TUESDAY, THE 24TH FEBRUARY, 2009 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11-00 a.m.) 11-00 a.m. 1. Reference by the Chair The Chairman felicitated the three Indians who have won the Oscar Award at the 81st Annual Academy Awards. 2. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered:- Starred Question No. 101 regarding Development of rural tourism. Starred Question No. 102 regarding Social responsibilities of oil companies. Starred Question No. 103 regarding Tourist spots in the country. Starred Question No. 104 regarding Tourism scenario in the country. Starred Question No. 106 regarding Development of airports in Madhya Pradesh. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos. 105 and 107 to 120 were laid on the Table. 3. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 707 to 856 were laid on the Table. 12-00 Noon. 4. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav (Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources) on behalf of Prof. Saif-ud-din-Soz 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:— (a) Thirty-ninth Annual Report and Accounts of the Water and Power Consultancy Services () Limited, formerly known as WAPCOS, New , for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon. (b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report. 24TH FEBRUARY, 2009 II. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. Shrimati Ambika Soni (Minister of Tourism and Minister of Culture) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the ) National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT), NOIDA, for the year 2007-2008. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Council. (ii)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the ) National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition (NCHMCT), Srinagar, for the year 2007-2008. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Society. (iii)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the Lalit ) Kala Akademi, , for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Akademi. giving reasons for the delay in (cStatement laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. ) (iv)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the West ) Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC), Udaipur, for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Centre. (cStatement giving reasons for the delay in ) laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (v)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the South ) Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Nagpur, for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Centre. (cStatement giving reasons for the delay in ) laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. RAJYA SABHA (vi)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the ) Eastern Zone Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata, for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Centre. (cStatement giving reasons for the delay in ) laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (vii)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the ) Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Akademi. (cStatement giving reasons for the delay in ) laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (viii)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the North ) Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), Allahabad, for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Centre. (ix)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the ) Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Foundation. (cStatement giving reasons for the delay in ) laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (x)(aAnnual Report of the National Council of ) Science Museums (NCSM), Kolkata, for the year 2006-2007. (bAnnual Accounts of the National Council of ) Science Museums (NCSM), Kolkata, for the year 2006-2007 and the Audit Report thereon. (cReview by Government on the working of ) the above Council. (dStatement giving reasons for the delay in ) laying the papers mentioned at (a) and (b) above. 24TH FEBRUARY, 2009 (xi)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the ) Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata, for the year 2006-2007, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Hall. (cStatement giving reasons for the delay in ) laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (xii)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the North ) Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala, for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Centre. (xiii)(aAnnual Report and Accounts of the ) Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi, for the year 2007- 2008, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (bReview by Government on the working of ) the above Centre. (cStatement giving reasons for the delay in ) laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. Shri Praful Patel (Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation Notification No. G.S.R. 21(E), dated the 12th January, 2009, publishing the Aircraft (Ist Amendment) Rules, 2009, under sub-section (3) of Section 14-A of the Aircraft Act, 1934, along with Explanatory Note. Shrimati Kanti Singh (Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture) 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:— (a) Twentieth Annual Report and Accounts of Donyi Polo Ashok Hotel Corporation Limited, Itanagar, 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. RAJYA SABHA (b) Twenty-first Annual Report and Accounts of Pondicherry Ashok Hotel Corporation Limited, Puducherry, 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. (c) Fifth Annual Report and Accounts of Kumarakruppa Frontier Hotels Private Limited, New Delhi, for the year 2005- 2006, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon. (d) Reviews by Government on the working of the above Corporation. II Statements each (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (I) above. Shri Dinsha J. Patel (Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, under Section 62 of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006:— (1) G.S.R. 800 (E), dated the 19th November, 2008, publishing the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (Authorizing Entities to Lay, Build, Operate or Expand City or Local Natural Gas Distribution Networks) Amendment Regulations, 2008. (2) G.S.R. 801 (E), dated the 19th November, 2008, publishing the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (Determination of Network Tariff for city or Local Natural Gas Distribution Networks and Compression Charge for CNG) Amendment Regulations, 2008. (3) G.S.R. 802 (E), dated the 19th November, 2008, publishing the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (Authorizing Entities to Lay, Build, Operate or Expand Natural Gas Pipelines) Amendment Regulations, 2008. 24TH FEBRUARY, 2009 th (4) G.S.R. 807 (E), dated the 20 November, 2008, publishing the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (Determination of Natural Gas Pipeline Tariff) Regulations, 2008. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (1) Production sharing contract signed between Government of India (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas) and the Reliance Industries Limited for exploration of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) in respect of Block SP (East)-CBM-2001/1. (2) Production sharing contract signed between Government of India (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas) and the Reliance Industries Limited for exploration of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) in respect of Block SP (West)-CBM-2001/1. Shri Raghunath Jha (Minister of State in the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises) 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:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels Limited (BHPV), Visakhapatnam, for the year 2007-2008, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon. g the (b) Statement by Government acceptin above Report. II. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. 12-01 p.m. 5. Message from The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Bill, 2008 Secretary-General reported to the House the following message received from the Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha:- "I am directed to inform you that the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Bill, 2008, which was passed by Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the 16th December, 2008, has been passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 20th February, 2009, with the following amendments:- RAJYA SABHA

ENACTING FORMULA 1. Page 2, line 5,- for “Fifty-ninth”, substitute “Sixtieth”.

CLAUSE-1 2. Page 2, line 9,- for “2008”, substitute “2009”. 3. I am, therefore, to return herewith the said Bill in accordance with the provisions of rule 121 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha with the request that the concurrence of Rajya Sabha in the said amendments be communicated to Lok Sabha.” 6. Government Bill laid on the Table Secretary-General laid on the Table following Bill as passed by Lok Sabha :— The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Bill, 2009. 12-02 p.m. 7. Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture Shri Sitaram Yechury presented One Hundred Forty-ninth Report (in English and Hindi) of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on Development of tourism infrastructure and amenities for the Commonwealth Games 2010. 8. Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Tapan Kumar Sen laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Twenty-fifth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas (2008- 2009) on “Marketing, Supply, Distribution, Dealerships and Pricing of Kerosene and other Petroleum Products”.

24TH FEBRUARY, 2009 12-03 p.m. 9. Reports of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence Shrimati Viplove Thakur laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence (2008-2009):— (i) Thirty-fourth Report on “Human Resource Planning, Shortage of Manpower, Infusion of Hi-Tech Training and Infrastructure for the Armed Forces”; (ii) Thirty-fifth Report on “Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations of the Committee contained in their Twenty- ninth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2008-2009) of the Ministry of Defence”; and (iii) Thirty-sixth Report on “Status of implementation of Unified Command for Armed Force”. 12-04 p.m. 10. Statements by Ministers (1) Shri Prem Chand Gupta, Minister of Corporate Affairs, laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) on the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Seventy-first Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance. (2) Shri K. Venkatapathy, Minister of State in the Ministry of Law & Justicelaid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) on the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Twenty-sixth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances and Law and Justice. RAJYA SABHA 12-05 p.m. 11. Matters raised with permission ^(1) Shri Yashwant Sinha raised a matter regarding problems being faced by the paddy farmers of Jharkhand in selling their crops to the FCI. 12-08 p.m. ^(2) Shri Prakash Javadekar raised a matter regarding terrorist and smuggling activities arising in Myanmar border. *12-24 p.m. (The House adjourned at 12-24 p.m. and re- assembled at 12-37 p.m.) 12-37 p.m. (3) Shri Birendra Prasad Baishya raised a matter regarding appointment in North-East Frontier Railways. 12-40 p.m. (4) Shri Prasanta Chatterjee raised a matter regarding purchase of Air Defence Missile system. 12-42 p.m. ^(5) Shri Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi raised a matter regarding IIM in .

^ Spoke in Hindi. * From 12-11 p.m. to 12-24 p.m. some points were raised.

12-45 p.m. (6) Shri M. Rama Jois raised a matter regarding bad condition of NH 48 between Bangalore and Mangalore. 12-47 p.m. ^(7) Shri Prabhat Jha raised a matter regarding apprehension expressed by Naval Chief regarding smuggling of nuclear weapon through containers. 12-50 p.m. (8) Dr.(Smt.) Kapila Vatsyayan raised a matter regarding need to protect dialects of the country. 24TH FEBRUARY, 2009 12-54 p.m. (9) Shri Bharatkumar Raut raised a matter regarding expenditure from Government treasury on advertisements in newspapers. #1-00 p.m. 12. Special Mentions After taking 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 Lalit Demand to stabilize the Kishore rate of interest levied by Chaturvedi NABARD on agricultural

# From 12-57 p.m. to 12-59 p.m. some points were raised. loans. 2. Dr. Gyan Concern over malnutrition Prakash Pilania prevailing amongst children in the country. 3. Shri M.V. Need for immediate Mysura Reddy approval of financial restructuring proposal of Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. 4. Shri D. Raja Concern over plight of Bhopal Gas tragedy victims. (The House adjourned at 1-01 p.m. and re- assembled at 2-03 p.m.) 2-03 p.m. 13. Government Bills — Returned/Passed (1) The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2009, as passed by Lok Sabha. Shri Hans Raj Bhardwaj (Minister of Law & Justice) moved:- “That the Bill further to amend the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954 and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.”

RAJYA SABHA The following Members took part in the discussion:— 2-06 p.m. 1. Shri Arun Jaitley 2-28 p.m. 2. Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik 2-47 p.m. 3. Shri P.R. Rajan 2-57 p.m. 4. Prof. P.J. Kurien ^3-16 p.m. 5. Shri Virendra Bhatia 3-34 p.m. 6. Shri Ram Jethmalani 3-55 p.m. 7. Shri D. Raja 4-08 p.m. 8. Shri B.S. Gnanadesikan 4-13 p.m. Shri Hans Raj Bhardwaj replied to the debate. 4-44 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses 2 to 15 were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted.

4-45 p.m. The motion moved by Shri Hans Raj Bhardwaj that the Bill be returned was adopted and the Bill was returned. 4-46 p.m. (2) The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill, 2009, as passed by Lok Sabha. Shri (Minister of State in the Ministry of Urban Development) moved:- “That the Bill to make special provisions for the National Capital Territory of Delhi for a further period up to the 31st day of December, 2009, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.”

24TH FEBRUARY, 2009 The following Members took part in the discussion:— ^4-47 p.m. 1. Shri S.S. Ahluwalia ^Ψ5-05 p.m. 2. Shri 5-21 p.m. 3. Shri Prasanta Chatterjee ^5-27 p.m. 4. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad 5-36 p.m. Shri Ajay Maken replied to the debate. 5-59 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses 2 to 6 were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula, the Preamble and the Title were adopted. 6-00 p.m. The motion moved by Shri Ajay Maken that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed. 6-01 p.m. 14. Messages from Lok Sabha (I) The Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2009; (II) The Appropriation Bill, 2009; and (III) The Finance Bill, 2009.

^ Spoke in Hindi. Ψ From 4-57 p.m. to 5-04 p.m. some points were raised. 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 (Vote on Account) Bill, 2009, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 24th February, 2009. The Speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of article 110 of the Constitution of India." RAJYA SABHA (II) "In accordance with the provisions of rule 96 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to enclose the Appropriation Bill, 2009, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 24th February, 2009." The Speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of article 110 of the Constitution of India."

(III) "In accordance with the provisions of rule 96 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to enclose the Finance Bill, 2009, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 24th February, 2009. The Speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of article 110 of the Constitution of India." 15. Government Bills laid on the Table Secretary-General, laid on the Table the following Bills, as passed by Lok Sabha:- (I) The Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2009; (II) The Appropriation Bill, 2009; and (III) The Finance Bill, 2009 6-02 p.m. 16. &(a) Statutory Resolution – Negatived Shri Balavant alias Bal Apte moved the following Resolution:— "That this House disapproves of the Central Universities Ordinance, 2009 (No.3 of 2009) promulgated by the President on the 15th January, 2009".

& Discussed together. 24TH FEBRUARY, 2009 6-03 p.m. &(b) Government Bill — Passed The Central Universities Bill, 2009, as passed by Lok Sabha. Shrimati D. Purandeswari (Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development) moved:- "That the Bill to establish and incorporate universities for teaching and research in the various States and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration." The following Members took part in the discussion on the Statutory Resolution and the bill:— Φ6-07 p.m. 1. Shri Balavant alias Bal Apte ^Θ6-32 p.m. 2. Dr. Ram Prakash 6-42 p.m. 3. Shri Matilal Sarkar ^6-58 p.m. 4. Shri Brij Bhushan Tiwari β7-09 p.m. 5. Shri N.K. Singh 7-23 p.m. 6. Shri Janardhan Waghmare 7-33 p.m. 7. Shri D. Raja ^7-45 p.m. 8. Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Φ From 6-04 p.m. to 6-06 p.m. some points were raised. ^ Spoke in Hindi. Θ From 6-29 p.m. to 6-31 p.m. see item no. 15 and From 6-31 p.m. to 6-32 p.m. see item no. 16(a). β From 7-08 p.m. to 7-09 p.m. see item no. 16(b). 7-57 p.m. 9. Shrimati Sushila Tiriya 8-03 p.m. 10. Dr. Barun Mukherji ^8-11 p.m. 11. Shri Rajniti Prasad 8-12 p.m. Shrimati D. Purandeswari replied to the debate. 8-37 p.m. The Statutory Resolution moved by Shri Balavant alias Bal Apte was negatived. RAJYA SABHA 8-38 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses 2 to 47, the First Schedule and the Second Schedule were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted.

8-40 p.m. The motion moved by Shrimati D. Purandeswari that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed. Π17. Statements by Minister Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Minister of Rural Development, laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following statements regarding:—

Π At 6-29 p.m. (1) Status of implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA); (2) Expansion of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) to include pension scheme for Widows and Persons with Disabilities; and (3) Status of implementation of the components of Bharat Nirman relating to the Ministry of Rural Development. 18. Messages from Lok Sabha (I) The Prevention of Money-Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2009 (II) The Metro Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2009 Secretary-General reported to the House the following messages received from the Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha:- Ω(I) agreed without any amendment to the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2009 passed by Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the 19th February, 2009. π(II) had passed the Metro Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2009. 24TH FEBRUARY, 2009

Ω At 6-31 p.m. π At 7-08 p.m. 19. Government Bill laid on the Table Secretary-General, laid on the Table the following Bill, as passed by Lok Sabha:- The Metro Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2009 8-41 p.m. 20. Half-an-Hour Discussion Shri Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi raised a discussion on points arising out of the answer given in the Rajya Sabha on the 7th March, 2008 to Unstarred Question No. 831 regarding ‘Requirement of wheat for distribution to BPL families’. 9-02 p.m. Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, replied to the discussion. (The House adjourned at 9-16 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Wednesday, the 25th February, 2009)

______