RAJYA SABHA MONDAY, THE 9TH DECEMBER, 2002 (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. 261 regarding PHCs in Himachal Pradesh. Starred Question No. 263 regarding Uniform stamp duty. Starred Question No. 264 regarding Sethusamudram Canal Project. Starred Question No. 265 regarding Purchase of tobacco. Starred Question No. 266 regarding Schemes for the welfare of disabled people. Starred Question No. 268 regarding Funds for construction of roads, bridges etc. to . Starred Question No. 270 regarding Progress of Greenfield SEZ projects. Starred Question No. 271 regarding B.A.M.S. degree course. Starred Question No. 272 regarding Appointment of technicians in Prasar Bharati. Starred Question No. 274 regarding Approval of FDIs. Starred Question No. 277 regarding Requirement of Judges. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos. 262, 267, 269, 273, 275, 276 and 278 to 280 were laid on the Table. 2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos.1789 to 1943 were laid on the Table. 12-00 Noon 3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentry Affairs and Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation) on behalf of Shri Ananth Kumar, laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub- section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956,:— (a) Forty-second Annual Report and Accounts of the National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited, for the year 2001-2002, 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.

Shri K. Jana Krishnamurthy (Minister of Law & Justice) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies, New Delhi for the year 2001-2002, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

Shri Ramesh Bais (Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Notification No.10/11/2001-PPC dated the 6th June, 2002, publishing the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) (Junior Engineering Posts) Service Regulations, 2002, under section 34 of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990,.

Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentry Affairs and Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation) on behalf of Dr. Vallabh Bhai Ramjibhai Kathiria, laid on the Table 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-first Annual Report and Accounts of the Cycle Corporation of India Limited, Kolkata, for the year 2001-2002, 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.

(ii) (a) Thirty-second Annual Report and Accounts of the Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited, Kolkata, for the year 2001-2002, 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. (iii) (a) Thirtieth Annual Report and Accounts of the Scooters India Limited, Lucknow, for the year 2001-2002, 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.

Shri Satyabrata Mookherjee (Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (a) Eighth Annual Report and Accounts of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, New Delhi for the year 2001-2002, 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.

Shri A. Raja (Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) laid on the Table the following papers:-

I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health) Notification G.S.R. 732 (E) dated the 29th October, 2002, regarding prohibition of the manufacture, sale and distribution of Astemizole and Terfinadine drugs for human use, under section 38 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

(i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the R.S.T. Regional Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Nagpur, for the year 2000-2001, 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) Annual Report and Accounts of the R.S.T. Regional Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Nagpur, for the year 2001-2002, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Centre.

(iii)(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Cancer Institute (WIA), , for the year 2001-2002, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute. (iv) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Unani Medicine, , for the year 2001-2002, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute.

Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentry Affairs and Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation) on behalf of Dr. Raman Singh, laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Central Pulp and Paper Research Institute, Saharanpur, for the year 2001-2002, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute.

Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentry Affairs and Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation) on behalf of Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudi, laid on the Table the following papers:-

I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce), under sub-section (3) of section 17 of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963:— (1) S.O. 2877 dated the 14th September, 2002, publishing the Export of Dried Fish Maws (Quality Control and Inspection) Rules, 2002. (2) S.O. 1029 (E) dated the 24th September, 2002, publishing the Export of Fresh, Frozen and Processed Fish and Fishery Products (Quality Control and Inspection and Monitoring) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2002.

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under section 25 of the Spices Board Act, 1986:— (a) Annual Report of the Spices Board, Cochin, for the year 2001-2002. (b) Annual Accounts of the Spices Board, Cochin, for the year 2001-2002, and the Audit Report thereon. (c) Review by Government on the working of the above Board.

Shri Su. Thirunavukkarasar (Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping) laid on the Table the following papers:-

I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Shipping, under sub-section (4) of section 124 of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963:— (1) G.S.R. 342 (E) dated the 20th April, 2000, publishing the Mormugao Port Employees’ (Educational Assistance) Regulations, 2000, together with Delay Statement. (2) G.S.R. 343 (E) dated the 20th April, 2000, publishing the Visakhapatnam Port Employees (Recruitment, Seniority and Promotion) Amendment Regulations, 2000, together with Delay Statement. (3) G.S.R. 757(E) dated the 8th November, 2002, publishing the Calcutta Port Turst (Recruitment of Heads of Departments), 3rd Amendment Regulations, 2002. II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Shipping Notification G.S.R. 714(E) dated the 18th October, 2002, publishing the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Non-Technical Posts) Recruitment Rules, 2002, under Article 309 of the Constitution. III. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Shipping Notification G.S.R. 750 (E) dated the 31st October, 2002, publishing the Corrigendum to Notification G.S.R. No. 380(E) dated the 23rd May, 2002.

IV. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (a) Fiftieth Annual Report and Accounts of the Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, for the year 2001-2002, 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.

V. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under section 106 of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963:— (a) Annual Administration Report of the Mormugao Port Trust, Goa, for the year 2001-2002. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Port Trust.

12-02 p.m. 4. Messages from the reported I. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2002 II. The Prevention of Food Adulteration (Extension to Kohima and Mokokchung Districts) Repeal Bill, 2002 III.The Countess of Dufferin’s Fund (Repeal) Bill, 2002 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 120 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to inform you that Lok Sabha, at its sitting held on the 5th December, 2002, agreed without any amendment to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2002, which was passed by Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the 17th July, 2002.” (II) “In accordance with the provisions of rule 120 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to inform you that Lok Sabha, at its sitting held on the 5th December, 2002, agreed without any amendment to the Prevention of Food Adulteration (Extension to Kohima and Mokokchung Districts) Repeal Bill, 2002, which was passed by Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the 26th July, 2002.” (III) “In accordance with the provisions of rule 120 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to inform you that Lok Sabha, at its sitting held on the 5th December, 2002, agreed without any amendment to the Countess of Dufferin’s Fund (Repeal) Bill, 2002, which was passed by Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the 29th November, 2002.”

12-03 p.m. 5. Motion for election to the Governing Council of the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Science, Shillong- Adopted A motion for election of one member to the Governing Council of the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Science, Shillong was moved and adopted.

12-04 p.m. 6. Calling Attention to Matter of Urgent Public Importance Shri Pranab Mukherjee called the attention of the Minister of Commerce and Industry to the crisis in the plantation sector, namely, tea, coffee, rubber, etc. and the steps taken by the Government in this regard. 12-05 p.m. Shri Arun Shourie, Minister of Disinvestment, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of Commerce and Industry, made a Statement. Thereafter, Members sought clarifications on the Statement. (The House adjourned at 1-46 p.m. and re-assembled at 2-33 p.m.) 2-33 p.m. 7. Government Bills - Passed I. The Refugee Relief Taxes (Abolition) Repeal Bill, 2002, as passed by Lok Sabha. Shri Gingee N. Ramachandran (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Company Affairs) moved:- “That the Bill to repeal the Refugee Relief Taxes (Abolilition) Act, 1973, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.” The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clause 2 was adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted. 2-34 p.m. The motion moved by Shri Gingee N. Ramachandran that the Bill be passed was, adopted and the Bill was passed. 2-35 p.m II. The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2002, as passed by Lok Sabha. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad (Minister of State in the Ministries of Coal & Mines and Law & Justice) moved:- “That the Bill to provide for development and regulation of mineral resources in the territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and other maritime zones of India and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into connsideration.” The following members took part in the discussion:-

2-38 p.m. 1. Shri Prithviraj Chavan 2-53 p.m. 2. Prof. R. B. S. Varma** 3-02 p.m. 3. Shri P. Prabhakar Reddy 3-10 p.m. 4. Shri Jibon Roy 3-16 p.m. 5. Prof. M. Sankaralingam 3-23 p.m. 6. Shrimati S. G. Indira 3-30 p.m. 7. Shri N. K. Premachandran 3-42 p.m. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad replied to the debate. 3-56 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses 2 to 38, the First Schedule and the Second Schedule were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted. ______** Spoke in Hindi. 3-59 p.m. On the motion moved by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad that the Bill be passed Shri Pranab Mukherjee spoke. 4-01 p.m. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad replied. 4-02 p.m. The Motion moved by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed. 4-03 p.m. III. The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2002 Shri T. R. Baalu (Minister of Environment & Forests) moved:- “That the Bill further to amend the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, be taken into consideration.” The following members took part in the discussion:- 4-10 p.m. 1. Dr. Abrar Ahmed** 4-30 p.m. 2. Shri Kripal Parmar** 4-34 p.m. 3. Shri K. Rama Mohana Rao 4-40 p.m. 4. Shrimati Chandra Kala Pandey** 4-46 p.m. 5. Shrimati Saroj Dubey** 4-53 p.m. 6. Shri Satish Pradhan** 4-59 p.m. 7. Shri Manoj Bhattacharya 5-10 p.m. 8. Shri Shankar Roy Chowdhury** 5-17 p.m. 9. Shri H. K. Javare Gowda 5-22 p.m. 10. Prof. R. B. S. Varma** 5-25 p.m. Shri T. R. Baalu replied to the debate. 5-39 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. ______** Spoke in Hindi. Clauses 2 to 38 were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted. 5-40 p.m. The motion moved by Shri T. R. Baalu that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed.

5-41 p.m. 8. Statement By Minister Shri Arun Shourie, Minister of Disinvestment, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of Commerce & Industry, made a statement on disinvestment.

(The House adjourned at 6-03 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Tuesday, the 10th December, 2002)