WEDNESDAY, THE 1ST AUGUST, 2001 (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. 141 regarding Priceless treasure found in Geesukonda, Warangal (AP). Starred Question No. 142 regarding Generation and consumption of power in the country. Starred Question No. 143 regarding Rural development budget. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos. 144 to 160 were laid on the Table. 2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos.1086 to 1209 were laid on the Table. 12 Noon 3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Chennamaneni Vidya Sagar Rao (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) on behalf of Shri L.K. Advani laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs, G.S.R. No.180 dated 31st March, 2001 publishing the Border Security Force (Medical Officers Cadre) Recruitment Rules, 2000, under sub-section (3) of section 141 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968. Shri Ananth Kumar (Minister of Tourism & Culture) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Tourism and Culture) and the India Tourism Development Corporation Limited for the year 2001-2002. Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain (Minister of State (Independent charge) of the Ministry of Coal) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Coal) and the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited for the year 2001-2002. Shri V. Dhananjay Kumar (Minister of State in the Ministry of Textiles) laid on the Table the following papers:- I. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (a) Thirty-second Annual Report and Accounts of the National Textile Corporation Limited, New Delhi and its subsidiary companies, for the year 1999-2000, 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 and its subsidiary companies. (2) Statement (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:— (i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Carpet Export Promotion Council, NOIDA (UP), for the year 1999-2000, 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. (ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Textiles) and the National Handloom Development Corporation Limited for the year 2001-2002. Ms. Jayawanti Mehta (Minister of State in the Ministry of Power) laid on the Table the following:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Power, under section 56 of the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998:— (1) No. 3/15/99-CERC dated 26th March, 2001 publishing the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Medical Facilities) Regulations, 2000. (2) No. L-7/25(1)/2001-CERC dated 26.3.2001 publishing the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms & Conditions of Tariff) Regulations, 2001. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) Annual Report of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, New Delhi, for the year 1999-2000, under sub-section (2) of section 35 of the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998. (ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Power) and the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited for the year 2001- 2002. (iii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Power) and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited for the year 2001-2002. 12-01 p.m. 4. Study Tour Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings Shri Jibon Roy laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Study Tour Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings (Thirteenth Lok Sabha) in respect of Life Insurance Corporation of India Limited. 5. Statements of the Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare Shri Ka. Ra. Subbian laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following statements of the Standing Committee on Labour & Welfare (Thirteenth Lok Sabha): — (i) Statement showing further action taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in Eighth Action Taken Report of the Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare (2000-2001) (Thirteenth Lok Sabha) on the recommendations contained in Third Report (Thriteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2000-2001) – Ministry of Labour. (ii) Statement showing further action taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in Ninth Action Taken Report of the Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare (2000-2001) (Thirteenth Lok Sabha) on the recommendations contained in Fourth Report (Thirteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2000-2001) – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. (iii) Statement showing further action taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in Tenth Report of the Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare (2000-2001) (Thirteenth Lok Sabha) on the recommendations contained in fifth Report (Thirteenth Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants – (2000-2001) – Ministry of Tribal Affairs. 12-02 p.m. 5. Matter raised with permission Dr. Manmohan Singh with the permission of the Chair raised a matter regarding need for a statement by the Prime Minister on the role of P.M.O. in the UTI fiasco as alleged by a member of the ruling coalition and also on his reported desire to resign. Shri Pramod Mahajan, Minister of Information Technology and Parliamentary Affairs spoke. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister replied. ## (The House adjourned at 12-23 p.m. and re-assembled at 12-39 p.m.) 12-40 p.m.@@ (The House adjourned at 12-40 p.m. and re-assembled at 2-00 p.m.) 2-02 p.m.$$ 6. Government Bills — Introduced 2-02 p.m. I. The Indian Railway Companies (Repeal) Bill, 2001 Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Railways) moved to introduce a Bill to repeal the Indian Railway Companies Act, 1895. The question was put and the motion was adopted. Shri O. Rajagopal introduced the Bill. _______________________________________________________________## At 2-00 p.m. @@ From 12-39 p.m. to 12-40 p.m. Some points were raised $$ From 2-00 p.m. to 2-02 p.m. Matter raised with permission continued. 2-03 p.m. II. The Railway Companies (Substitution of Parties in Civil Proceedings) Repeal Bill, 2001 Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Railways) moved to introduce a Bill to repeal the Railway Companies (Substitution of Parties in Civil Proceedings) Act, 1946. The question was put and the motion was adopted. Shri O. Rajagopal introduced the Bill. 2-04 p.m. 7. Short Duration Discussion Shri Yashwant Sinha, Minister of Finance had not concluded his reply to the discussion on working of UTI with special reference to freeze on sale and repurchase of US-64 and failure of Government to take timely action raised by Shri V.V. Raghavan on the 24th July, 2001. The discussion was not concluded. (The House adjourned at 2-47 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Thursday, the 2nd August, 2001) .