PMO statement on social media

The Prime Minister's Office had requested Twitter to take appropriate action against 6 persons impersonating the PMO. When they did not reply for a long time the Government Cyber Security Cell was requested to initiate action. Twitter has now conveyed to us that action has been taken stating "we have removed the reported profiles from circulation due to violation of our Terms of Service regarding impersonation."

Radiation Levels in Surrounding Areas of Nuclear Plants

The radiation levels in the areas surrounding the nuclear plants in the country were minuscule, compared to the upper limits prescribed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).

AERB has stipulated an additional dose upto 1000 micro-Sievert per year for public over natural background radiation in the vicinity of nuclear power plant. The actual dose established, based on monitoring of environmental matrices like air, water, soil, vegetation, crops, fish, meat etc. over several decades is in the range of 1 to 25 micro-Sievert per year. Independent Environmental Survey Laboratories (ESL), under the administrative control of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) are set up at each site. The ESL monitors environmental matrices all around upto 30 km of the site for radioactivity, even prior to setting up and also after the operation of the nuclear power reactors. Reports of such monitoring are submitted to AERB. The data obtained from ESL, over several decades, has shown that there is no significant increase in radioactivity and radiation level over the background levels prevalent before the operation of the reactors.

There will be no compromise on the safety of atomic plants and it will be harmful to close the additional source of energy. Safety is accorded utmost priority in all phases of nuclear plant, encompassing siting, design, construction, commissioning and operation. There is a robust regulatory mechanism in place. India’s energy resources are limited and the energy demand is huge and rapidly growing. Given India’s energy resource profile the integrated energy policy envisages optimal deployment of all energy sources including nuclear power.

The above information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Narayanasamy in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha

Funds for Modernization of Railways

Safety and modernisation related upgradation is a continuous process in Indian Railways and depends on traffic movement and accordingly funds are arranged. As on April 1, 2012 the funds required for New Lines are Rs. 89792 crore, for Doubling Rs. 38736 crore and Railway Electrification Rs. 6241 crore with respect to sanctioned works.

Funds for investment on these works are mobilized through internal resource generation, Gross Budgetary Support, market borrowings and through extra budgetary resources including Public Private Partnership.

The areas that have been identified for Public-Private Partnership in the Twelfth Five Year Plan are Logistic Parks, Private Freight Terminal and Freight Schemes, Captive Power, Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation, Loco & Coach Manufacturing Units, Station Development, High Speed (Mumbai-Ahmedabad) Corridor, Elevated Corridor (Church Gate-Virar), Dedicated Freight Corridor (Sonnagar-Dankuni), Port Connectivity Projects and connectivity required for coal & iron-ore mines.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri K. H. Muniyappa in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha

Onboard Housekeeping Services in Running Trains

On Board House Keeping Services (OBHS) has been planned to be implemented in all Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto and other important long distance Mail/Express trains for frequent cleaning of coach toilets, doorways, aisles and passenger compartments during the run of the trains. The scheme has so far been implemented in around 300 trains. Other important trains as identified by Zonal Railways are also planned for provision of OBHS.

OBHS facility can be provided on those trains satisfying laid down parameters such as journey time/period, coach type etc. identification of trains for provision of OBHS scheme, as per requirements, is an ongoing process. Cost of provision of OBHS may vary from train to train and depends upon the number and type of coaches, journey time/period etc.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri K. H. Muniyappa in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha

Infrastructure for Panchayats

The Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo has said that availability of buildings and infrastructure is important for effective functioning of Panchayats. Panchayati Raj being a State subject, the primary responsibility to provide the required infrastructure, including buildings to Panchayats vests with States Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations. In order to supplement the efforts of the States and UTs, for improving Panchayat infrastructure, which is needed to facilitate their functioning, financial assistance is provided for the construction of Gram Panchayat (GP) buildings under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY) of Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) for districts not covered under Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF). Assistance is also provided in the form of an untied grant to Panchayats through the States in 250 identified districts under BRGF to bridge critical gaps in local infrastructure and other development requirements. Construction of GP buildings is a permissible activity under BRGF. In addition, construction of Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra (BNRGSK) as Village Knowledge Resource Centre and Gram Panchayat Bhawan at Gram Panchayat level are permissible activities under Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) being implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development. Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha

Repository for Storming Nuclear Waste

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has a plan to build a repository in the depth range of 500-1000m for disposal of vitrified high level waste in future. The need of such repository would arise only after 40-50 years. This is because the inventory of radioactive waste generated is small for the current nuclear power programme of the country for which the present interim storage facilities are felt adequate.

A proposal to construct an Underground Research Laboratory (URL) is included in the current Five Year Plan to develop the required indigenous technology, needed for building the repository.

The proposed laboratory is of generic nature. The laboratory would comprise of experimental tunnels, rooms/chambers at depth and would be exclusively used for non-radioactive experiments and applications that would form a scientific basis for the construction of a deep underground repository in future. Such laboratories are also used for development of methodology and technology related to emplacement of solidified waste in the repository.

The above information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Narayanasamy in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha

Repository for Storming Nuclear Waste

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has a plan to build a repository in the depth range of 500-1000m for disposal of vitrified high level waste in future. The need of such repository would arise only after 40-50 years. This is because the inventory of radioactive waste generated is small for the current nuclear power programme of the country for which the present interim storage facilities are felt adequate.

A proposal to construct an Underground Research Laboratory (URL) is included in the current Five Year Plan to develop the required indigenous technology, needed for building the repository.

The proposed laboratory is of generic nature. The laboratory would comprise of experimental tunnels, rooms/chambers at depth and would be exclusively used for non-radioactive experiments and applications that would form a scientific basis for the construction of a deep underground repository in future. Such laboratories are also used for development of methodology and technology related to emplacement of solidified waste in the repository.

The above information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Narayanasamy in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha

Installation of Mobile Radiation Detection System

The Central Governmnet has decided to install mobile radiation detection systems in police vehicles of selected police stations of major cities (more than 800 police stations in the country) with the technical support from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The Radiation Detection Systems installed in a mobile platform will have the capability to search and detect gamma emitting radionuclides. The mobile radiation detection vehicles are intended to help the police forces to detect any inadvertent presence of radioactivity in public domain. This system will also act as a deterrent for unauthorized usage of radioactive materials.

The above information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Narayanasamy in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha

Thorium Reserve in the Country

Exploration activities carried out by Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), has resulted in establishing 3.74 million tones of Monazite in Andhra Pradesh which contains about 3,36,600 tonnes of thorium oxide equivalent to 2,96,000 tonnes of thorium metal.

These reserves are explored and established.

Indian three stage nuclear power programme is aimed at long term energy independence including use of thorium resources in the third stage. In order to realize this goal, presently, the first stage of programme is accomplished through the nuclear reactors based on natural uranium fuel. The second stage envisages setting up of Fast Breeder Reactors. A Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is planned at Kalpakkam. The utilization of thorium would be technically possible only in the third stage. Since the country is still in the first stage of the nuclear power programme, the requirement of Thorium by 2020 is quite modest.

The above information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Narayanasamy in a written reply in the Lok Sabha .

Location of Nuclear Reactors in India

In India, nuclear power reactors are set up and operated on twin unit concept with dedicated safety and process systems, operating personnel and the management for operating these units. Each reactor has independent safety and process systems. At the same site, additional twin units module with independent safety and security of operating island are considered to reduce requirement of land for exclusion zone. This also helps in meeting the objective of minimizing the displacement of population.

The nuclear reactors planned to be set up at Jaitapur are the Evolutionary Pressurized Water Reactors (EPRs). The EPR design has been based on the proven design, safety principles and manufacturing technologies employed in “N4” reactors in France and “KONVOI” reactors in operation in Germany. N4 & KONVOI reactors are under successful and safe operation for the last many years. The EPRs planned at Jaitapur incorporate the operational feedback from “N4” & “KONVOI” reactors. Currently, EPRs are under construction in Finland, France and China which may become operational in the next 2 to 4 years. The operational experience from these reactors will also be available before the commissioning of Jaitapur nuclear power project. As regards the cost, the discussions on the techno-commercial offer of AREVA. France are focused on arriving at mutually acceptable capital cost and tariff levels.

Following the Inter-Governmental Agreement between India & France in 2008, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and AREVA, France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up Nuclear Power Reactors at Jaitapur on February 4, 2009. A General Framework Agreement (GFA) and Early Works Agreement (EWA) were signed between NPCIL and AREVA on December 6, 2010. The GFA covers installation of the initial set of 2x1650 MW EPR including scope of work, division of responsibility, design, materials, technology, services and life time fuel supplies. The EWA relates to preliminary works related to design, engineering and regulatory aspects.

The above information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Narayanasamy in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Allowing Maoist-Hit States to Acquire Helicopters

Under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, the MHA has ‘in-principle’ approved hiring of one helicopter each by the Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected States for providing air-support to Anti-naxal operations, subject to the prior approval of the MHA. The State of Maharashtra has hired one helicopter from M/s Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited for Anti-naxal operations.

This was stated by Shri Jitendra Singh, Minister of State of Home Affairs in written reply to a question by Shri Sanjay Raut in the Rajya Sabha

Citizenship to Hindus Migrated From Pakistan

The grant of Indian citizenship is a multi-level and multi-agency activity. As per rule 11 and 12 of the Citizenship Rules, 2009, an application for grant of Indian citizenship is to be submitted by the applicant to the Collector/DM/DC within whose jurisdiction the applicant is ordinarily a resident. The Collector/DM/DC after satisfying himself regarding eligibility of the applicant to become a citizen of India, forwards the application to the State Government/UT administration concerned. The State Government/UT administration in turn forwards the application, along with its recommendation, to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Thereafter, the application is processed further as per the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the rules made there under. Since initial application is submitted to the Collector/DM concerned and a number of agencies are involved in the processing of applications for grant of citizenship, no case/religion based centralized data of such applications is maintained. All cases received in the Ministry of Home Affairs are processed as expeditiously as possible. 1290 applications of Pakistani nationals were received from various State Governments/UTs for grant of Indian citizenship by registration and naturalization during last three years i.e. 2009-2011. Indian citizenship was granted to 764 Pakistan nationals during this period.

The MEA and State Governments concerned are consulted from time to time.

This was stated by Shri Mullappally Ramachandran, Minister of State of Home Affairs in written reply to a question by Sh.Bharatsinh Prabhatsinh Parmar and Sh.Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala in the Rajya Sabha

Criteria for Opening Colleges

The Central Universities are autonomous institutions governed under the provisions of their respective Acts and Statutes and Ordinances framed there under. The Statutory bodies of the Central Universities are competent to develop the criteria for starting a college, provided the respective Act permits it. Section 6 (xiii) of the Central Universities Act 2009, under which the Central University of Kerala has been established, stipulates that the University has the power to establish and maintain Colleges, Institutions and Halls. Establishment and abolition of Schools/Departments/Centres/Halls/Colleges/Institutions by the University will be governed by the Statutes.

As far as the Central University of Kerala is concerned, the University has taken possession of land for establishment of its campus only recently and its first priority would be to establish its campus before setting about establishment of colleges.

Such proposals have to be considered by the Statutory bodies of the respective University in accordance with their Statutes and the Ministry has no role to play in this regard.

This information was given by Dr. D. Purandeswari, Minister of State for Human Resource Development in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha