FRIDAY, THE 24TH AUGUST, 2007
(The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11-00 a.m.)
11-00 a.m.
1. Starred Questions
The following Starred Questions were orally answered:- Starred Question No.181 regarding Deep sea fishery. Starred Question No.182 regarding Revival of MFL.
Starred Question No.184 regarding New rail lines in Himachal Pradesh.
(The House adjourned at 11-46 a.m. and re-assembled at 11-52 a.m.)
11-52 a.m.
Starred Question No.186 regarding Petroleum, chemicals and Petro-chemical
Investment Region.
Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos. 183, 185 and 187 to 200 were laid on the Table.
2. Unstarred Questions
Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 1364 to 1518 were laid on the Table. 12-00 Noon.
3. Papers Laid on the Table
Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution) on behalf of Shri Sharad Pawar 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 2006-2007.
(b) Annual Accounts of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, for the year 2005-2006, and the Audit Report thereon. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at
24 AUGUST, 2007
Shri Mahavir Prasad (Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) laid on
the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries, under section 28 of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956:—
(1)G.S.R. 1376 (E), dated the 29th August, 2006, nominating the Joint
Secretary, Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries, handling work relating to Khadi and Village Industries Commission in the Ministry to attend the meetings of the Commission.
(2)G.S.R. 549 (E), dated the 12th September, 2006, publishing the Khadi and
Village Industries Commission Employees (Classification, Control and Appeal) Amendment Regulations, 2006.
(3) G.S.R. 728 (E), dated the 30th November, 2006, publishing the Khadi
and Village Industries Commission (Amendment) Rules, 2006.
(4)G.S.R. 91 (E), dated the 19th February, 2007, publishing the Khadi and
Village Industries Commission Employees (Classification, Control and Appeal) Amendment Regulations, 2007.
(5) G.S.R. 306 (E), dated the 1st March, 2007,constituting the National
Khadi and Village Industries Board consisting of a Chairman and fifty other members.
Shri B.K. Handique (Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals &
Fertilizers and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs) laid on the Table:-
I. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of sub-section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:—
(i) (a)Twenty-eighth Annual Report and Accounts of the Rashtriya Chemicals
and Fertilizers Limited (RCF), Mumbai, for the year 2005-2006, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.
(ii)(a) Thirty-second Annual Report and Accounts of the National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), New Delhi, for the year 2005-2006, 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) Sixty-second Annual Report and Accounts of the Fertilizer and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), Cochin, for the year 2005-2006, 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:—
(i)(a) Twenty-sixth Annual Report and Accounts of the Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), New Delhi, for the year 2005-2006, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.
(b)Review by Government on the working of the above Company.
(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 Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers) and the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF), for the year 2007-2008. (iii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India
(Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers) and the Madras Fertilizers Limited (MFL), for the year 2007-2008.
(iv) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals) and the Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL), for the year 2007-2008.
24 AUGUST, 2007
(v) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals) and the Hindustan Organic Chemicals Limited (HOCL), for the year 2007-2008.
(vi) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers) and the Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), for the year 2007-2008.
(vii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry
of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers) and the FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals India Limited (FAGMIL), for the year 2007-2008. (viii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry
of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers) and the Projects and Development India Limited (PDIL), for the year 2007-2008.
(ix) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers) and the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL), for the year 2007-2008.
(x) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India
(Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers) and the National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), for the year 2007-2008.
Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss (Minister of Health & Family Welfare) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—
(a) Annual Reports and Accounts of the Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (National Population Stabilisation Fund), New Delhi, for the years 2003-2004, 2004-2005 and 2004-2005-2006, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.
(b) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at
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 Notifications of the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), under section 199 of the Railway Act, 1989:-
(1)G.S.R. 429 (E) dated the 15th June, 2007, publishing the Indian Railways
(permission for operators to move container trains on Indian Railways) Rules, 2007.
(2)G.S.R. 114 (E) dated the 23rd June, 2007, publishing the Railway
Protection Force (Amendment) Rules, 2007.
(3) G.S.R. 527 (E) dated the 2nd August, 2007, publishing the Railway
Protection Force (Amendment) Rules, 2007
Shri B.K. Handique (Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers
and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs) on behalf of Shri Kantilal Bhuria laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (4) of section 30 of the Central Agricultural University Act, 1992:—
(a)Annual Accounts of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur,
for the year 1998-1999, and the Audit Report thereon.
(b)Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at
(a) above.
Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution) laid on the Table:-
I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution), under sub-section (6) of section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955:-
(1) G.S.R.401 (E)/Ess.Com. Sugarcane, dated the 30th May, 2007,
corrigendum to the Notification G.S.R 112 (E)/Ess. Com./Sugarcane dated
12th February, 2004, correcting Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) of NCS
Sugars Ltd.
(2) G.S.R. 402 (E)/Ess. Com. Sugarcane, dated the 30th May, 2007, notifying
24 AUGUST, 2007
(3) G.S.R. 403 (E)/Ess. Com. Sugarcane, dated the 30th May, 2007, notifying
factory-wise SMP of sugarcane for the year 2005-06.
(4) G.S.R. 404 (E)/Ess. Com. Sugarcane, dated the 30th May, 2007, notifying
factory-wise SMP of sugarcane for the year 2006-07.
(5) S.O. 1310 (E) dated the 31st July, 2007, obtaining export release order
with effect from the 31st July, 2007, and 2007-08 sugar seasons, that is,
upto the 30th September, 2008 or till further orders, whichever is earlier,
except for export to member countries of European Union and United States.
II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution) Notification No. EP 36 (2)/99, dated the 15th May, 2007, publishing the Food Corporation of India (Staff)
(1st Amendment) Regulations, 2007, under sub- section (5) of section 45 of the Food
Corporations Act, 1964.
III. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Department of Food and Public Distribution) and the Central Warehousing Corporation, for the year 2007-2008.
Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance) laid on
the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports, under clause (1) of article 151 of the Constitution:-
(i) Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 2006 (No. 14 of 2007) Union Government (Civil)- Performance
Audit of Educational Development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs);
(ii)Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 2006 (No. 19 of 2007) Union Government (Civil)- Performance
Audit of Procurement of Stores and Machinery in Ordnance Factories – (Ministry of Defence); and
RAJYA SABHA
(iii)Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 2006 (No.21 of 2007) Union Government (Civil)- Performance
Audit of Functioning of Commercial Wings in the Indian Missions/Posts abroad – (Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Commerce). 12-02 p.m.
4. Reports of the Committee of Privileges
Shri R.K. Dhawan presented the following Reports (in English and Hindi) of the Committee of Privileges:
by the police on Shri Munavvar Hassan, the then Member, Rajya Sabha and Prof. Ram Deo Bhandary, Member, Rajya Sabha;
(ii) Forty-ninth Report on a matter of privilege against the General Secretary, Vishwa Hindiu Parishad for alleged derogatory remarks against Members of Parliament; and
(iii) Fiftieth Report on matters of privilege against the Star News TV Channel relating to the ‘Operation Chakravyuh’
12-03 p.m.
5. Reports of the Public Accounts Committee
Shri Janardhana Poojary laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports of the Public Accounts Committee (2007-2008):-
(i) Fifty-first Report on “Property Management by Ministry of External Affairs”; and
(ii) Fifty-fourth Report on “Excesses over Voted Grants and Charged
24 AUGUST, 2007 12-04 p.m.
6. Recommendations of the Business Advisory Committee
The Deputy Chairman informed the House that the Business Advisory Committee at its meeting held on Thursday, the 23rd August, 2007, allocated time as follows for
Government Legislative Business:-
BUSINESS TIME ALLOTED
(1) Consideration and passing of the Apprentices
(Amendment) Bill, 2006 2 Hours
(2) Consideration and return of the Appropriation
(Railways) No.3 Bill, 2007, after it has been passed by Lok Sabha.
3 Hours
(3) Consideration and passing of the Cigarettes and
Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of
Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and
Commerce Production, Supply and Distribution) Bill, 2007, after it has been passed by Lok Sabha.
1 Hour
The Committee has recommended that the sitting of the Rajya Sabha fixed for Monday, the 27th August, 2007, may be cancelled.
12-05 p.m.
7. Statement by Minister
Shrimati Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of State of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following statements regarding:—
(1) status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Hundred and fifty-third Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development; and
(2) status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Hundred and seventieth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development.
RAJYA SABHA 12-06 p.m.
8. Statement regarding Government Business
Shri Suresh Pachouri, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, made a statement regarding Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during
the week commencing Wednesday, the 29th August, 2007.
12-07 p.m.
9. Government Bill — Returned
The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2007, as passed by Lok Sabha. Shri P. Chidambaram (Minister of Finance) moved:-
from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2007-2008, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration."
The following Members took part in the discussion:—
12-08 p.m. 1. Shri Ramdas Agarwal**
12-30 p.m. 2. Shri Santosh Bagrodia
12-52 p.m. 3. Dr. K. Malaisamy
(The House adjourned at 1-03 p.m. and re-assembled at 2-30 p.m.)
2-30 p.m. 4. Shri Brij Bhushan Tiwari**
2-42 p.m. 5. Shri Moinul Hassan
2-53 p.m. 6. Shri C. Ramachandraiah
3-03 p.m. 7. Shri Arjun Kumar Sengupta
3-17 p.m. 8. Shri D. Raja
3-28 p.m. 9. Shri Harendra Singh Malik**
3-39 p.m.
Shri P. Chidambaram replied to the debate. 4-08 p.m.
The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses 2, 3 and the Schedule were adopted.
Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted.
_______________________________________________________________** Spoke in Hindi
24TH AUGUST, 2007
4-09 p.m.
The motion moved by Shri P. Chidambaram that the Bill be returned was adopted and the Bill was returned.
4-10 p.m.
10. Private Members’ Bills — Introduced
4-10 p.m.
(1) The Citizens Affected by Cyclone, Super Cyclone or Tsunami in Coastal Areas (Compensation, Rehabilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shri B.J. Panda.
4-11 p.m.
(2) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 (Insertion of new article 50A) was introduced by Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik.
(3) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 (Amendment of the Seventh
Schedule) was introduced by Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik.
(4) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 (Amendment of the Tenth Schedule) was introduced by Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik.
4-12 p.m.
(5) The Employment Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shrimati Supriya Sule. 4-13 p.m.
(6) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 (Omission of articles 127, 128, 224 and
158 and substitution of new article for article 157) was introduced by Shri Rajeev
Chandrasekhar. 4-14 p.m.
(8) The Supreme Court (Establishment of a Permanent Bench at Nagpur) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shri Vijay J. Darda.
4-15 p.m.
(9) The Information Technology and Infotainment Facilities in Villages Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shri Vijay J. Darda.
RAJYA SABHA 4-16 p.m.
(10) The Divorced Women (Protection and Welfare) Bill, 2007 was
introduced by Shri Vijay J. Darda. 4-17 p.m.
(11) The Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons (Rehabilitation,
Employment and Welfare) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shri S.S. Ahluwalia.
(12) The Freedom of Childhood Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shri S.S. Ahluwalia. 4-18 p.m.
(13) The Maintenance of Uninterrupted Power Supply to Industries of
Backward States Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shri S.S. Ahluwalia. 4-19 p.m.
11. Private Member’s Bill —Under Consideration
The Compulsory Voting and Prohibition of Pre-Poll Survey and Exit Poll of Elections Bill, 2004
Shri V. Narayanasamy moved :-
"That the Bill to provide for compulsory voting by the voters in an election called for by the Election Commission and to prohibit pre-poll survey and exit poll by various agencies and on their printing, publication and telecasting through the print and electronic media so as to remove the confusion of the electorate and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto, be taken into consideration."
4-51 p.m.
Shri S.S. Ahluwalia** took part in the discussion. The discussion was not concluded.
(The House adjourned at 5-24 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Wednesday, the 29th
August, 2007)
___________
_______________________________________________________________** Spoke in Hindi.
