RAJYA SABHA ______

∗SUPPLEMENT TO SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE ______

(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) ______

Thursday, December 22, 2011/ Pausa 01, 1933 (Saka) ______

(1) The Appropriation Railways (No. 3) Bill,2011 And (2) The Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Amendment Bill, 2008 - contd.

SHRI NARENDRA BUDANIA: I support both these Bills. In the last Budget, the Minister of Railways had announced that free passes for travelling will be issued to the girl students, but this scheme has not been implemented. The hon'ble Minister should mention how much work has been done to fulfil this announcement. In the year 2006, green signal was given to the project of corridor. It seems that this project will not be completed till 2017. Injustice should not be done with the farmer while acquiring his land. He should be provided proper compensation. The railway accidents must be stopped. Anti Collision Devices have not been installed. There is no instrument to deal with fog in winter in the trains. Medical help should reach at the accident spot on time. The process of declaring Jaipur station as model ______

∗This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.

214 station should be expedited. Siker to Nokha via Salasar railway track should be completed. A train should run from Rajasthan to Delhi on daily basis. SHRI GANGA CHARAN: A survey of Mahoba to Bhind via Kath-Urai railway line was done in the Railway Budget, 1996-97. You have conducted surveys four times. Now people of Bundelkhand want that at least this project should be included in the next Budget. SHRI KUMAR DEEPAK DAS: Some proposals are pending with the Ministry of Railways since a long time. In the last Budget, the survey of Baripeta-Jogigopha-Sarthebari was announced. But there is no budget provision for the new railway line. There is a long-pending demand that Puri Express should be renamed as Srimanti Sankardeva Express. A Superfast Train between Assam, West Bengal and , should be named after Dr. . As GP Brake system was invented by Mr. Guru Prasad Das, it should be taken up to commemorate the contribution of this gentleman. I request that the Saraighat Bridge project on the Brahmaputra river, should be completed immediately. PROF. ALKA BALRAM KSHATRIYA: As maximum revenue comes from Gujarat, the State should be given priority in respect of provision for new trains. The new trains announced in the last Budget should have been introduced. I want to know whether the survey for new trains has been conducted. I hope that the said survey will be completed in the next budget. If the Railways need money for modernization, the fare may be increased so that desired facilities can be provided. If the train running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is diverted and run between Mumbai and Abu Road, it will be advantageous for the whole of North Gujarat. One train should be run upto Patan and another upto Abu Road. There should also be a train between Kutch and Delhi. Even after gauge conversion, the train which was discontinued, has not been restarted. Really, after gauge conversion new trains should be introduced. A new train should be started for Mehasana line via Taranga, Ambaji and Abu Road. The Taranga metre gauge line should be converted into broad gauge.

215 Work has not yet been started for the bridges for which the Railway had acquired land upto Ambakata. I thank for introducing a train from Ahmedabad to Dwarka. There is a demand to run a train from Ahmedabad to Ramdeora. Besides, new railway lines should be laid, adjacent to the old lines to save the public land from acquisition. The farmers are agitating and committing suicide because of acquisition of land in Nanded, Hanumanteria, Sobachal and Jagguda in Mehsana. The matter should be given more consideration. Besides, the Headquarters of the Western Railway should be shifted from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. I request to provide a coach factory in Gujarat to meet the need of coaches. A stoppage should be provided in the capital for the long-route trains. Mehsana station should be the stoppage of Janmabhumi Express. As the coolies have been promoted as linemen, new collies should be recruited. SHRI VIJAY JAWAHARLAL DARDA: The Railway Projects require a huge amount of money for their completion. I want to know as to how they will be completed. It was ensured to complete the 270 km. Nanded-Verdha project within there years. But, the same remains still pending. We should make a holistic planning for the nation as the Railway pertains to the development of common man. My expectation from the hon. Minister is that what step he is going to take for linking the backward areas of the country with the rest of country? The property of the Railways is scattered around. It is being encroached upon at number of places. The land mafias are making efforts to grab them. I would like to ask from him what policy he has framed regarding the same. I believe there are some areas on which it is being done with some kind of collusion. I had also apprised the Ministry of Railways about the same. I would like that a policy regarding the same should be formulated and brought in the House. As accidents are taking place frequently, how he is going to utilise the new gazettes for checking the same? THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI), replying to the debate, said: There were about 30 hon. Members who spoke about it. I must thank Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani for

216 her maiden speech. We are amending only three sections of The Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Amendment Bill, 2008. After this amendment the Railways would have the facility of bringing to book those persons who were involved in unlawful activities. We have about 14 lakhs employees and 8,241 railway stations. Every day the Railways carry around 2.2 crore passengers. During the 90s, we used to introduce 30-40 new trains in a year. But now, we introduce 300 new trains. The longest tunnel of Jammu-Kashmir unites the entire valley. Its length is 11.17 kilometer and is situated at the height of 2,900 meters. If is the engine of growth for the world, the Indian Railways is going to be the engine of growth for India. I have no doubt about it. If one wants to really see what India is all about, he has to just go to a railway station and there he realises that mini-India is there at a railway station. I must tell you, that there is a huge pressure on the Members of Parliament because they are all public representatives. Right from the day I joined this Ministry, whoever came to me has given a letter to me; there are totally 3,406 requests/demands that I have received in the last five-and-a-half months. There are demands for 202 new lines, for gauge conversion 58, for new trains 236, so on and so forth. All I am trying to tell you is, every demand has been computerized. This belongs to the people. That is what is going to be my endeavour. I started a system of going to each and every State. I wrote to the Chief Ministers of each and every State. The result of this exercise has been excellent. Everybody is concerned about safety because journey has to be safe. I was trying to find out what do I do about safety. I realised that there are two categories of discipline which have zero safety tolerance. I got help from Dr. Kasturirangan and Dr. Anil Kakodkar and I formed this Committee, which is going to deal only with safety. I have got people from many other bodies also, they are doing very good work. Within one month their report will come. We will not tolerate if there is even a single accident. We have also a problem of discipline. Manned and unmanned railway crossings are the area where I need the help of the public

217 representatives. I am trying to bring in an awareness programme. We need to take the Railways into fourth generation. They need resources. It is my duty to find out how resources can be generated. I am already in touch with those who are experts in bullet trains especially Japanese and French. Between Kolkata and Delhi it should not take more than six-and-half hour. That is why to modernise the Indian Railways I have yet another Committee headed by Sam Pitroda. With Sam Pitroda we have some experts. Out of that one trillion US dollars a major portion of that has to go to the Railways. So, I hope that I must get a lot of money from the Planning Commission and this is what is going to trigger an economic growth in India. It is not only a growth for the Indian Railway system but it is going to grow the GDP of India because Indian Railway is the biggest system for employment. We need to change the six areas totally. One is the tracks and bridges signaling system. We have to modernize signals. We have to change our rolling stock. We need locomotives of 12,000 horse power. I am trying to have a new Stations Authority on the lines of Airport Authority of India. I require Rs. 5,60,396 crores and I also know where to get it from. The then Five Year Plan envisages that fifty per cent of this one trillion is going to come from the private sector. We require lot of partnership from the private sector. We must do like what we did with airports in Mumbai, or in Delhi. It is a fact that there is a paucity of funds. I do not want to run away from facts. Every Railway Minister is under pressure. Some announcements are made in the budget and these announcement could not be fulfilled due to paucity of funds. As regards fog, we have a machine which tells the engine driver about the approaching signal only. Nothing else. The Operating Ratio has not touched 125 per cent at all. My endeavour is going to make sure that the Operating Ratio of the Railways is as healthy as possible and that it is within the range of 90 per cent to 94 per cent. As regards the bridges being unsafe, all the bridge are inspected every year. Repair plans, as per the requirement,

218 are prepared and Rs. 330 crores has been spent only on the bridge rehabilitation. I assure that Indian Railways is going to be one of the best railways in the world. (1)The motion for consideration of The Appropriation Railways (No.3) Bill, 2011, was adopted. Clauses etc. were adopted. The Bill was returned.

(2) The motion for consideration of The Railways Property (Unlawful Possession) Amendment Bill, 2008, was adopted. Clauses etc. were adopted. The Bill, as amended, was passed.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (Amendment) Bill, 2011 THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN) moving the motion for consideration of the Bill, said: The Bill proposes to amend certain provisions of the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994, with a view to revise the composition of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the procedure for presiding the meetings of the Council. As a result of delimitation of Assembly Constituencies in Delhi in the year 2008, only two Members of the Delhi Legislative Assembly may become Members of the Council. Accordingly, it is proposed to review the composition of the Council, necessitated by the delimitation of Assembly Constituencies in Delhi and also keeping in view the recommendations made by the Estimates Committee of the 14th Lok Sabha, it is further proposed to amend the NDMC Act to revise the procedure for presiding over the meetings of the Council.

SHRI AVINASH RAI KHANNA: New Delhi Municipal Council has become a nominated body. It is against the spirit of 73rd and 74th amendment of the constitution. Nominated people don't have public pressure like elected representatives of people. Nominated

219 people have no accountability. They don't care as they don’t have fear to face voters. Everything in NDMC is nomination. There is a aspect of Financial Memorandum in the Bill. Nominated Members are also entitled to receive certain facilities like vehicle, accommodation, stationery, medical etc. but the elected Member are not entitled therefor. This is unconstitutional or against the rules and law. You have given the right to vote to Member of Parliament. There is a provision in the Bill who will preside the meeting. Today, we are going against the sense of democracy and bringing this NDMC Bill, which is fully undemocratic. NDMC area is the richest area and the tax collection is also highest here and VIPs are residing here. Then, why should this area not be included in the democracy. Why do they not get right to vote. I strongly oppose this Bill. SHRI SHADI LAL BATRA: I support the New Delhi Municipal Council (Amendment) Bill. Municipal Council was set up in 1994 with a view to include distinguished Doctors, Architects, Engineers etc. in this Council through nomination. A special wing was created in addition to the Council and Corporation so that all the facilities may be provided to the citizens of Delhi for which they are entitled. NDMC area has been changed after delimitation. The elected MPs and MLAs are aware of the problems of that area and to resolve such problems and to win the trust of the people the amendment has been brought regarding who will preside the meeting. Action should be taken against building inspectors and engineers for constructions in unauthorized colonies. SHRI NARENDRA KUMAR KASHYAP: When Parliament, Assembly and Municipal Corporation already exist in Delhi then no need of any Council here. The funds meant for the development of SC/ST were diverted to the Commonwealth Games organised in Delhi. There is no reference of SC/ST/OBC’s in this Bill. There is not a single seat reserved for OBC’s in this Bill. It is a great injustice to the backward communities of Delhi State. I would like to know that what Government wants to do by constituting this 13 member Council. Why Government is not interested to develop the undeveloped areas. Government should take care of the pathetic

220 condition of villages of Delhi. Slum areas of Delhi have also not been developed properly. There will be no advantage of any rule or law unless the authorities who implement these laws do not have good intention and will power. SHRI SYEED AZEEZ PASHA: I have mixed reaction regarding the Bill. I am not in favour of the selection of nominated members. Though the revenue of NDMC is double than MCD, facilities provided by NDMC is less. The State of water supply and law and order in NDMC area is not satisfactory. These must be taken care of. The welfare of pavement dwellers should also be taken into consideration. There must be a town planning so that demolition would not be needed. The Hon’ble Minister, replying to debate, said: I have taken note of the valuable suggestions made by Members. The New Delhi Municipal Council (Amendment) Bill, 2011 is a very small piece of legislation. This is initiated due to the exigencies created by the delimitation of Assembly Constituencies in Delhi. The Government has decided to accept the recommendations of the Estimates Committee of the 14th Lok Sabha to make Member of Parliament of the area as a member of the Council with voting rights. Earlier, he was only a special invitee. We have suggested is to increase the number of members nominated to the Council. We have suggested in the composition of the Council is to increase the SC representation from one to two. A very important point has been raised by Mr. Avinash Rai Khanna. The questions whether NDMC should be an elected body, can be considered separately. The motion for consideration of the Bill, was adopted. Clauses etc. were adopted. The Bill was passed. ______

221 MOTION Constitution of a Joint Committee for Welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI RAJEEV SHUKLA): I move: “That this House concurs in the recommendation of the Lok Sabha that a Committee of both the Houses to be called the 'Committee for Welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs)' be constituted for the purposes set out in the Motion adopted by the Lok Sabha at its sitting held on 21st December, 2011 and communicated to this House on that day, and resolves that this House do join in the said Committee and proceed to elect, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, ten Members from amongst the Members of this House to serve on the said Committee.” The Motion was adopted.

V. K. AGNIHOTRI, Secretary-General. [email protected]

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