RAJYA SABHA ———— List of Questions for WRITTEN ANSWERS to be asked at a sitting of the Rajya Sabha to be held on Wednesday, the March 9, 2005/Phalguna 18, 1926 (Saka) ———— (Ministries: Commerce and Industry; Defence; Home Affairs; Non- Conventional Energy Sources; Power; Rural Development; Textiles) Total number of questions — 155 Industrial clusters at sanctioned in (a) whether it is a fact that Assam Karnataka Government has given a memorandum to the Central Government urging to expedite 766. DR. VIJAY MALLYA: the special package for development of the SHRI LALIT SURI: tea industry since it is a revenue earning Will the Minister of COMMERCE industry for the State; AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: (b) whether Government are aware (a) whether it is a fact that Government about the crisis of the workers in this has agreed to sanction Machine Tool Cluster sector; at Bangalore and Foundry Cluster at (c) if so, whether any steps are being Belgaum in Karnataka; considered by the Central Government to (b) what is the project cost of the remove the plight of the workers; and industrial cluster and the extent of financial (d) if not, the reasons therefor? assistance released by the Government of India; Incentives for industrial units in (c) whether there is any proposal SEZs pending with Government for establish- †768. SHRI RAVI SHANKAR ment of Valves Cluster at Dharwad and a PRASAD: Cashew Cluster at Mangalore; and DR. MURLI MANOHAR (d) when will the final orders be issued JOSHI: to handover the land? Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: Package for development of tea industry in Assam (a) whether it is a fact that the industrial Units under Special Economic Zones in the 767. SHRI KARNENDU BHATTA- country are provided special concession; CHARJEE: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be (b) if so, the details of facilities provided pleased to state: to such units; and †Original notice of the question received in Hindi. 168 169 (c) the estimate of average annual (e) the steps proposed by the Coffee financial aid to such units through these Board to create a franchise of its Coffee facilities in the country? Board restaurants in interest of selling and promoting Indian coffee? World Economic Forum Import of coal by MMTC from China 769. DR. VIJAY MALLYA: 771. SHRI S.M. LALJAN BASHA: SHRI LALIT SURI: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND Will the Minister of COMMERCE INDUSTRY be pleased to state: AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: (a) whether Minerals and Metals (a) whether it is a fact that he led a Trading Corporation is importing coal from delegation of industrialists and others to China presently; the annual meeting of the World Economic (b) if so, the details of such import of coal; Forum at Davos, Switzerland in January, 2005; (c) whether the imports of Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation will have any (b) if so, what are the major issues negative impact on Indian Coal; discussed at the Forum; (d) the amount of coal in quantity and (c) whether he has received assurances financial terms that is being imported by from the international industrial community Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation on increased foreign direct investment into from China in current financial year; and the country; and (e) the plans to import coal from China (d) if so, the details thereof? by Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation in the next fiscal year? Promotion of Indian coffee by Coffee Board Proposals of National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council 770. SHRI S.M. LALJAN BASHA: 772. DR. AKHILESH DAS: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND SHRI RAJKUMAR DHOOT: INDUSTRY be pleased to state: Will the Minister of COMMERCE (a) whether the Coffee Board is not AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: actively promoting Indian coffee in the country; (a) whether it is a fact that the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (b) whether it is a fact that the Coffee (NMCC) has submitted a policy paper to Board has not opened its coffee shops or take an aggressive competition from world outlets in major cities; market majors in international market by (c) if so, what are the reasons domestic industries; therefor;. (b) if so, the details thereof and action (d) whether Government is aware that taken thereon; the private sector is very active in such (c) what are the objective, constitution marketing techniques; and and functions of the council; 170 (d) whether Government has considered (c) with the BIFR going to be defunct the recommendations of NMCC and taken soon, how the status of undertakings under a view on the opening up the non-traditional BIFR as 'Defunct' or 'Sick' can be declared? retail sector to FDI especially in branded stores; Export of wheat (e) if so, the details thereof; and †775. PROF. R.B.S. VARMA: (f) the benefit expected for domestic SHRIMATI MAYA SINGH: industries and non traditional retail sector Will the Minister of COMMERCE by such a decision? AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that Government Foreign companies operating business are considering to export wheat; in India (b) if so, the details thereof; and †773. PROF. M.M. AGARWAL: Will (c) the number of countries from which the Minister of COMMERCE AND proposals have been received in this regard? INDUSTRY be pleased to state: (a) the number of foreign companies Export of products from SEZs operating their business in various States †776. SHRI RAJ MOHINDER of the country as on 31st January, 2005; SINGH MAJITHA: (b) the areas in which the said SHRI RAM JETHMALANI: companies have entered into an agreement Will the Minister of COMMERCE with our country for operating their AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: business during the last three years togetherwith the conditions laid for such (a) whether it is a fact that the units contract; and working in Special Economic Zones set up in the country export the products; (c) the role of these foreign companies in giving suitable benefits to the common (b) if so, the value of such exports by people of the country? these units during the years 2002-03, 2003-04 and first six months of 2004-05; Interpretation of Press Note No. 18 (c) what is the percentage of this export 774. SHRIMATI BIMBA RAIKAR: to the total exports in the country during Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND the above periods; and INDUSTRY be pleased to state: (d) what is the value of products sold in (a) whether the revised norms indigenous market by these units during pertaining to Press Note No. 18 still remains the above periods? ambiguous and open to contradictory interpretations with the words 'Same field' Export of foodgrains and 'Defunct' etc.; 777. PROF. M.M. AGARWAL: Will (b) whether under the revised norms, the Minister of COMMERCE AND all activities within automobile as a sector INDUSTRY be pleased to state: would be considered 'Similar' or would go into product categorisation as per National (a) the quantity of foodgrains exported Industrial Classification Code; and from our country during the last three years; †Original notice of the question received in Hindi. 171 (b) the details of facilities being (d) if so, the details of (a), (b) and (c) provided to the exporters; and above? (c) the details of target fixed for export of foodgrains during the current year? Agreement to promote Indo-Nepal Economic and Trade Cooperation Violation of export policy by iron ore 780. SHRI KALRAJ MISHRA: Will exporting companies the Minister of COMMERCE AND †778. SHRI MOTILAL VORA: Will INDUSTRY be pleased to state: the Minister of COMMERCE AND (a) whether during the recent visit of INDUSTRY be pleased to state: the Nepalese Prime Minister to New Delhi, (a) whether it is a fact that many iron an agreement to promote Indo-Nepal ore exporting companies are grossly Economic and Trade Cooperation was violating the export policy and some reached; companies have been found guilty for it; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) the steps taken and being taken to (c) the action taken by Government implement the same? against the guilty companies so far; and (d) the concrete arrangements being Enactment of law regarding crimes in made by Government to ban the export of SEZs high quality iron ore in future? †781. SHRI PYARELAL KHAN- DELWAL: Will the Minister of New export promotion scheme COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be 779. SHRIMATI N.P. DURGA: Will pleased to state: the Minister of COMMERCE AND (a) whether Government are going to INDUSTRY be pleased to state: enact a special law regarding crimes (a) whether it is a fact that there was a committed in Special Economic Zones; meeting between the Ministry and all the (b) if so, the details thereof; and Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards and other bodies in the country (c) whether special courts would be recently; constituted for the same? (b) whether it is also a fact that Proposal to set up an International Government announced a new export Trade Promotion Centre at Bangalore promotion scheme in place of the existing Duty Entitlement Pass Book Scheme; 782. SHRIMATI PREMA CARIAPPA: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND (c) whether it is also a fact that in view INDUSTRY be pleased to state: of the objective of doubling India's trade share in the global market, in terms of (a) whether the Ministry is planning to percentage, by 2004, the Ministry has set establish an International Trade Promotion up an ambitious target of achieving 16 per Centre at Bangalore, similar to Pragati cent export target; and Maidan of Delhi; †Original notice of the question received in Hindi.