commuting to different places and also visiting to tourist 1 2 centres; (b) if so. the steps taken by the Union Government Bagchim 22. to mitigate the problems faced by the tourists: 23. Kumheri (c) the proposed action plan to promote tourism in 24. Chhera the country specially in Tamil Nadu and also to make 25. M undrawja tourist centres an enjoyable and comfortable one; 26. (d) if so. the details thereof; and 27. Dham kan 28. Bhatpura (e) if not. the reasons therefor? 29. K ailaras THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND 30. MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI SRIKANTA JENA) : (a) 31. Sujrma and (b). The Government is awafe of inadequate infrastructural facilities at tourist centres in the country. 32. Pahargarh Steps taken by the Unjon Government to mitigate such 33. Jhundpura problems include Open Sky Policy, introduction of super 34. Kulholi fast trains by the Railways etc. Financial assistance is 35. Rampurkalan also provided to the State Governments for augumentmg 36. Barai such facilities based on the specific proposals subject 37. Mangrol to availability of funds and mter-se-priority. Khargpur 38. (c) to (e). Development and promotion of tourism is 39. Sumaoly primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. 40. Sheopurkalan However, the Department of Tourism extends financial 41. Karahal assistance to the State/U.T. Governments for promotion 42. Chandrapura of tourism in the country towards specific proposals. 43. Harnikheda 44. Pandola AIR/Doordarshan, Silchar 45. Baroda 46. Prem sar 1918. SHRI UDDHAB BARMAN : Will the Minister 47. Bamuligusail of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to 48. Nagda state : 49. Soikalan (a) whether the Central Bureau of Investigation has 50. Sothwa conducted an enquiry against the various allegations 51. Datardakalan and corrupt practices in AIR and Doordarshan offices 52. Manpura Silchar in Assam, 53. G irdharpur (b) if so, the details thereof; and 54. D hodhar (c) the action taken against those found guilty? 55. Tarrakalan THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION AND MINISTER 50. Raghunathpur OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI C.M. 57. Sham pur IBRAHIM) : (a) to (c). Yes, Sir.The Central Bureau of 58. Occhepura Investigation have registered a criminal case against 59. Beerpura an official of All Radio, Silchar on 15th May, 1996 60. Tendra for allegedly taking a bribe. Since the concerned officer 61. Iklod was detained for*a period exceeding 48 hours on 62. Ghota criminal charge, he has been placed under deemed suspension as a result of departmental action. So far 63. V ijaypur as Doordarshan Kendra, Silchar is concerned CBI has 64. Sahasram not conducted any enquiry. [E nglish] [Translation]

Inconvenience to Foreign Tourists D.E.T. Office in Deoria

1917. Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to 1919. SHRI PRAKASH MANI TRIPATHI : Will the state : Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state : (a) whether the Union Government are aware of the (a) whether there is proposal to open D.E.T. office problems faced by the tourists esepcially from abroad in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (b) Provision of these telephone sanctions is being (c) if not, the reasons therefor? monitored in the Telecom Commission Headqarters and strict instructions are issued, wherever delay is noticed, ' THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI BENI to the CGMs concerned to make all around efforts to PRASAD VARMA) : (a) No Sir provide telephone connections at the earliest. (b) Question does not arise. /English / (c) The workload of Telecom District, Mau which includes Deoria Revenue District, is not sufficient to justify a separate DET for Deoria. Rural Post Offices

1921. SHRI MUKHTAR ANIS : Will the Minister of Telephone Connections From M.P. Quota COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state :

1920. SHRI THAWAR CHAND GEHLOT : Will the (a) the total number of Post Offices in the country, Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pieased to state : category wise andState wise;

(a) whether there has been delay in installation of (b) the average population covered by Post Offices. telephone connections by the department even after State wise; and the recommendation and confirmation by the hon’ble Members of Parliament, from their quota; and (c) the number of Post Offices opened during 1995- (b) if so, the action being taken by the Government 96, State wise9 in this regard? THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI BENI THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI BENI PRASAD VARMA) : (a) The total number of Post Offices PRASAD VARMA) : (a) Sir, generally telepVione in the Country, category wise and Postal Circle-wise as connections against the sanctions issued from the quota on date are given in satement-l of the Hon’ble M.Ps are provided within spcified period of 30 days from the date of issue of sanction orders. (b) and (c); The average population covered by However, in some cases delay occurs in implementing Post Offices, Postal Circle- wise and the number of Post such ordes due to technical reasons, such as non­ Offices o[ened during 1995-96 Postal Circle-wise are availability of cable pairs, exchange capacity etc. given in the enclosed statement-ll.

STATEMENT - I

Details of Post Offices, Category-wise

Name of State Head Post Depart­ Extra Extra Total Offices mental Dept. Deptl. (HOs) Sub Post Sub Post Branch Offices Offices Post Offices (DSOs) (EDSOs) (EDBOs) *7

1. Andhra Pradesh 104 2361 53 13660 16178 2. Assam 16 581 36 3185 3818 3. Bihar 42 1425 127 10195 11789 4. Delhi 9 410 22 113 554 5. Gujarat 42 1359 47 7470 8918 Dadra & Nagar Haveli - 2 - 32 34 Daman & Diu - 6 - 11 17 6. Haryana 15 452 14 2116 2597 7. Himachal Pradesh 17 441 18 2272 2748 8. Jammu & Kashmir 9 240 31 1328 1608 9. Karnataka 69 1770 . 301 7659 9799 10. Kerala 51 1445 527 3013 5036 Lakshadweep - 6 3 1 10 11. 52 1363 98 9720 11233