LOK SABHA ___ SYNOPSIS of DEBATES (Proceedings Other Than
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LOK SABHA ___ SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______ Monday, July 21, 2014 / Ashadha 30, 1936 (Saka) ______ *MATTERS UNDER RULE 377 (i) DR. SWAMI SAKSHIJI MAHARAJ laid a statement regarding need to close slaughter-houses in Unnao Parliamentary Constituency, Uttar Pradesh. (ii) SHRI SUBHASH CHANDRA BAHERIA laid a statement regarding need to expedite construction of National Highways announced during the tenure of the previous Government. (iii) SHRI GANESH SINGH laid a statement regarding need to provide adequate compensation to the farmers, whose fields have been used to install high tension towers by power Grid Corporation of India Limited. (iv) SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR laid a statement regarding need to expedite the setting up of Hydro Engineering College, at Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. * Laid on the Table as directed by the Speaker. (v) SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH laid a statement regarding need to provide information to MPs about construction of roads under PMGSY and seek their opinion. (vi) SHRI BIRENDRA KUMAR CHOUDHARY laid a statement regarding need to include Bhojpuri language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. (vii) SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO laid a statement regarding need to expedite the construction work of N.H. No.33 and to check the quality of its construction. (viii) SHRI RAVNEET SINGH laid a statement regarding need to expedite construction of the stretch of National Highway between Panipat and Jalandhar and stop collections toll tax on this Highway till its completion. (ix) SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR Laid a statement regarding need to find an amicable solution to Chars (river Islands) in Jharkhand. (x) SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN laid a statement regarding need to effect roll back of toll hike charged from users of National Highway No.46 in Tamil Nadu. (xi) SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB laid a statement regarding need to declare Gopalpur and Dhamra Ports in Odisha as immigration points for the purpose of embarkation and dis-embarkation. (xii) SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV laid a statement regarding need to provide transport facility and develop the Lonar Crater in Buldhana Parliamentary Constituency as a tourist place. (xiii) SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO laid a statement regarding need to review the new format for IIT selection. (xiv) SHRI SHAILESH KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to expedite the construction of National Highway No.106. (xv) SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to take immediate steps to repair National Highway No.31 from Purnia to Islampur. (xvi) SHRI JOSE K. MANI laid a statement regarding need to set up a university for studies on rubber cultivation and product development research in the country. BUDGET (GENERAL) -2014-15 DEMANDS FOR GRANTS – 2014-15 Ministry of Water Resources SHRI GAURAV GOGOI initiating said: The Union Government‟s Budget of 2014-15 has taken some considerable measures. The Accelerated Irrigation benefits and flood management programme has received Rs.8,992 crore; the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojana has received Rs.1,000 crore; budget allocated to the North East has been Rs.1,474 crore. So far as Ganga is concerned, Ganga is one of the holiest rivers in the world. But is also a fact that there are 250 industries which dump their pollutants on this river. So, we have collectively failed to address the issue of Ganga. Since 1985, various Ganga conservation projects have taken place whether it is the Ganga Action Plan No.1, Ganga Action Plan No.2, the National Ganga River Basin Authority. Close to Rs.7,000 crore has been spent and 1,441 sewage treatment plants have been made. So, I would urge the Government that before it embarks upon another huge Mission, there should be a careful assessment of what has worked in the past and what has not worked. So far as rejuvenation of the Ganga is concerned, we must ensure that this process is democratic and involves that voices of all the stakeholders. I am saying so because in the recently held Ganga Manthan democratic processes and stakeholders‟ consultations have been ignored. I want to say that it is unclear as to what is the objective of this Government when it comes to the Ganga. They talk about inland water transport and, at the same time, they talk about beautification of ghats. All of this is not possible because when you have large-scale industrial projects, how can you ensure that the Ganga will remain `nirmal‟. The Budget has also not indicated what steps will be taken to clean the River Ganga. With its large focus on the River Ganga, my concern is that other functions of the Ministry of Water Resources have been diluted or severely compromised. As it has been said that this is a drought year, the western States of India will receive minimal precipitation. But this Union Budget has not indicated any measures as to what the Government will do in such a scenario. On Dam Safety Studies, this Budget has given `zero‟ money. Though the Government has announced the scheme of Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Management of Rs.8992 crore but there are several areas in Assam and West Bengal where the ground-water is contaminated. In such a situation, I want to know what this Government has done for ground water contamination. This Ministry has forgotten to care of other rivers of the country. For instance, it has forgotten that lakhs of land in Assam have been lost due to erosion by the river Brahmaputra. I urge all MPs across the political lines that we must tell this Government that we need to hold and constitute a Brahmaputra River Valley Authority to solve this issue. There has been a lot of concern that China is constructing a lot of hydro-power projects on the river Brahmaputra. In order to protect our water security, we must ensure that the projects on river Brahmaputra are completed on time. SHRIMATI BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY: The Brahmaputra is a very wide river. It has been continuously going on in this way. But what has the earlier Government done in the sixty years for the people of Assam and North-Eastern Region? People are still languishing in floods. They are seriously in trouble because of huge erosion. Water is a finite product. That is the most serious problem for the people and the country. We should think of taking the surplus water to those areas where the water is scare or where there is no water at all. I appreciate our hon. Prime Minister for creating a separate Ministry for river Ganga and taking serious plans to clear the Ganga of its pollutants. India needs a lot of water ways for local trade and travel. We must take this up seriously. For want of digging river beds became shallow. That is why even a slightest rainfall leads to floods in almost all the rivers of the country. It is especially so in my part of the country Assam, in both Barak Valley and Brahmaputra Valley. Secondly, pollution is the major problem of rivers and other water bodies of the country. Using most modern technology we should clean the pollutants from the drains that flow into different rivers in various cities, which carry the industrial effluents. Otherwise, the river cannot be made pure. Thirdly, facilities have to be provided for special festivals. There are a lot of festivals along the river banks, which also create pollution. The people of Guwahati are now reeling under artificial flood whereby nearly five lakh people are affected. It is because of the nature of the unplanned work. There is no road where one can work and communication has also completed collapsed. So the hon. Minister should take care of this point. During the NDA period, nearly Rs.750 crore had been sanctioned for Pagladia Project. Due to the non-cooperation of the previous Government, that project had not been taken up; they spent a few crores of rupees and that is the end of it. Had that project been materialized, then most of the problems of that area would have been sorted out. The Brahmaputra Board has been completely defunct now. The hon. Minister will surely see to it that it is made workable. During NDA Government thousands of crores were given for the AIDP schemes. Nobody knows where the fund has vanished. Similarly, a fund was created for different embankments, especially for the Brahmaputra embankment. For the last 50 years no work has been done and as a result of a lot of area in Assam is under heavy flood and heavy erosion. Another major source of water is the ground water. It is also a depleting source. We know that poverty and illiteracy both contribute to the contamination of the water be it ground water or surface water. So, careful dealing is necessary in this regard. I hope under the able leadership of the hon. Prime Minister as well as the hon. Minister of Water Resources and with the guidance of everyone, there will be a kind of revolution of water resources. It can be done with care, management and right kind of use of our water resources in the country. SHRI R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN: Under Namami Ganga Scheme, an amount of Rs. 2037 Crore has been allocated in the Budget for resuscitating Ganges. Moreover 100 Crores are allotted for improving the Ghats of Ganges. Union government should allot funds for cleaning all the rivers and riverine systems of the country including the rivers from Tamil Nadu. There should be special allocation of funds for improving Ghats of the rivers of Tamil Nadu. Rain- water harvesting scheme should be implemented throughout the nation.