FRIDAY, THE 25TH APRIL, 2008 (The met in the Parliament House at 11-00 a. m.) @11-07 a.m. 1. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered:- Starred Question No. 461 regarding Proposal to take over Nilachal Ispat Nigam Ltd. Starred Question No. 465 regarding Need for review of Pulse Polio Programme. Starred Question No. 466 regarding Non-payment of outstanding amount to sugarcane farmers. Starred Question No. 469 regarding Buffer stock for emergency situations. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos. 462 to 464, 467, 468 and 470 to 480 were laid on the Table. 2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 3389 to 3543 were laid on the Table. 12-00 Noon. 3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Sharad Pawar (Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (a) Annual Report of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, for the year 2007- 2008. (b) Annual Accounts of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007, and the Audit Report thereon. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (b) above. ______@ From 11-00 a.m. to 11-07 a.m. some points were raised. RAJYA SABHA Shrimati Panabaka Lakshmi (Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) on behalf of Shri Mahavir Prasad laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Outcome Budget for the year 2008-09 of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Shrimati Kanti Singh (Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture) on behalf of Shrimati Ambika Soni laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, 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 Centre. Shrimati Panabaka Lakshmi (Minister of State in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Dental Education Section), under sub-section (4) of section 20 of the Dentists Act, 1948 :— (1) DE-22-2007 dated the 10th September, 2007, publishing the Dental Council of Revised Bachelor of Dental Surgery Course Regulations, 2007. (2) DE-22-2007 (E) dated the 21st November, 2007, publishing the Dental Council of India Revised Master of Dental Surgery Course Regulations, 2007. II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health) Notification G.S.R. 114 (E) dated the 28th February, 2008, amending Notification S.R.O. 2106 dated the 12th September, 1955 to allow use of wax coating on fresh fruits as per Codex Guidelines wherever exist, under sub-section (2) of section 23 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. III. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health) Notification G.S.R. 70 (E) dated the 5th February, 2008, publishing Corrigendum to Notification G.S.R. 491 (E), dated the 21st August , 2006. 25TH APRIL, 2008 IV. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV), 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 Vidyapeeth. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (ii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Siddha, Chennai, 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. (iii) (a) Annual Report of the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007. (b) Annual Accounts of the Indian Council of Medical Research, 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. (iv) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, 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 and Accounts of the Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (National Population Stabilisation Fund), New Delhi, for the year 2006-2007 together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. RAJYA SABHA (vi) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH), 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. (vii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Pharmacy Council of India, 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. (viii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), 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. 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:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), 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 Centre. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. 25TH APRIL, 2008 Shri Kantilal Bhuria (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation), under sub-section (2) of section 4D of the Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914:— (i) S.O. 1121 (E) dated the 17th July, 2006, regarding the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Amendment Order, 2006. (ii) S.O. 1873 (E) dated the 31st October, 2006, regarding the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Third Amendment Order, 2006. (iii) S.O. 2069 (E) dated the 3rd December, 2007, regarding the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) First Amendment Order, 2007. (iv) S.O. 3 (E) dated the 1st January, 2008, regarding the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Second Amendment Order, 2007. II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation) Notification S.O. 1353 (E) dated the 24th August, 2006, publishing Corrigendum to Notification S.O. 1121 (E) dated the 17th July, 2006. III. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation), under sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Agriculture Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937:—

(i) G.S.R. 193 dated the 22nd September, 2007, publishing Tapioca Sago Grading and Marking Rules, 2007.

(ii) G.S.R. 230 dated the 3rd November, 2007, publishing Sattu Grading and Marking Rules, 2007.

(iii) G.S.R. 66 (E) dated the 2nd February, 2008, publishing Sheekakai Grading and Marking Rules, 2008. RAJYA SABHA IV. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Agriculture, (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation) Notification G.S.R. 717 (E) dated the 15th November, 2007, publishing the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Rules, 2007, under sub-section (3) of section 124 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, together with delay statement. V(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) Thirty-first Annual Report and Accounts of the State Seeds Corporation Limited (GSSC), Gandhinagar, 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.

(ii) (a) Forty-first Annual Report and Accounts of the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited (PAICL), 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. (2) Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. Shri Kantilal Bhuria (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) on behalf of Shri Taslimuddin laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, (Department of Consumer Affairs) Notification S.O. 400 (E) dated the 28th February, 2008, publishing Order on Removal of (Licensing requirements, Stock limits and Movement Restrictions) on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2008, under sub-section (6) of section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. 25TH APRIL, 2008 Shri Jitin Prasada (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) Twenty-fifth Annual Report and Accounts of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (Visakhapatnam Steel Plant), Visakhapatnam, 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-fourth Annual Report and Accounts of MECON Limited, Ranchi, 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-ninth Annual Report and Accounts of the National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC), 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. (2) Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

Memorandum of Understanding between the (i) Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC) for the year 2008-2009.

Memorandum of Understanding between the (ii) Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the Bharat Refractories Limited (BRL) for the year 2008-2009.

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Memorandum of Understanding between the (iii) Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the Manganese Ore (India) Limited (MOIL) for the year 2008-2009.

(iv) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the Hindustan Steelworks Construction Limited (HSCL) for the year 2008-2009.

(v) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the MECON Limited for the year 2008-2009.

(vi) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the MSTC Limited for the year 2008-2009.

(vii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) for the year 2008-2009.

Memorandum of Understanding between the (viii) Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the Sponge Iron India Limited for the year 2008-2009.

(ix) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited for the year 2008-2009.

(x) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited for the year 2008- 2009.

(xi) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Steel) and the Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited for the year 2008- 2009.

25TH APRIL, 2008

12-01 p.m. 4. Reports of the Public Accounts Committee Dr. K. Malaisamy laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports of the Public Accounts Committee (2007-2008):-

(i) Sixty-seventh Report on Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation; and (ii) Sixty-eighth Report on Action Taken on 41st Report of Public Accounts Committee (Fourteenth ) on Concession meant for Small Scale Industries availed of by Large Scale Manufacturers. 12-02 p.m. 5. Reports of the Committee on Public Undertakings Shri K. Chandran Pillai laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports of the Committee on Public Undertakings:-

(i) Twenty-seventh Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings on Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in their Fourteenth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on National Highways Authority of India - National Highways Development Project (NHDP), Phase-I; and (ii) Twenty-eighth Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings on Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in their Twentieth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Performance Audit of WLL Services provided by BSNL. 6. Action Taken Statements of Committee on Public Undertakings Shri K.Chandran Pillai laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Action Taken Statements of the Committee on Public Undertakings:-

(i) Statements showing the action taken by the Government on the recommendation contained in Chapter I of Thirteenth Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Airports Authority of India – Loss of revenue due to delay in award of licenses to operate Money Exchange Counters; and

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(ii) Statements showing the action taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in Chapters I and V of Eighteenth Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Health Insurance – A Horizontal Study. 12-03 p.m. 7. Statements of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture Shri Vikram Verma laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Statements of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture:-

(i) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 13th Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2005-2006) based on the recommendations contained in their 9th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2005-2006) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation);

(ii) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 14th Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2005-2006) based on the recommendations contained in their 10th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2005-2006) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agricultural Research and Education);

(iii) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 15th Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2005-2006) based on the recommendations contained in their 11th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2005-2006) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying);

25TH APRIL, 2008

(iv) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 16th Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2005-2006) based on the recommendations contained in their 12th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2005-06) of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries;

(v) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 23rd Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2006-2007) based on the recommendations contained in their 18th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2006-2007) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation);

(vi) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 24th Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2006-2007) based on the recommendations contained in their 19th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2006-2007) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agricultural Research and Education);

(vii) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 25th Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2006-2007) based on the recommendations contained in their 20th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2006-2007) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying);

(viii) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 33rd Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2007-2008) based on the recommendations contained in their 27th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2007-2008) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation); RAJYA SABHA

(ix) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 34th Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2007-2008) based on the recommendations contained in their 28th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2007-08) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agricultural Research and Education);

(x) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 35th Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2007-2008) based on the recommendations contained in their 29th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2007-2008) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying); and

(xi) Statement showing further Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the 36th Action Taken Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Agriculture (2007-2008) based on the recommendations contained in their 30th Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2007-2008) of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. 12-04 p.m. 8. Recommendations of the Business Advisory Committee The Vice-Chairman (Prof. P.J. Kurien) announced the recommendations made by the Business Advisory Committee at its meeting held on the 24th April, 2008. 12-05 p.m. 9. Statement regarding Government Business Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, made a statement regarding Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during the week commencing Monday, the 28th April, 2008.

25TH APRIL, 2008 ^12-07 p.m. 10. Statement by Minister Shri Shivraj Vishwanath Patil, Minister of Home Affairs, laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) in respect of Jammu and Kashmir. &12-13 p.m. (The House adjourned at 12-13 p.m. and re-assembled at 12-30 p.m.) %12-33 p.m. 11. Matters raised with permission (1) Shri Su. Thirunavukkarasar raised a matter regarding vandalisation of the statue of Muthuramalinga Thevar causing tension in the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu. 12-34 p.m. (2) Shri A. Vijayaraghavan raised a matter regarding Government's refusal to restore the cut in the allocation of food grains to the States under the Public Distribution System. (The House adjourned at 12-35 p.m. and re-assembled at 2-00 p.m.) 2-00 p.m. 12. Government Bill — Passed The Central Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008. Shrimati D. Purandeswari (Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development) moved:- "That the Bill further to amend the Banaras HIndu University Act, 1915, the Delhi University Act, 1922, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Act, 1966, the North-Eastern Hill University Act, 1973 and the University of Hyderabad Act, 1974, be taken into consideration." ______^ From 12-06 p.m. to 12-07 p.m. some points were raised. &From 12-08 p.m. to 12-13 p.m. some points were raised. %From 12-30 p.m. to 12-33 p.m. some points were raised.

RAJYA SABHA The following members took part in the discussion:— 2-01 p.m. 1. Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan *2-02 p.m. 2. Shri Brij Bhushan Tiwari 2-03 p.m. 3. Shrimati Brinda Karat 2-04 p.m. Shrimati D. Purandeswari replied to the debate. 2-05 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses 2 to 10 were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted. 2-06 p.m. The motion moved by Shrimati D. Purandeswari that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed. 2-07 p.m. 13. Message from Lok Sabha Secretary-General reported to the House the following message received from the Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha: "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 (No.2) Bill, 2008, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 24th April, 2008. 2. The Speaker has certified that this Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of article 110 of the Constitution of India." 14. Bill laid on the Table Secretary-General laid on the Table a copy of the Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2008, as passed by Lok Sabha. #2-09 p.m. (The House adjourned at 2-09 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Monday, the 28th April, 2008) ______* Spoke in Hindi. # From 2-08 p.m. to 2-09 p.m. some points were raised.