WEDNESDAY, THE 26TH APRIL, 2000 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.)

1. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered. Starred Question No. 441 regarding Abolition of Article 370. Starred Question No. 446 regarding Martyrs of freedom struggle. Starred Question No. 448 regarding Production of energy from municipal and industrial wastes in Bihar. Starred Question No. 449 regarding PLF of thermal power plants.

Answers to remaining questions (442 to 444, 447, 450 to 460) were laid on the Table.

2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos.3368 to 3522 were laid on the Table.

12 Noon

3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri (Minister of Defence) laid on the Table a copy (in English and ) of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production and Supplies) and the Bharat Earth Movers Limited for the year 2000-2001.

Shri Subhash Maharia (Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development) the following papers laid on the Table:-

I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following notifications of the Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Rural Development), under Section 83 of the Lakshadweep Panchayats Regulation, 1994 :— (i) 5/15/94-PCS dated 23.1.1995 publishing the Lakshadweep (Election to Panchayats) Rules, 1995.

(ii) F.No.5/7/95-DOP dated 19.2.1997 publishing the Lakshadweep Panchayats Business Rules, 1997.

(iii) F. No7/3/97-DOP dated 24.4.1997 publishing the Lakshadweep Panchayats (Service) Rules, 1997.

(iv) F. No.7/5/97-DOP dated 24.4.1997 publishing the Lakshadweep Panchayat Servants (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1997.

(v)F.No.4/4/95-DOP dated 24.4.1997 publishing the Lakshadweep Panchayats (Grant-in-aid) Rules, 1997.

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following notifications of the Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Rural Development), under sub-section (3) of Section 65 of the Daman & Diu Panchayats (Amendment) Regulation, 1994 :—

(i) No.LAW/DMN/88/95/78 dated 12.9.1995 publishing the (Panchayats) (Election of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, President-cum-chief Counsellor and Vice-President-cum-Counsellor) Rules, 1995.

(ii) DP/52/96-97/282 dated 29.10.1996 publishing the Daman & Diu District Panchayat (Meeting) Rules, 1996.

(iii) DP/65/96-97/291 dated 13.11.1996 publishing the Daman & Diu District Panchayat (Accounts & Audit and Custody of Funds) Rules, 1996.

(iii) DP/66/96-97/403 dated 3.12.1996 publishing the Daman & Diu District Panchayat Committee Rules, 1996.

(iv) DP/13/96-97/20 dated 23.4.1997 publishing the Daman & Diu District Panchayat (Motion of No Confidence Against President-Cum-Chief Counsellor and Vice President-Cum-Counsellor Rules, 1997.

(v) DP/99/96-97/23 dated 25.4.1997 publishing the Daman & Diu District Panchayat Vice President-Cum-Counsellor (Restrictions on powers and functions) Rules, 1997.

(vi) DP/101/96-97/24 dated 25.4.1997 publishing the Daman & Diu District Panchayat leave travel concession Rules, 1997.

26TH APRIL, 2000

(viii) DP/106/96-97/25 dated 25.4.1997 publishing the Daman & Diu District Panchayat (Leave of absence in the office of the members of District Panchayat) Rules, 1996.

III. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following notifications of the Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Rural Development), under Section 204 of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Panchayats) Regulation, 1994 :— (i) F.No.4-118/94 (Panch) dated 23.3.1995 publishing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Panchayats) (Preparation of Electoral Roles and conduct of Elections) Rules, 1995.

(ii) F.No.6-6(1)/96-PR dated 19.2.1997 publishing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Grant-in-aid to Panchayati Raj Institutions) Rules, 1996.

(iii) F.No.3-16/96-PR dated 17.7.1997 publishing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Panchayats Accounts and Finance) Rules, 1997.

(iv) F.No.3-21/96-PR dated 19.9.1997 publishing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Panchayats Administration) Rules, 1997.

Ms. Jayawanti Mehta (Minister of State in the Ministry of Power) the following papers laid on the Tabla:-

I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Power. G.S.R. 237(E) dated 10.3.2000 publishing the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Preparation, submission of budget, maintenance of accounts) Rules, 2000, under Section 56 of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998.

II. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (5) of section 45 and sub-section (3) of section 44 of the Damodar Valley Corporation Act, 1948:—

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Damodar Valley Corporation, Calcutta, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation.

(2) Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.

Shri Gingee N. Ramachandran (Minister of State in the Ministry of Textiles) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Centre for Jute Diversification, Calcutta, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Centre.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

(ii) (a) Fourteenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Jute Manufacturers Development Council, Calcutta, for the year 1998-99, 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.

12-01 p.m.

4. Special Mentions

1. Dr. raised a matter regarding the serious difficulties being faced by the Institute of Gandhian Studies, Varanasi due to non release of grants by the Indian Council of Social Science Research.

12-14 p.m.

2. Shri Rama Shanker Kaushik** raised a matter regarding need to provide assistance to brass exporters in Moradabad. ______** Spoke in Hindi. 26TH APRIL, 2000

12-25 p.m.

3. Shri Drupad Borgoahin raised a matter regarding need to revamp and bifurcate H.F.C.L., Namrup.

12-31 p.m.

4. Dr. Y. Radhakrishna Murty raised a matter regarding agitation by Assistant Professors working on ad hoc basis in A.I.I.M.S.

12-36 p.m.

5. Prof. M. Sankaralingam raised a matter regarding Indians in Pakistani Jails.

12-42 p.m.

6. Shri Manoj Bhattacharya raised a matter regarding discharge of untreated effluent by factories located in Bangladesh into Mathabhanga and Churni rivers.

12-48 p.m.

7. Shri C. Ramachandraiah raised a matter regarding murderous attack on a senior journalist in .

(The House adjourned at 12.52 p.m. and reassembled at 2-07 p.m.)

5. Motion of Thanks on the President's Address Further Discussion on the following Motion moved by Shri M. on the 18th April, 2000, and the amendments moved thereto continued:— "That an Address be presented to the President in the following terms:— ‘That the Members of the Rajya Sabha assembled in this Session are deeply grateful to the President for the Address which he has been pleased to deliver to both Houses of Parliament assembled together on February 23, 2000.’ "

The following Members took part in the discussion:—

2-07 p.m. 1. Shri N. Thalavai Sundaram 2-22 p.m. 2. Dr. A.R. Kidwai 2-30 p.m. 3. Shri Rama Shanker Kaushik ** 2-48 p.m. 4. Shri Suryabhan Patil Vahadane ** 2-58 p.m. 5. Shri Ramachandra Khuntia 3-15 p.m. 6. Shri R.N. Arya ** 3-24 p.m. 7. Shri Ram Nath Kovind **

The discussion was concluded and the Prime Minister to reply tomorrow.

3-32 p.m.

6. Short Duration Discussion Shri Sunder Lal Patwa (Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development) replied to the discussion on the drought and famine conditions in various parts of the country, particularly in and , raised by Shri Suresh Pachouri on the 25th April, 2000.

4-32 p.m.

7. Clarifications on the Statement by Minister Members sought clarifications on the Statement laid on the Table on the 25th April, 2000 by Shri Sunder Lal Patwa, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding Price Policy for Copra for 2000 season and Price Policy for Raw Jute for 2000-2001 season.

(The House adjourned 5.05 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Thursday, the 27th April, 2000.)

______** Spoke in Hindi.