Author: aitc

Thank you, Sir, for this opportunity. I have only one simple and sharp question addressed to the hon. Minister. Are we heading for a food crisis? I have figures with me. Usually, we have stocks of about 25 million tonnes to 26 million tonnes of wheat at the beginning of
the year. We have around 29 million tonnes to 30 million tonnes of rice at the end of the year. Last year’s procurement was an all time record. But, in this current year and in the previous year, we have consumed a lot, thanks to the Prime Minister’s free ration scheme. The net question is that wheat has been impacted, as we know, by the heat wave and other factors. And, Sir, rice, paddy has also been badly
impacted. They have been reflected on the procurement figures. So, we are in shortage state, hon. Minister. And I would like the Government to admit it and take steps.

Sir, my first supplementary question is this.Under the Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PMMITRA) scheme, I would like to know whether the hon. Minister will specifically elaborate about the fund allotted and the project details for
Darjeeling and Kalimpong Districts. Sir, my second supplementary question is this. I would like to know whether the Textile Ministry, on its inspection, found Darjeeling or Kalimpong Districts suitable for setting up of a PMMITRA park. If yes, can the proposal still be sent by the State Government? And, what is the last date for submission of such a proposal? MR. CHAIRMAN: Now, the Minister. Please give pointed response.

Sir, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee has approved the roll out of a kind of genetically modified mustard (GM Mustard) called Dhara Mustard Hybrid 11 (DMH-11). Concerns have arisen that the hybrid has not been adequately tested and that releasing it would be detrimental to pollinators like bees. Researchers have warned that the strain is herbicide resistant and will lead to increased herbicide use resulting in more chemicals in food crops and soil. It is estimated that even a 25 per cent adoption of GM mustard would result in a loss of four crore employment days to weed removing workers, who are mostly women. Spread of sterile traits and herbicide tolerance in GM crops can benefit corporate manufacturers, but adversely affect nearby farm lands. Experts have argued that the testing procedure was not scientific and hence the claims that GM mustard has higher yields than traditional and natural agronomic cultivation methods are incorrect. Agriculture is a State subject, under Entry 14 of List II in Schedule VII. The Union Government must uphold principles of federalism when taking decisions which expose our farmers to chemicals and GMOs. Prematurely sowing GM Mustard will
have drastic consequences on India’s poor farmers, consumers, and the environment.

Sir, I rise today to request the Government to update us on the actions taken to compensate the victims of fraud and misappropriation of public money by postal staff. Across the circles, in the States and Union Territories of Punjab, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Delhi, J&K, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report has cited a misappropriation of Rs. 95.62 crores of public money between November, 2022 and September, 2021.: It is very shameful that the postal staff have made fraudulent withdrawals from closed accounts that were shown as active with fake balances. Fake accounts were opened and fake deposit entries were made. Cash deposits by customers were entered in passbooks without being credited to their post office accounts. Fake signatures and thumb impressions were facilitated by the postal staff. There were cases of unauthorized use of user ID and passwords by other postal
staff or outsiders as well, leading to the fraud withdrawals. It is a matter of irresponsibility that Department of Post’s inspecting
authorities failed to detect the fraud even after a lapse of more than five years. They did not carry out prescribed internal checks and were marred with monitoring failures. As we know, the post office system was created to serve the investment needs of urban and rural clients through numerous schemes such as savings bank, recurring deposits, Kisan Vikas Patras, Public Provident Fund and Suknya Samriddhi accounts. These have turned into unreliable systems of corruptions and deceit. Thank you.

Sir, each year the district of Malda in West Bengal is severely impacted by the erosion of the Ganga river. Since 2017, nearly 320 acres of land and ten kilometres of the river have been lost to these erosions. Sir, 2,000 families have been stranded due to the destruction, of which 400 were stranded in this year alone. These yearly erosions have impacted 23,000 people in the last five years while damaging infrastructure worth Rs. 250 crore. The damaged infrastructure includes important public and private properties such as citizens’ houses,
temples, mosques, schools, orchards, markets as well as newlyconstructed roads to the villages. In February, 2022, hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee had written to the Ministry of Water Resources, requesting them to restore the extended 120 kilometre jurisdiction of the Farakka Barrage Protection Authority. The Farakka Barrage is the only barrier capable of limiting the damage caused by the Ganga’s siltation and the aforementioned jurisdiction would help administrations in taking up urgent bank protection
schemes in the whole stretch. However, to this day, no action has been taken, causing the destruction to continue. I request the Minister to take urgent cognisance of the matter and ensure that public life and property are not ruined further.

Mr. Vice-Chairman, Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to place across the views of my party. We are not against any measure to conserve energy. We are completely with everyone in the nation for the conservation of energy. But as far as this particular Bill is concerned, it was placed to us in a hurry and we had submitted that it be sent to a select committee. We were procedurally debarred but I would still submit that we need a re-examination. I will explain as I move along. You need to re-examine the law. The intention is certainly good. The driving forces are also good. But the law as it stands today is full of defects. It empowers the bureaucracy at a wrong level. Both
Mr. Minister and I have been in the Service and we know how bad certain levels of bureaucracy can be. But if you give over handlebars to them, they would obviously misuse. That is why we said, do not rush it. Take a little time. Send it to a Select Committee. Go through the implications of what you are saying. Let your good intentions be re-examined and we can proceed thereafter. But any case, we can go on with any one of the issues that you may feel. First of all, your emphasis is on non-fossil fuel. Of course, we agree. Everyone agrees on non-fossil fuel but where are the non-fossil fuels? Green hydrogen is one of the greatest gimmicks that I have been hearing for the last few years. Where is the green hydrogen in abundant supply? Where is green ammonia in abundant supply? About biomass, we all took
part in biomass campaign of gobar gas but anyway. About ethanol, I know that we have a need for going over to non-fossil fuels but the need has to be accompanied by adequate capacities. Otherwise, we would take the car in the wrong direction. On carbon credit, of course, it is a commendable move. But, on carbon credit, we are babies in the market. The world has gone over the carbon credit market and several studies have revealed the malpractices of it. Now, hon. Members have heard of this carbon credit market. Do you know what it is? In very simple terms, examination is held. Somebody gets 110. He can sell the 10 off to somebody who got 20. So, he can then add 10
to his 20 and he can pass the exam. सीधी बात! Do you understand? So, I would submit to the hon. Chairman that carbon credit is a well-intentioned move and is inevitable. It is desirable to a large extent but where is the examination or the studies of the misuse of carbon credit? I have explained to you in very broad intention that if the good student gets 110 and the bad student gets 20, he can take 10 from him, add to him and pass. There are safeguards that have to be put in. We cannot accept it in its present form because most of it has been left to the bureaucracy to work out in the form of rules. Nothing has really been spelt out here in terms of actual legal provision. They have all been left to rule-making powers. We have this provision of Energy Conservation Building Code. Again, t is a commendable idea, but then where is the social equity? When you talk of 100 Kilowatts, look at who is contributing to it. Where is the difference between an LIG, Low Income Group building, the cluster, and an HIG? We have to go in for differentiation. I would submit that if possible, if there is any possibility of getting cross subsidy, within the thing — by the idea of cross subsidy I mean within the housing code — please think of it. About the bureau, again, you are increasing their powers. I am not so much bothered about the senior officials of the bureau. I am more bothered about the instructions that go from there and the scope of misuse. You know, the building markets all over India are supposed to be, क्या कहते हैं, लोग कहते हैंदो नम्बरी। There is something attached to the building market. I can’t explain it anymore. You are now introducing one more player into the building market. So, these are the points on which we had sought for reconsideration and I would still submit that with your kindness, if you can send it for reconsideration, we can come to the same Bill in the next Session with the wisdom of the parties put in. I mean when we work in the Committees, we do not work as a party. We work as parliamentarians.
The State Electricity Regulatory Commissions are being assigned certain duties. I would still submit to get into a little more detail to see
whether the State Electricity Commissions need to be assisted to reach that capacity of exercising the powers under the Act.We are thankful that in one case, there is some amount of attention on the State. But, Sir, we have to look at the picture in a little broader light. We are talking of energy conservation here; we are talking of environment here; we are talking of saving the environment
and right now, the same Government has given order for slaughtering 130 sq. Kms. of the great Nicobar Islands. The wildlife and the biodiversity there, the flora and fauna are ir-replaceable. But, they are allowing concrete boulders and concrete constructions to take place. We cannot have so much of dichotomy. On the one hand, you come and introduce a Bill saying that we are dying because of the environment and on the other hand, you take active steps to destroy the ecologically fragile region of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. I have a feeling, I may be wrong, I may be right that there is an excess of renewable energy in certain parts of India, and they need to be
transferred through compulsive methods so that they are sold. I am told that renewable energy is facing problems of both supply and further extension because the grids are in a terrible condition. The Ladakh Project of solar energy had to be abandoned because the grid position is very poor. Mr. Chairman, Sir, with your kind permission, I reiterate that renewable energy, as such, needs to be looked into afresh. The area of renewable energy and its production and distribution need to be looked in afresh and not be rushed through. Mr. Minister, you have taken commendable steps in that direction. But, I will still submit that it is not a question of individual effort, it is a question of the system functioning. You are aware more than me as to what are the difficulties of the renewable energy. I have been given
to understand that in certain areas where renewable energy production has reached such a stage that DISCOMS don’t pick it up. But, under your compulsion, DISCOMS will have to pick up. Pick up and take it where? You have the compulsive power. The additional compounded problem is that DISCOMS don’t pay the renewable energy producers because they don’t get their own payment. It is all a very complex thing and you are handling one of the most difficult subjects in India. I appreciate it. But, the fact is that we had been pleading and we still continue to say that let us go through the provisions, and there is no point in rushing a national task over a few
minutes of debate. We have spoken about the buildings, LIG and HIG. I don’t know whether I have time to get into the provisions but I will mention just a couple of provisions. I was getting through Section 4 which is basically about the leadership part, the Governing Council. We can’t quarrel with the Government about as to how many people you are going to fit in but at one place, instead of 25 or 26, you are taking it up to 31. Now, a committee of 31 hardly functions. A committee of 31 people means 31 people will come with 60 to 64 people and all they will do is to waste hours and keep minutes. That is all. They will waste hours and keep minutes. Let us get in for more practical methods, a steering committee to move things around. You have the powers of the Central Government. You have not
spelt out Section 13 in very great details. The sparse wordings makes me a little uncomfortable, a little uncomfortable over Section 13. It should not be another place where federalism is tilted and the Central Government is given over-riding powers over the State Government. We need to examine them. I am not telling you to throw the baby with the bathwater. We are saying that let us save both the situations and let us go in for a re-examination of the Bill. You have put in clauses like the haveldari clauses about banning of
sale of deceptive instruments about those who don’t conform to standards. (Time-bell rings.) Again, very commendable intentions. But once you leave it to the inspectorate, God help all of us. These are the reasons for which I submit, your honour, that we need to re-examine the Bill. It is full of good intentions. There are certain very good sections, but there are sections that scare us. That scare me as a citizen of India, that scare me as somebody, who has worked in the bureaucracy for 40 years because we have seen how the things function;
how the best of intentions are hijacked into oppressions, harassment and corruption. Please don’t bring a good intention to such a pass. Thank you, Sir,

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Sir. Today, my party has given me an opportunity to speak on a very important Bill, that is, the Wild Life Protection (Amendment) Bill. And, I have to say that it is my privilege to speak before you for the second time within a span of very few days. Sir, I was listening to my learned colleagues and very valuable suggestions have been put forth.And, it is extremely significant for me
because I come from the State of Assam, however elected by my Leader, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, from West Bengal. I come from a region where forests, flora and fauna form a very integral part of our economy, of our livelihoods and of our society. As you know, Sir, the North-Eastern Region constitutes just 7.98 per cent of the geographical area of the country but it accounts for nearly one fourth of its forest cover. So, this Bill is, particularly, very close to my heart. But, I will start by saying that this is one such Bill where one cannot concentrate just on the sections or clauses that have been amended in the Principal Act, but, actually, the thrust of this Bill is in the number of Schedules that have been included. उस िदन आप एक्सपट�ज़ के बारेमेंबोल रहेथे। कु छ िबल्स ऐसेहोतेहैं, िजनके िलए एक्सपट�ज़ की बहुत ज�रत
होती है। यह वैसा ही एक िबल है। I applaud the Members of the Standing Committee because I feel that they have done a thorough job. They have heard a number of activists, environmentalists, experts and, then, given their suggestions on this Bill. We are well aware that as a nation, we are amongst the 184 countries that have signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 1975. If I am not wrong, we signed it and ratified it some time in 1976. This Bill is absolutely necessary to bring our current laws in line with our international obligations under that treaty. Having said that, I would like to say it was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2021. The Standing Committee went through a very thorough discussion. Then, it was passed in the Lok Sabha, and, now, it is before us for consideration again. If I may say so, this Bill is a prime example of how a Standing Committee can act as a watchdog of the nation. Today, all the Members of the House, whether they are in the Treasury Benches or in the Opposition Benches, we must all
come together in agreeing that it will be a disservice to the nation if the number of Bills that go to the Standing Committee drops from 60 per cent to 13 per cent. Sir, today, I am a Member of Parliament but I do not have every expertise. So, it is an opportunity for me to read the Standing Committee Report and learn from it. Here, I would like to say िक हम कानून िकसके िलए बनातेहैं? हम एक साधारण इंसान के िलए कानून बनातेहैं, िजस पर यह कानून लागूहोता है। हमारा यह क�र्व्य है, as law-makers, it is our duty to simplify the law. Our hon. Minister is very learned. I have sat in the Environmental Standing Committee with him and learnt a lot from him. लेिकन हर इंसान के पास उसको समझनेकी ताकत नहीं होती। As regards the way this Bill has been amended, the Standing Committee has repeatedly said that it has become a very cumbersome Bill. The question that many people in this arena have raised is: What is the reason that this was not made a part of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the amendment for which is also pending in the 2021 Bill before the Joint Committee? अगर बायोलॉिजकल
डायव�सटी एक्ट के माध्यम सेइस अमेंडमेंट को लाया जाता, तो मेरा यह मानना हैिक it would have been far more streamlined. My learned colleague, Mr. Sinha, spoke a lot about biological diversity, which only bolsters my point that inserting it in the Biological Diversity Act would have been a better drafting strategy. No one can oppose this Bill, Sir. No one can oppose this Bill because we all agree on sustainable exploitation of our flora and fauna. And, it is a reality that the kind of international trade that takes place of plants and wildlife specimen runs into billions of dollars. It is a huge area for legislation. It was much required. So, I do not oppose that but I would also like to say that this kind of exploitation also leads to a massive threat.Therefore, to implement CITES was extremely important for us. Sir, one of the key amendments that has been brought is to have two authorities, one being the management authority and one being the scientific authority. Sir, these two authorities will regulate the trade of these species as well as they will ensure that the level of the trade doesn’t go to such an extent that it becomes detrimental to any species. Sir, this is important. I don’t deny it because our Sustainable Development Goals
No. 15 is also very important to us when it comes to wildlife. But I do feel, Sir, that in the composition of these two authorities, one must remember that this is a subject that is in the Concurrent List, and, therefore, the States must have a significant say in how it is implemented. So, these two authorities, how they will be set up, who will run it, which set up of officers will be there, must take into accounts our strong principles of federalism and help the States. They should be able to constructively engage at the level of these authorities. Sir, I am pained to say that many Members, not just me, have repeatedly raised the concern about the way Section 43 has been amended. Section 43 of the principal Act has been amended, which is the 1972 Act, and this is not a concern of Parliamentarians or Members of the Standing Committee but this is a concern of people who have been fighting for decades for the protection of captive animals like the elephants. Sir, if I may say so, हमनेदेखा था, एक ज़माना था, जब राजा-महाराजा हाथी पर चढ़ कर यु� करनेजातेथे। मुझेबचपन के वेिदन याद हैं, जब हम िरप�ब्लक डे परेड मेंदेखतेथेिक साहसी बच्चों को हािथयों पर बैठा कर परेड मेंलेजातेथे, पर, इस देश मेंहम उन कानूनों या िरचुअल्स मेंपिरवतर्न लेकर आए। हम यह क्यों लेकर आए? हम उस पशुके िहत मेंयह पिरवतर्न लेकर आए, िजसको जंगल मेंहोना चािहए, लेिकन वह हमारेबीच मेंहै, उसमेंहमारा थोड़ा स्वाथर् है। So, whether all of us, Parliamentarians, realize that a wild elephant in this country comes under ‘captive animals’. हमनेिरप�ब्लक डेपरेड मेंभी हाथी को यूज़ करना बंद कर िदया। It has been declared as a heritage animal. Mr. Jairam Ramesh, I think, was, at that time, the Minister. यह सरकार जो क्लॉज़ 27 लेकर आई है, it is a direct contravention of the earlier Section 43. I am sure, the hon. Minister is very
learned, he will explain himself. सरकार स्टैंिंडग कमेटी की िसफािरश के िबल्कु ल िवपरीत अमेंडमेंट लेकर आई है, जो लोक सभा मेंपास होकर राज्य सभा मेंआया है।The original Act says, you cannot transport or transfer any captive animal for consideration. So, what are the exceptions? It is like if you move an animal from one zoo to the other, no one can say anything; and the moment you move them, you have to inform the Chief Wildlife Warden within 30 days. सर, सरकार इस सेक्शन को बदल कर जो संशोधन लेकर आई, उसमेंिलख िदया िक लाइव एिलफें ट्स के जो ओनर हैं, िजनके पास स�टिफके ट है, they can transfer and transport with the permission of the State Government on fulfillment of such
conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government. Huge discretion, Sir. इसमेंपरपज़ तक नहीं िलखा। The Standing Committee made a very practical suggestion. We realize the ground realities of this nation, and elephants form a part of our rituals. So, I plead with the hon. Minister िक आपनेजो ‘ऐनी अदर परपज़’ करके इसको और भी �ॉड कर िदया, उसकी वजह से प�ब्लक डोमेन मेंएक डर है। सर, आप उस डर की वजह समझतेहैं। सर, चूँिक मेरा समय समाप्त होनेवाला है, इसिलए मैंएक महत्वपूणर्तथ्य बता कर अपनी बात समाप्त क�ँगी। I want the hon. Minister to tell the Parliament the reason why this Government did not vote against the motion where international trade for ivory was due to be started. That motion was defeated, but this Government abstained from voting. So, ‘any other purpose’ और उसके बीच मेंकोई संबंध तो नहीं है,सर? शायद यह पूछना लोकतं� में मेरा हक है। आपका बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद, पाट� का बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद।