RAJYA SABHA _________ ∗SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE _________ (Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) _________ Wednesday, July 8, 2009/ Asadha 17, 1931 (Saka) _________ MATTERS RAISED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE CHAIR I. Damage caused due to release of water from Ranganidi Dam SHRI BIRENDRA PRASAD BAISHYA: The Brahmaputra is an ancient civilization of our country which is today under great threat due to the construction of a big river dam in neighbouring State, the Bhutan Kingdom. The construction of new big dam, lower Subansiri hydro-electrical project, is a threat to the State of Assam and the other States of the North- Eastern region. The proposed dam site is 2.3 kilometres from the Gerukamukh village of Dhemaji district of Assam. 160-metre high dam will submerge 3436 hectares of forest land and many important biodiversity pastures. The area is elephant corridor. Construction of dam will also seriously affect river dolphins in river Brahmaputra. We are not opposed to the construction of dam for the power generation, but we are opposed to the construction of dam for the destruction of the wealth of Assam and the North Eastern region. (Shri Biswajit Daimary, Shri S. S. Ahluwalia and Dr. (Shrimati) Najma A. Heptulla associated). ______________________________________________ ∗This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. 64 II. Availability of the Report of the Ranganath Mishra Commission SHRI ALI ANWAR ANSARI: The Government has set up National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities under the Chairmanship of Shri Rangnath Mishra in October, 2004. This Commission submitted its report in May, 2007. Myself and many other hon’ble Members in this House demanded in the House a number of times to lay the report of this Commission and to hold a debate upon this. But this report has so far not been laid in this House. Meanwhile, we have come to know that Information Commission, has provided the information in the matter. In this way the House was sidelined. I consider it as the contempt of the House. Dalit Muslims and Christians are downtrodden, unrepresented and the poor people, so the Government is not laying the report on the Table of the House. We urge upon you to lay this report alongwith action taken report on the Table of the House and facilitate debate on this report in this Session itself. III. Widespread trafficking of humans in the country, especially in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal SHRIMATI MOHSINA KIDWAI: Around 3,000 girls in Chhattisgarh have gone missing due to illegal human trafficking. According to police sources, 5,000 persons were registered missing, out of which 3,000 are girls. It has been revealed that placement agencies are behind this racket as they lure women with good job prospects, but, after some days, these women go missing. The women work as domestic servants and are, often, subjected to physical and mental torture. India has enough laws to check human trafficking but these laws are not being implemented seriously. Human trafficking has become an organised crime and traffickers are working without fear of the law. Our main focus should be the prevent child trafficking and to know the root cause of this, and we should see that development schemes for poor and backward classes are safely implemented. I solicit support of the House and Government to make all endeavours to prevent this menace. (Shri Prabhat Jha associated). 65 IV. Demand to amend the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991 to save the demolition of the houses of fishermen community SHRI SHANTARAM LAXMAN NAIK: On account of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991, which came into force w.e.f. 19th February, 1991, about 8000 houses on the sea coast of Goa are facing demolition. The Panaji Bench of Bombay High Court has given certain directions to the Revenue authorities for supervising 105 kms. of Goa coastline and has directed them to demolish constructions, built prior to 1991 and in the post 1991 period, in violation of CRZ regulations and plans. There are about 4,553 structures which have come up post 1991 on Goa coast, within 200 to 500 mtrs., and 2,272 structures, within 100 mtrs. Most of these houses are occupied by fisher folk communities. Members of fisher folk communities keep their fishing equipments, motor and motor equipments and fishing nets etc., in these houses. Taking the circumstances into consideration, a way has to be found out to save these structures. The only remedy to do this is to carry of Goa specific amendment to the CRZ III(i) to protect constructions. V. Ill- treatment meted out to the students from other states during an examination of the Railway Recruitment Board in Mysore SHRI RAJNITI PRASAD: There is Federal System of governance in India. Any person can go anywhere for employment and any person can submit application for employment anywhere in India. Our poor people go to Assam in search of job, where they are shot dead. The Government has assured a number of times that the people will be protected but it was not fulfilled. Our educated children go far off places for taking examinations. They are selectively asked that from where they have come and if it is known that they came from Bihar, they are subjected to torture, they are beaten, their examination papers are snatched away. This is a very serious matter. Therefore, in my opinion, if any central examination like Railways Recruitment examination is conducted outside the State, the arrangements for the safety of examinees should be ensured or otherwise these examinations should be conducted at local level. 66 VI. Firing of rockets by Pakistan in the villages of Punjab SHRI M. RAMA JOIS: It is reported in Hindustan Times, dated 6th July, 2009 that three rockets fired from the Pakistan side of the international border exploded in the Indian territory on 5th July and this caused panic in the border areas of Amritsar in Punjab. The impact of the explosion was, as per reports, so great that a ten feet deep crater was created in the agricultural fields. The other two exploded at two nearby villages, one in Pulkanjri and another in Dallikeri, near the international border. Such an incident has created unrest and fear among the residents and agriculturists in the vicinity. This is a serious matter and demands immediate suitable steps by the Government of India to ensure safety of our citizens residing in the border villages. VII. Situation arising out due to the extra money claimed by the Haj Committee from pilgrims, who completed Haj in 2008 SHRI MOINUL HASSAN: Last year, there were 1,20,787 Indian Haj pilgrims. Long after the Indian pilgrims have returned from Haj in December, 2008, they are now being asked to cough up more money. They have already completed their Haj. This Mumbai-based Haj Committee manage the pilgrimage to Mecca for the Government. Recently, they have sent an unsigned letter to all pilgrims to pay additional Rs.5000/-. Their justification is that ‘rupee to Saudi riyal’ exchange rate has changed, has gone up. But if it goes down, would the Haj Committee appointed by the Government of India pay back the money? I have told the Ministry and the Government that mismanagement is going on in the Haj Committee. People were suffering in Mecca and Madina but nothing was done by this Committee. I would request the Government to look into the matter and solve the problem immediately. Those people who have already completed Haj, should not be harassed and immediately scrap the letter. (Shri A Vijayaraghavan, Shri Penumalli Madhu and Shrimati Brinda Karat associated). 67 VIII. Strike by fishermen in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu following arrest of fishermen by Sri Lankan Navel Personnel SHRI D. RAJA: More than 15,000 fishermen are on strike in Rameshwaram. The reason for this is 20 fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. First, they were taken to Talaimannar and now the reports are that they have been taken to Anuradhapuram Prison in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Navy confiscated four boats. It is not the first incident. Such incidents are taking place every now and then. It is reported that more than 100 fishermen have disappeared. The Sri Lankan Navy is not only shooting the Indian fishermen indiscriminately, they are also confiscating their boats. The Government should take urgent steps to get their release and to protect the Indian fishermen. The Government will have to take certain long-term measures. It is high time that the Government of India demanded re- opening and renegotiations of the Katchatheevu Island. It is not an issue for Rameshwaram or Tamil Nadu. It is an issue for the entire country. (Shri Tiruchi Siva associated). IX. Illegal construction of bridge-cum-barrages by Karnataka over river Krishna and its tributaries SHRI M. V. MYSURA REDDY: I wish to bring to the notice of the Government of India and the Ministry of Water Resources regarding unauthorised construction of bridge-cum-barrage by the State of Karnataka. The State of Andhra Pradesh is already suffering because of the construction of Almatti Dam. Now, the State of Karnataka is constructing a chain of bridge-cum-barrages on the Krishna river. The Karnataka Government is constructing 20 barrages on Ghata Prabha, 18 barrages on Bhima, 10 barrages on Mala Prabha and 7 barrages on river Krishna. The malign intention of the Government of Karnataka is to store more than 100 TMC of water in the above barrages and use the same for irrigation. I would request the Government of India to immediately direct the Government of Karnataka to desist from such illegal and unauthorised construction.