come to the major and core issue on which, in my opinion, the Government should have focused. Discussion has taken place on the floor of the House on Polavaram project. State of

Odisha has strongly objected to certain things for Polavaram as it is going to submerge large tracts of land in Odisha and displace more than three lakh tribals from our villages. It is our strong demand from the Union

Government that let the Government does not take any decision which will hamper the interest of the tribals of Odisha. Many of us have given several suggestions to hon. Minister of Water Resources that if he tweaks the design a little bit, it will serve all the eventual purposes. Instead of displacing 306 villages, it is only going to affect 72 villages. It will have much better water supply to the people concerned, better irrigation and more power generation.

PROF. SAUGATA ROY: I stand here to speak on the Andhra

Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill. At that time BJP was for having smaller states and TDP was opposed to the division of the State of Andhra

Pradesh. Our party was opposed to the division of the State of Andhra

Pradesh. We felt that the division of the State of Andhra Pradesh would open a Pandora's Box. Whatever was promised at the time of division, whichever Government may have been in power, those promises should be fulfilled. That relates to separate package for Andhra Pradesh. They have got something out of the revenue deficit grant but that is not enough. The

Centre should give money for the new Capital. Let them build a new capital with Central help. I thought that after the State got divided, it would act according to democratic principles and abolish the Council just as we did it in West Bengal. We cannot object to it.

*SHRI THOTA NARASIMHAM:

*SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

*SHRI D.B. SADANAND GOWDA:

Dr. A. SAMPATH: The promises made to the newly carved out

States should be fulfilled. It has been suggested by many hon. Members that

* Please see Supplement the parent Bills should go to the concerned Standing Committees and the

Standing Committees should satisfy themselves the evidence and holding discussions with various stakeholders before these Bills are presented in the

House. Many hon. Members have put-forth certain suggestions regarding finance, legislation, judiciary, water sharing, administration, etc. I pay tributes to the Freedom Fighters of the present day Telangana and the present day Andhra Pradesh. Once the State of Andhra was a revenue surplus state, now, the State of Andhra Pradesh and State of Telangana have become revenue deficit States. We should have a comprehensive strategy in regard to the development of all the States. The cooperative federalism should come from the heart. The issue of Polavasam project is also very important for both the States.

*SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY:

DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU: I am very happy to note that the Government, through this Bill creased the number of seats in Andhra

Pradesh Legislative Council from 50 to 58. We fully support the relief and rehabilitation package for the tribal people who are going to lose their lands.

Preparation of Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 was a hasty decision of the Congress. So many assurances were given for the people of

Andhra Pradesh, whether it is revenue deficit, lack of educational

* Please see Supplement. institutions or the issues related to river water, industrial development, backward area development, Railway Zone, Pollavaram Project, industrial incentives etc. I am very happy that the NDA Government has initiated action on every such assurance. Lastly, I would request the hon. Home

Minister to consider increasing the number of seats in the Assemblies of

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

SHRI P. V. MIDHUN REDDY: The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization

Act, 2014 states that the Central Government shall take appropriate fiscal measures including offer of tax incentives to the successive State to promote industries and economic growth in both States. Though the Finance

Minister had announced some incentives for Andhra Pradesh, yet it is not enough. We would request the Central Government to accord special status to the State of Andhra Pradesh. The residual State of Andhra Pradesh is having huge revenue deficit from beginning. The commitment made should be fulfilled in a time bound manner. Promises made include providing funds for the Capital Special Developement packages to the backward districts of

Rayalaseema and North coastal Andhra and creation of a new Railway zone.

The steel factory was promised in YSR Kadapa District. Polavaram is a national project and it costs more than Rs. 10,000 crore to build it. So far, only Rs. 100 crore has been allotted in the Budget. If this is the state of affairs, it will take another fifty years for the completion of Polavaram

Project.

** ** ** **

ANOOP MISHRA Secretary General

**Supplement covering rest of the proceedings is being issued separately. © 2015 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NOTE: It is the verbatim Debates of the Lok Sabha and not the Synopsis that should be considered authoritative.

English and Hindi versions of Synopsis of Debates are also available at http://loksabha.nic.in.