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Home , Nirmala Deshpande, Sharad Anantrao Joshi

FRIDAY, THE 14TH MARCH, 2008 (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. 221 regarding Import of urea. Starred Question No. 222 regarding Coordination between States and Central Government on agriculture. Starred Question No. 223 regarding Review of policy of permitting big retail corporates. Starred Question No. 225 regarding Rail accidents in the country. Starred Question No. 226 regarding Rise in the sale prices of steel. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos. 224 and 227 to 240 were laid on the Table. 2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 1552 to 1706 were laid on the Table. 12-00 Noon 3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance) on behalf of Shri G.K. Vasan laid on the Table a copy (in English and ) of the Outcome Budget for the year 2008-09 of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance) on behalf of Shri B.K. Handique laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (Department of Fertilizers) Notification S.O. 1729 (E), dated the 10th October, 2007, publishing Order indicating the supplies of urea to be made by domestic manufacturers of urea to States and Union Territories during Rabi, 2007-08, under sub-section (6) of section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. 14TH MARCH, 2008 II.(1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (i)(a) Twenty-ninth Annual Report and Accounts of the Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited (HFCL), , for the year 2006-2007, 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 Corporation. (ii)(a) Twenty-seventh Annual Report and Accounts of the Projects and Development India Limited (PDIL), NOIDA, for the year 2006-2007, 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) Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. III. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers— (i)(a) Twenty-seventh Annual Report and Accounts of the Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), New Delhi, for the year 2006- 2007, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Cooperative. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (ii)(a) Outcome Budget for the year 2008-09 of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers; and (b) Outcome Budget for the year 2008-09 of the Department of Fertilizers in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

RAJYA SABHA Dr. Anbumani Ramdoss (Minister of Health & Family Welfare) on behalf of Shrimati Panabaka Lakshmi laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health), Notification G.S.R. 707 (E), dated the 13th November, 2007, publishing the Prevention of Food Adulteration (3rd Amendment) Rules, 2007, under sub-section (2) of section 23 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Notification S.O. 1757 (E), dated the 15th October, 2007, to provide representation to Ministry of Food Processing Industries as Member of Food Authority, under section 93 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. III. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

(i)(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), New Delhi, for the year 2006- 2007, 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.

(ii)(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007, 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. (iii)(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Bangalore, for the year 2006- 2007, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

14TH MARCH, 2008 (iv)(a) Annual Report and Accounts of Institute for Post- Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (IPGTRA), Jamnagar, for the year 2006-2007, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (v)(a) Annual Report of the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, New Delhi, for the year 2006- 2007. (b) Annual Accounts of the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, New Delhi, for the year 2006- 2007 and the Audit Report thereon. (c) Review by Government on the working of the above Council. (d) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) and (b) above. Shri Naranbhai Rathwa (Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i)(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), New Delhi, for the year 2006- 2007, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Board.

(c) Statement giving reasons for delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (ii)(a) Annual Report and Accounts of Indian Railway Welfare Organisation (IRWO), New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Organisation. (c) Statement giving reasons for delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

RAJYA SABHA Shri Kantilal Bhuria (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (i)(a) Fortieth Annual Report and Accounts of the Agro Industries Corporation Limited, Chandigarh, for the year 2006-2007, 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 Corporation. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (ii)(a) Thirty-sixth Annual Report and Accounts of the Assam Agro Industries Development Corporation Limited, Guwahati, for the year 2002-2003, 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 Corporation. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. II(1). A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers under sub-section (3) of section 29 of the Central Agricultural University Act, 1992:— (a) Annual Report of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur, for the year 1998-1999. (b) Annual Report of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur, for the year 1999-2000. (c) Annual Report of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur, for the year 2000-2001. (d) Annual Report of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur, for the year 2001-2002.

14TH MARCH, 2008 (2) Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. III(1). A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers under sub-section (4) of section 15 and section 17 of the Coconut Development Act, 1979:— (a) Annual Report of the Coconut Development Board, Kochi,

for the year 2006-2007. (b) Annual Accounts of the Coconut Development Board,

Kochi, for the year 2006-2007 and the Audit Report thereon. (c) Review by Government on the working of the above Board. (2) Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. IV. A statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for not laying the Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the State Seeds Corporation Limited (GSSC) for the year 2006-2007, within the stipulated period. Shri Kantilal Bhuria (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution) on behalf of Shri Taslimuddin laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (a) Forty-second Annual Report and Accounts of the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF), New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Federation. Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distrubution) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution), under sub- section (6) of Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. 1. S.O. 1991(E) dated the 27th November, 2007, regarding

Rice (Stock Declaration by Companies or Firms or Individuals) Order, 2007. RAJYA SABHA th 2. G.S.R. No. 757 (E)/ Ess.Com./Sugar, dated the 6 December, 2007, publishing the Sugar (Price Determination of 2006-2007 Production) Amendment Order, 2007. 3. G.S.R. No. 758 (E)/ Ess.Com./Sugarcane, dated the 6th December, 2007, publishing the Factory-wise Statutory Minimum Price of Sugarcane for 2006-07 sugar season. 4. G.S.R. No. 759 (E)/ Ess. Com./Sugarcane, dated the 6th December, 2007, publishing the Factory-wise Statutory Minimum Price of Sugarcane for 2006-07 sugar season. 5. S.O. No. 2198 (E)/ Ess. Com./Sugarcane, dated the 28th December, 2007, publishing the Sugarcane (Control) Amendment Order, 2007. th 6. S.O. 288 (E), dated the 11 February, 2008, publishing the Wheat (Stock Declaration by Companies or Firms or Individuals) Orders, 2008. th 7. G.S.R. 95 (E) /Ess.Com/ Sugarcane, dated the 19 February, 2008, regarding the Factory-wise Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) of Sugarcane for 2006-07 during sugar season. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution) under sub- section (3) of section 6 of the Sugar Cess Act, 1982:— (1) S.O. 1 (E), dated the 1st January, 2008, regarding Cess on sugar @ Rs.15/- per quintal of sugar for the purpose of Sugar Development Fund Act, 1982. (2) S.O. 392 (E), dated the 25th February, 2008, regarding Cess on sugar @ Rs. 24/- per quintal of sugar for the purpose of the Sugar Development Fund Act, 1982. III. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution) Notification G.S.R. 749 (E) dated the 5th December, 2007, publishing Sugar Development Fund (4th Amendment) Rules, 2007, under sub-section (3) of section 9 of the Sugar Development Fund Act, 1983.

14TH MARCH, 2008 IV. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Statement giving reasons for not laying the Annual Report of the Food Corporation of India for the year 2005-2006, within the stipulated period. Dr. Akhilesh Das (Minister of State in the Ministry of Steel) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956— (i)(a) Thirty-third Annual Report and Accounts of the Bharat Refractories Limited (BRl), Bokaro, for the year 2006- 2007, 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. (ii)(a) Thirty-second Annual Report and Accounts of the Sponge Iron India Limited (SIIL), Hyderabad, for the year 2006- 2007, 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. (iii)(a) Forty-fifth Annual Report and Accounts of the Manganese Ore (India) Limited (MOIL), , for the year 2006- 2007, 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. (iv)(a) Thirty-first Annual Report and Accounts of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL), Bangalore, for the year 2006-2007, 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. II. Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.

RAJYA SABHA Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports, under clause (1) of article 151 of the Constitution,:- (i) Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 2007 (No. CA 2 of 2008) Union Government - (Civil) Autonomous Bodies; (ii) Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 2007 (No. CA 3 of 2008) Union Government - (Scientific Departments) (Compliance Audit); (iii) Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 2007 (No. CA 4 of 2008) Union Government - (Defence Services) Army and Ordnance Factories (Compliance Audit); and (iv) Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 2007 (No. CA 5 of 2008) Union Government - (Defence Services) Air Force and Navy (Compliance Audit). 12-02 p.m. 4. Statements of the Public Accounts Committee Dr. K. Malaisamy laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the Statements showing action taken by Government on the recommendations contained in the following Action Taken Reports of the Public Accounts Committee:— (i) Twenty-fifth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on “Non-realisation of Foreign exchange”; (ii) Twenty-sixth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on “Ganga Action Plan”; (iii) Thirty-second Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on “Excesses over Voted Grants and Charged Appropriations (2002-2003)”; (iv) Thirty-seventh Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on “Review of Norms for re-appropriation of funds”; and (v) Thirty-ninth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on “Procurement and Utilisation of Plant and Equipment in DRDO”. 14TH MARCH, 2008 12-03 p.m. 5. Reports of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Shri Matilal Sarkar laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution:-— (i) Twenty-first Report on action taken by the Government on the recommendations/observations contained in the Eighteenth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution) for the year 2007-2008; and (ii) Twenty-second Report on action taken by the Government on the recommendations/observations contained in the Nineteenth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs) for the year 2007-2008. 12-04 p.m. 6. President’s Message The Deputy Chairman communicated to the House the following Message received from the President:— “I have received the expression of Thanks by the Members of the Rajya Sabha for the Address which I delivered to both Houses of Parliament assembled together on the 25th February, 2008.” 12-05 p.m. 7. Statements by Ministers (1) Shri , Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) on the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Thirty-fourth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture. RAJYA SABHA (2) Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) on the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Seventeenth, Nineteenth and Twenty-fourth Reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers. 12-06 p.m. 8. Motion for Election to the Indian Nursing Council A motion for election of one member to the Indian Nursing Council was moved and adopted. 12-07 p.m. 9. Statement regarding Government Business Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, made a statement regarding Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during the week commencing Monday, the 17th March, 2008. 12-08 p.m. 10. Matters raised with permission *(1) Shrimati Viplove Thakur raised a matter regarding hunger strike by oustees of the Pong dam in Rajasthan. 12-10 p.m. (2) Shri Sharad Anantrao Joshi raised a matter regarding suicides by farmers in Vidarbha after the announcement of debt relief and waivers scheme. 12-12 p.m. (3) Shri Urkhao Gwra Brahma raised a matter regarding grave law and order situation in Bodoland territorial area of Assam. 12-14 p.m. *(4) Shri Rudra Narain Pany raised a matter regarding Dharna by employees of IDBI in Delhi. 12-17 p.m. *(5) Shri Jai Parkash Aggarwal raised a matter regarding increase in the prices of iron due to export. ______* Spoke in Hindi.

14TH MARCH, 2008 12-19 p.m. 11. Special Mentions After taking the sense of the House, the Deputy Chairman directed that the following Special Mentions may be treated as laid on the Table of the House:— 1. Shri Jai Parkash Need to constitute a Aggarwal Committee to select names for giving "Bharat Ratna".

2. Shri P.R. Rajan Need for increasing the allocation of rice and wheat to . 3. Shri Matilal Sarkar Need for proper erection and completion of the barbed wire fencing along the border of Tripura. 4. Shrimati Kanimozhi Need for restoration of traditional fishing rights of fishermen in and around Katchatheevu in the Palk bay region of Tamil Nadu. 5. Shri Rudra Narayan Need to take immediate Pany measures for welfare of labourers in the country. 6. Shri Syed Azeez Concern over the alleged Pasha negligence of in the development of Railways. 7. Shri Sharad Request to re-assess the wheat Anantrao Joshi stock in the country and revise its minimum support price. 8. Shri B.K. Urgent need to provide Hariprasad connectivity to the Greenfield Airport at Devanahalli in Bangalore. 9. Shri Sanjay Raut Concern over price rise in the country. 10. Shri N.R. Need to decrease the fees Govindarajar charged in pursuing medical education.

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RAJYA SABHA 12-20 p.m. 12. The Budget (General), 2008-2009 Further discussion on the Budget (General), 2008-2009 continued. The following Members took part in the discussion:— *12-20 p.m. 1. Prof. Ram Deo Bhandary 12-47 p.m. 2. Shri Arun Shourie 2-05 p.m. 3. Dr. Bimal Jalan ^2-18 p.m. 4. Shri A. Elavarasan *2-36 p.m. 5. Shri Sharad Yadav 3-03 p.m. 6. Shri Arjun Kumar Sengupta 3-26 p.m. 7. Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar 3-35 p.m. 8. Shri Manohar Joshi 3-54 p.m. 9. Shrimati Kanimozhi 4-11 p.m. 10. Shri D. Raja *4-31 p.m. 11. Shri G. Sanjeeva Reddy 4-43 p.m. 12. Dr. K. Keshava Rao 5-04 p.m. 13. Shri Naresh Gujral 5-13 p.m. 14. Shri Tarlochan Singh 5-24 p.m. 15. Kumari Nirmala Deshpande 5-38 p.m. 16. Shri Urkhao Gwra Brahma 5-48 p.m. 17. Shri Sharad Anantrao Joshi 6-01 p.m. 18. Shri Syed Azeez Pasha 6-08 p.m. 19. Shri Abani Roy 6-19 p.m. 20. Shri T.S. Bajwa 6-30 p.m. 21. Dr. Radhakant Nayak 6-45 p.m. 22. Shri Kumar Deepak Das 6-56 p.m. 23. Shri Sahu 7-02 p.m. 24. Shri Krishan Lal Balmiki 7-08 p.m. 25. Shri Rudra Narayan Pany

The discussion was concluded and the Minister to reply on Monday, the 17th March, 2008. ______* Spoke in Hindi. ^ Spoke in Tamil. 14TH MARCH, 2008 7-15 p.m. 13. Messages from Lok Sabha (I) The Appropriation Bill, 2008; (II) The Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2008; (III) The Karnataka Appropriation Bill, 2008; and (IV) The Karnataka Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2008. 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 Bill, 2008, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 14th March, 2008. The speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill." (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 (Vote on Account) Bill, 2008, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 14th March, 2008. The speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill." (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 Karnataka Appropriation Bill, 2008, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 14th March, 2008. The speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill." (IV) "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 Karnataka Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2008, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 14th March, 2008. The speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill." RAJYA SABHA 14. Bills laid on the Table Secretary-General laid on the Table the following Bills, as passed by Lok Sabha:- (I) The Appropriation Bill, 2008; (II) The Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2008; (III) The Karnataka Appropriation Bill, 2008; and (IV) The Karnataka Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2008.

(The House adjourned at 7-16 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Monday, the 17th March, 2008)

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