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Title : Regarding passing away of Dr. (Smt.) Phulrenu Guha, member, 8th Lok Sabha on 28th July, 2006.
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I have to inform the House of the sad demise of one of our former colleagues, Dr. (Shrimati) Phulrenu Guha.
Dr. (Shrimati) Phulrenu Guha was a Member of the Eighth Lok Sabha from 1984 to 1989, representing Contai Parliamentary Constituency of West Bengal.
Earlier, Dr. Guha was a Member of the Rajya Sabha from 1964 to 1970, representing the State of West Bengal.
An able administrator, Dr. Guha also served as Minister of State in the Union Cabinet and held portfolios in the Ministries of Social Welfare from March, 1967 to February 1969 and of Law from February, 1969 to June, 1970.
A multi-faceted and most endearing personality, Dr. Guha, ‘Ful di’ to all of us, was the recipient of ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 1977.
A freedom fighter, Dr. Guha was associated with Juganter Revolutionary Party and Azad Hind Relief Committee (Women’s Section).
Dr. Guha was related with numerous social, cultural and educational bodies and devoted her life for the rehabilitation of destitute women and children and also worked for the development of handicrafts. She also had the distinction to serve various State and Central Government organisations in different capacities. She was the Chairman of the Task Force on Child Welfare Committee, Planning Commission, Government of India from 1971 to 1972 and Committee on Status of Women in India (Government of India) from 1972 to 1975 and General Secretary and Vice President of the All India Women’s Conference from 1960 to 1964 and from 1966 to 1968 respectively. Dr. Guha was also the President of the Indian Council of Child Welfare from 1970 to 1973.
A prolific writer, Dr. Guha had many publications to her credit both in Bangla and in English.
Dr. (Shrimati) Phulrenu Guha passed away on 28th July, 2006 at Kolkata, West Bengal at the age of 94.
We deeply mourn the loss of this friend, which will be keenly felt, and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolence to the bereaved family.
The House may now stand in silence for a short while as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.
11.02 hrs.
The Members then stood in silence for a short while.
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… (Interruptions)
श्री मोहन रावले (मुम्बई दक्षिण-मध्य): महोदय, आज के पेपर में छपा है कि पाकिस्तान में आतंकवादी ट्रेनिंग कैंप चल रहे हैं।…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Q. No.141
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please speak one by one.
… (Interruptions)
श्री मोहन रावले : महोदय, पाकिस्तान में ट्रेनिंग कैंप चल रहे हैं।…( व्यवधान)
1104 hrs.
(At this stage, Shri Rajnarayan Budholia and some other hon. Members
came and stood on the floor near the Table.)
MR. SPEAKER: I will allow you. Please go back to your seats.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Shailendra Kumar, I will allow you to raise it.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: I have got your notice. I will allow you to raise it. I earnestly appeal to you to go back to your seats.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, I will allow you to raise it. Hon. Members, please go back to your seats.
MR. SPEAKER: I will allow you to raise it. Please go back to your seats.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Nothing is being recorded.
…. (Interruptions)*
MR. SPEAKER: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
_________________________________________________________________
*Not Recorded.
MR. SPEAKER: I have to name somebody now. You are taking the House to ransom? What are the people of the House saying everyday?
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: I have committed myself.
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय: मैं आपके लीडर को बोलने के लिए बुला रहा हूं। श्री शैलेन्द्र कुमार, आप सीट पर जाइए।
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय: आप बैठिए। अगर जरूरत होगी तो आपको बुलाएंगे।
…( व्यवधान)
प्रो. राम गोपाल यादव (सम्भल) : अध्यक्ष महोदय: इनकी बात सुन लीजिए। …( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय: मैंने इनको कहा है। This is very unfair.
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय: आप मुझे बात सुनने का मौका दीजिए। मैं आपकी बात सुनना चाहता हूं। आपके मैम्बर्स एक मिनट के अन्दर वैल में आ गए।
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय: सदन में अपनी बात कहने का एक तरीका है।
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय: मैं आपकी बात सुनना चाहता हूं।
11.06 hrs.
(At this stage Shri Rajnarayan Budholia and some other hon. Members went back to their seats)
11.07 hrs. SUBMISSIONS BY MEMBERS
(i) Re: Need to remove the bottlenecks in the supply of gas to the Power
Plants set up at Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.
श्री मोहन सिंह (देवरिया) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, आपको नियमों के अन्तर्गत इस बात का अधिकार प्राप्त हैं कि कभी-कभी विशेष परिस्थितियों में प्रश्न काल स्थगित करके जनता के बुनियादी प्रश्न पर चर्चा करवा सकते हैं। उत्तर प्रदेश ही नहीं, पूरे उत्तर भारत की ५० करोड़ जनता को बिजली की आपूर्ति के लिए दो परियोजनाएं – एक भारत सरकार की एनटीपीसी और दूसरी गैस आधारित दो परियोजनाएं वहां शुरू होनी थी लेकिन जब उनको शुरू होना था, देश की एक प्रतिष्ठित कारपोरेट हाउस की दो कम्पनियां, एक गैस उत्पादन करने वाली और दूसरी गैस कंज्यूम करके बिजली उत्पादन करने वाली थी। बाद में उस कारपोरेट हाउस में बंटवारा हुआ। हाई कोर्ट द्वारा यह बंटवारा हुआ था,जिसमें निश्चित हुआ कि पहले से दो कम्पनियों का जो अनुबंध था, उसके अन्तर्गत गैस आधारित एक बिजली का कारखाना खोला और उसको उचित कीमत पर गैस की आपूर्ति करनी थी लेकिन भारत सरकार ने, गैस का भाव क्या होगा, इसके लिए एक साल से पत्रावली दबा कर अपने पास रखी हुई है। इसका नतीजा यह हुआ कि भारत सरकार की भी एक कम्पनी एऩटीपीसी अपने कारखाने को चालू नहीं कर पा रही है और उस कारपोरेट हाउस का जिस के जरिए उत्तर प्रदेश को २५ फीसदी बिजली मिलनी थी, शेष भारत के दूसरे राज्यों को ७५ फीसदी बिजली मिलनी थी, बिजली की आपूर्ति की समस्या के समाधान की वे परियोजनाएं एक कुंजी थी लेकिन भारत सरकार की सुस्ती के चलते उस परियोजना पर कोई काम नहीं हो रहा है। मैं आपके माध्यम से सरकार द्वारा एक वक्तव्य देने की मांग करता हूं तथा सदन में इस महत्वपूर्ण विषय पर चर्चा करवा कर, उस परियोजना की गैस आपूर्ति की दर को भारत सरकार एक सप्ताह के भीतर निर्धारित कर, चालू करवाने में पहल करे। मैं आपसे अपील करना चाहता हूं कि आप अपने अधिकार का प्रयोग करते हुए इस महत्वपूर्ण विषय पर सदन में चर्चा कराने का कष्ट करें।
MR. SPEAKER: Thank you very much. You have raised it in a proper manner. I am directing the Government to make a statement on this matter before the House rises for the day.
THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI): Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will bring this to the notice of the hon. Minister of Power and he will adequately respond as desired by hon. Shri Mohan Singh.
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श्री मोहन रावले : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मेरी बात भी सुनी जाए। सदन में प्रधान मंत्री जी बैठे हैं। …( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Mohan Rawale, I will allow you to raise it at the appropriate time. Please cooperate now.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Nothing will go on record.
(Interruptions)*
MR. SPEAKER: I appeal to all of you, please don’t do it, please don’t destroy this institution. I will try to accommodate you if you sit down. Let us go to Question Hour now.
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* Not Recorded.
11.09 hrs
MR SPEAKER: Shri B.Mahtab,Q.No.141
SHRI B. MAHTAB : Sir, after energy, we come to speed. The National Highway Development Project Phase I, which is mainly Golden Quadrilateral, connecting four metropolitan cities, has completed 92.5 per cent as on 30th June 2006.
This was stated by a junior Minister while replying to an Unstarred Question on 26th July in reply to a question raised by Shri Scindia in this House. The same hon. Minister had replied on 25th August 2005, in Rajya Sabha, that 92 per cent length of Golden Quadrilateral is likely to be completed by the end of December 2006. In that answer, it was mentioned that except 157 kms. of length involving four terminated contracts and 84 kms. of length involving Allahabad Bye-pass, which was awarded only in 2004, the rest of Golden Quadrilateral, that is, 96 per cent is to be completed by June 2006. Now, we are in the month of August. What does this signify?
MR. SPEAKER: Please put your question.
SHRI B. MAHTAB : Sir, it was expected that by June this year there would be an increase by four per cent. By June this year, if there would be an increase by four per cent, why did it not happen?
SHRI T.R. BAALU: Sir, it is unfortunate that many of the contractors have not completed the work on time, especially, as far as Orissa is concerned for the Kolkata-Chennai road. A particular contractor, by the name Bhumi Highways, had to complete the particular stretch or work within 32 months. But even after 13 months has expired, he has completed the work of only 11.26 kms. So, NHAI has to resort to going in for termination and rebid was awarded. Even at the time of rebid, we would be able to find out that the particular successful bidder had resorted to tender fixing in the case of Government of Orissa. So, once again the Government has to go and approach the Additional Solicitor General. He has advised us to grant it only to the said contractor.
But to our surprise the Bhumi Highways, the previous contractor, went to the district court and in the district court, he got a stay. Finally, we had to run to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court stayed it and now the work has been awarded. Unfortunately, the work is to be completed only by 2008.
I want to tell my friend, Shri Mahtab, so that he can understand easily. Many of the contracts are not having the escalation clause, especially in Orissa as well as in West Bengal. So, these ticklish issues could not be solved by us. That is why I sent it to the Law Ministry and they said that they have nothing to do with it. So many things are there. But if the hon. Member wants to raise any specific issue, I can address that.
SHRI B. MAHTAB: Sir, it is reported that the overall cost of all National Highway Development Projects have increased by 30 per cent from an estimated cost of Rs.1,69,500 crore on January 13, 2005 to Rs.2,20,000 crore on January 1, 2006. It is stated that the estimated cost of Chennai-Kolkata Corridor of the Golden Quadrilateral is Rs.7,984 crore.
I would like to know very specifically, from the hon. Minister, the enhancement in real terms because of delay in completion of the project.
SHRI T.R. BAALU: Sir, it is also a reason for the delay in completion. But at the same time the cost of cement as well as the cost of steel has increased exponentially. That is the main reason for escalation, which we cannot avoid because this all depends on the market forces[Rs1] .… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: He has not got those figures; you have to calculate.
श्री अनन्त नायक : अध्यक्ष महोदय, माननीय मंत्री जी ने अपने उत्तर से पर्टिकुलरली उड़ीसा के अंदर जितनी लेंथ है, उसको दिसम्बर २००७ से लेकर नवम्बर २००८ तक का समय दिया है। मैं माननीय मंत्री जी से जानना चाहता हूं कि जैसे यहां पर दूसरी रोड्स में ९२ प्रतिशत काम पूरा हुआ है लेकिन उड़ीसा में लगभग ७० प्रतिशत से कम काम पूरा हुआ है। क्या मोनीटरिंग फंड की कुछ समस्या है जिसके कारण आप इस काम को पूरा करने के लिए एक्सटर्नल फाइनेंशियल इंस्टीटयूट या दूसरे बैंक से आप फंड लेकर प्राइवेट पार्टसिपेशन से इसे पूरा कराने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं ? कृपया बताइए।
SHRI T.R. BAALU: We do encourage the private participation. At the same time, no work is pending or delayed for paucity of funds. For the information of the hon. House, I would like to say that in the previous regime it was decided to complete the entire Golden Quadrilateral by December 2003 but, unfortunately, it could not be carried out. They have completed only 48 per cent till May 2004, till the UPA took over. Within two years, we have completed 44 per cent. You can understand how NDA versus UPA is running.
चौधरी लाल सिंह : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं आपके माध्यम से माननीय मंत्री जी से जानना चाहता हूं कि जो प्रोग्रेस इन्होंने बताई है कि कहीं बहुत बढि़या है और कहीं बिल्कुल निल है। मैं एक एग्जामपल कोट करके बताना चाहूंगा।…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Are you interested in the road from Kolkata to Chennai?
चौधरी लाल सिंह : सर, आप देखें कि कैसे जुड़ रही हैं। आप सुनेंगे तभी बात होगी। सर, आप सुन तो लीजिए। मैं कह रहा हूं कि चेन्नई…( व्यवधान) आप कन्याकुमारी से कश्मीर तक बात करते हैं, आप चेन्नई से कलकत्ता की बात करते हैं। मैं यह कहना चाहता हूं कि कुछ रोड्स जो इनके एन.एच. में हैं, तीन वर्ष हो गये हैं, उनमें खढ़्डे पड़े हुए हैं, वहां ब्रिजों का काम शुरु करके छोड़ा हुआ है, सड़कें डैमेज करके रखी हुई हैं, ‘ग्रेफ’ एन.एच. का काम कर रही है।…( व्यवधान) मैं जानना चाहता हूं कि उन लोगों का क्या कसूर है जो जम्मू में बड़ीभ्रामरा से लेकर जम्मू तक १५ कि.मी. तक का जो टोटल मार्ग है, उसकी हालत इतनी खस्ता है और लगातार तीन साल से ऐसी ही पड़ी हुई है। मैं जानना चाहता हूं कि उसके लिए आप क्या करने का विचार कर रहे हैं? …( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Minister, do not reply it.
Shri Sunil Kumar Mahato.
श्री सुनिल कुमार महतो : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं माननीय मंत्री जी से जानना चाहता हूं कि देश के राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग को गलियारी से जोड़ने के लिए झारखंड का कितना मार्ग राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग में प्रस्तावित है और आज की तारीख में उसकी वर्तमान स्थिति क्या है?
SHRI T.R. BAALU: We are discussing about Golden Quadrilateral; we are not discussing particularly about the National Highways.
MR. SPEAKER: This is the problem. Please restrict yourself.
… (Interruptions)
श्री सुनिल कुमार महतो : सर, हमने यह कहा कि झारखंड का कौन-कौन सा हिस्सा इसमें जुड़ रहा है ?…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: This is not right; this is not the way.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI T.R. BAALU: As far as Golden Quadrilateral is concerned, in Jharkhand, you have got 192 kilometres.
SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR : In order to lessen the burden of traffic on East-South corridor, the Government of India has sanctioned National Highway-202 to connect Hyderabad to the eastern part of the country. About a decade back, the road from Hyderabad up to Etoor Nagaram in Warangal district, and from other side of the river Godavari were laid. But for not having a bridge on river Godavari, that is a missing link between two regions, that is Dandakarayana in Chhattisgarh and the major part of Andhra Pradesh, that is Telangana Region. If this bridge is laid, the connectivity will be there.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it on this road?
SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR : It is on this road. I would like to know from the hon. Minister by what time that bridge is proposed to be laid.[r2]
SHRI T.R. BAALU: Sir, I do not think that this particular road crosses this Golden Quadrilateral.
MR. SPEAKER: This is the problem.
Now, Raghunath Jha.
श्री रघुनाथ झा : माननीय अध्यक्ष महोदय, देश में गोल्डन क्वाडि्रलेट्रल के तहत जितनी सड़कें बन रही हैं, उसमें बिहार से होकर भी सड़कें जाती हैं। मैं जानना चाहता हूं कि क्या मंत्री जी ने कभी अपने स्तर पर इसकी समीक्षा की है कि वहां सड़कों की क्या हालत है और किस प्रोग्रैस से काम चल रहा है? हम देख रहे हैं कि बिहार में बहुत धीमी गति से काम चल रहा है और उसके कारण इनकी लागत भी बढ़ रही है। माननीय मंत्री जी इसमें क्या सुधार करना चाहेंगे और अपने स्तर पर क्या कोई समीक्षा करेंगे तथा हमको भी अपनी बात कहने के लिए मौका देंगे? …( व्यवधान)
SHRI T.R. BAALU: Sir, I had taken a meeting with the hon. Members from Bihar only a year back. If anything on this particular issue is brought to my notice, I will once again take a meeting of all the hon. Members from Bihar within this Session.
MR. SPEAKER: He has given here the details, particulars and every information.
Now, Shri Chandra Bhushan Singh.
श्री चन्द्रभूषण सिंह : माननीय अध्यक्ष महोदय, जो भी नेशनल हाईवे बन रहे हैं, क्या उनकी गुणवत्ता को चैक करने के लिए कोई समति बनी है जो उनकी गुणवत्ता की जांच करके सरकार को रिपोर्ट देती हो? मैं एन.एच. ९१ और ९२ की बात कर रहा हूं। वहां जो सड़क पिछले साल बनी थी, अब वह चलने काबिल नहीं रह गई है। …( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Is it on this road?
SHRI CHANDRA BHUSHAN SINGH : This is not on this particular road but I am asking a question regarding the quality of the road. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: No, I would not allow. Please do not misuse the time of this House.
Now, Shri Rupchand Pal.
SHRI RUPCHAND PAL : Sir, in the recent C&AG Report submitted on the Table of the House, certain critical observations have been made. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Only one supplementary on this road has been put and all the other supplementaries are outside.
SHRI RUPCHAND PAL : Sir, with regard to this particular Ministry, Quadrilateral and on this particular road, it has been critically observed in the C&AG Report that there are certain gross irregularities including discretionary advance, lack of transparency in the matter of tender, deficiencies in the grant of contract, and also serious malpractice and undue favour. What is the reaction of the Government to those?
SHRI T.R. BAALU: Sir, with due respect to C&AG, I can only say that nobody could verify the quality after laying the roads. I think, it may be the correct answer. Without casting aspersion on the audit of the C&AG, I would like to say that at the time of laying the roads, specifications and other things could be checked, and after laying the roads, nobody could do that, only depth can be checked. After the stabilization of the road, nobody could find it out. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Now, we take up the next Question – a very important Question.
Q. No. 142 – Shri J. M. Aaron Rashid[lh3] .