COMMITTEE SECTION (S&T)

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1 15. COMMITTEE SECTION (S&T) 15.1 Main Functions of the Section: The Committee Section (S&T) is entrusted with the work relating to providing secretarial assistance to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment & Forests. In terms of Rule 270 of the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in the Council of States, the Committee has the following functions, namely- (a) Consideration of the Demands for Grants of the related Ministries/Departments and report thereon; (b) Examination of Bills pertaining to the related Ministries/Departments when referred to the Committee by Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha; (c) Consideration of Annual Reports of the related Ministries/Departments and report thereon; and (d) Basic long term policy documents presented to the Houses, if referred to the Committee by the Chairman or the Speaker, as the case may be, and report thereon. Provided that the Standing Committee shall not consider the matter of day to day administration of the related Ministries/Departments The Committee has under its jurisdiction three Ministries, namely, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministry of Science and Technology(comprising of three Departments i.e. Department of Science & Technology; Department of Scientific & Industrial Research and Department of Biotechnology) and Ministry of Earth Sciences. Besides two Departments, namely, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, are also under its domain. The Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests, like all other Department related Parliamentary Standing Committees, is governed by rules 268 to 277 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States. In other respects, Rules applicable to select Committee on Bills in the Council apply mutatis mutandis to the Committee. The total number of Members of the Committee is 31 (10 Members nominated from Rajya Sabha and 21 Members nominated from Lok Sabha) Constitution of the Committee: The Committee was reconstituted w.e.f. 1 st September, 2016 under the Chairmanship of Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, M.P. Rajya Sabha for a period of one year with 10 Members from Rajya Sabha and 21 Members from Lok Sabha Reports of the Committee: The Committee presented/laid twenty-three reports during the year which includes Seven reports on Demands for Grants ( ) of the Ministries/Departments within its purview, thirteen reports on Action Taken by the Government on the observations/recommendations contained in Reports on Demands for Grants and , one report on Bill and two reports on subjects selected by the Committee. Details of the Reports of the Committee are as follows:- Sl.. Report. Subject Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the Two Hundred Fifty Sixth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Date of Presentation/laying

2 Science and Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Atomic Energy Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the Two Hundred Fifty Fifth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Space Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the Two Hundred Fifty Eighth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Science & Technology Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the Two Hundred Fifty Ninth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Biotechnology Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the Two Hundred Sixtieth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the two Hundred Fifty Seventh Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests on the Demands for grants ( ) of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Biotechnology Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Space Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Science & Technology Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Atomic Energy Demands for Grants ( ) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change Demands for Grants ( ) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences Effects of Tobacco Curing on Environment and Health Action Taken by the Government on the Recommendations contained in the Two Hundred Seventyeighth report of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Biotechnology 131

3 Action Taken by the Government on the Recommendations contained in the Two Hundred and Eighty-second Report of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Space Action Taken by the Government on the Recommendations Contained in the Two Hundred Eightieth Report of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Action Taken by the Government on the Recommendations Contained in the Two Hundred and Eighty First Report of on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Science & Technology Action Taken by the Government on the Recommendations Contained in the Two Hundred Eighty second Report of on Science and Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Department of Atomic Energy Action Taken by the Government on the Recommendations Contained in the Two Hundred Eighty-fourth Report of on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences Action Taken by the Government on the Recommendations Contained in the Two Hundred Eighty-fourth Report of on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on the Demands for Grants ( ) of the Ministry of Forest Fires and its Effect on Environment, Forests, Biodiversity and Wildlife and Remedial/ preventive Measures Selection of subjects for consideration: The Committee selected the following subjects for examination in its meeting held on 21 st September, 2016:- i. Management of Elephant Corridors. ii. Impact of Mining on the Environment. iii. Forest Fires and its effect on environment, forest, biodiversity and remedial/preventive measures. iv. Assessment of Climate Change studies in India. v. Functioning of various scientific organizations/laboratories/institutions. vi. Environmental concerns in Urban Planning in India. vii. Reforestation Status in India. viii. Bio-diversity hotspots of Western Ghats. ix. G.M. Crops and its Environmental Impacts and x. Status of technological interventions to combat adulteration in food. 132

4 15.6 Meetings of the Committee: The Committee held 27 meetings during the year 2016 spread over 57 hours and 25 minutes. The details of the meetings of the Committee are as follows: - Sl. Date Main Items of Agenda Evidence, If. any Taken To hear the Chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board on 'Safety Aspects of Nuclear Energy' and some experts on The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, To hear the representatives of National Thermal Power Corporation on 'Environmental Pollution in Delhi' and to consider and adopt the draft reports on Action Taken by the Government on the observations/recommendations of the Committee contained in its Reports on DFG ( ) of the Ministries/Departments within its purview To hear the representatives of Govt. of Maharashtra on 'The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015' and Environmental issues specific to Nagpur. To hear CMD, National Thermal Power Corporation on 'Environmental Pollution in Delhi' To hear the representatives of Govt. of Maharashtra on environmental issues specific to Nagpur. Clause-by clause consideration of 'The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015' To hear the representatives of Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space and Ministry of Earth Sciences on Demands for Grants Time devoted Hrs. Mts. 2 hrs. 0 min. 2 hrs. 5 min. 1 hrs. 59 min. 3 hrs. 59 min To hear the representatives of Department of Biotechnology and Ministry of on Demands for Grants To hear representatives of Department of Science & Technology and Department of Scientific & Industrial Research on the Demands for Grants ( ) To hear the representatives of Coal India Ltd, National Fertilizers Ltd, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, National Aluminum Company Ltd. and National mineral Development Corporation on the environmental pollution caused/being caused by them and the steps taken in the matter Consideration and adoption of the draft 278 th, 279 th, 280 th, 281 st, 282 nd, 283 rd and 284 th Reports of the Committee on Demands for Grants ( ) of the Ministries/Departments of Biotechnology, 4 hrs. 01 min. 3 hrs. 41 min. 2 hrs. 22 min. 55 min. 133

5 Space, Scientific and Industrial Research, Science & Technology, Atomic Energy, Environment, Forests & Climate Change and Earth Sciences, respectively Consideration and adoption of the draft 285 th, 286 th and 287 th reports of the Committee on Effects of Tobacco Curing on Environment and Health ; Environmental issues specific to Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and Nagpur ; and Environmental issues of Bengaluru/Karnataka and Goa, respectively Consideration and adoption of the draft 285 th, 286 th and 287 th reports of the Committee on Effects of Tobacco Curing on Environment and Health ; Environmental issues specific to Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and Nagpur ; and Environmental issues of Bengaluru/Karnataka and Goa, respectively To hear the representatives of Ministry of, Ministry of Railways, National Highways Authority of India and some experts on Management of Elephant Corridors To hear the representatives of Ministry of and National Disaster Response Force, Ministry of Home Affairs on Recent Forest Fires and its effect on environment, forest, biodiversity and wildlife and remedial/preventive measures To hear the representatives of Ministries of Mines; Coal; and Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Impact of Mining on Environment To hear representatives of Department of Biotechnology on 'Public Health, Food and Nutrition Biology' To hear the views of some n- Governmental Organisations on 'Impact of Mining on Environment' To hear representatives of Department of Science & Technology on "Developing Scientific temperament in youth" and "Role of the Department in matters relating to Climate Change" To hear representatives of Department of Scientific & Industrial Research on 'Functioning of CSIR Laboratories' followed by visit to CSIR- National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi to have on the spot study of scientific facilities and discussion with scientists working there To decide future programme of the Committee. 1hr.15 minutes 1 hr. 10 min. 2 hrs. 10 min. 1 hrs. 55 min. 2 hrs. 17 min. 1 hrs. 48 min 1 hrs. 55 min. 2 hrs. 1 min. 1 hrs. 59 min. 1 hrs. 02 min. 134

6 To hear representatives of Department of Atomic Energy on the functioning of the Department To hear the representatives of Ministry of Urban Development on Environmental concerns in Urban Planning in India To hear the representatives of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Chief Secretaries of State Governments of Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh on "Air Pollution in the National Capital Region" To consider and adopt the draft Reports on Action Taken by the Government on the observations/ recommendations of the Committee contained in its Reports on Demands for Grants ( ) of the Ministries/ Departments within its purview To hear the representatives of Ministry of on (i) Reforestation status in India (ii) Status of Marine and Coastal Pollution in India and efforts made by the Ministry for its mitigation (iii) Identification, Inventory and Documentation of Medicinal Plants in India and (iv) Delay in submission of Action Taken te on 283rd Report of the Committee. Representatives of the Ministry of AYUSH also assisted the Committee on the subject Identification, Inventory and Documentation of Medicinal Plants in India Consideration and adoption of draft 292 nd and 293 rd Report on (i) Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the Two Hundred and Eightythird Report of the Committee on Demands for Grants ( ) of the Ministry of and (ii) Forest Fires and its effect on environment, forest, biodiversity and wildlife and remedial/ Preventive measures, respectively To hear the representatives of Ministry of Earth Sciences on Functioning of various scientific organisations under that Ministry and Marine and Coastal Pollution in India and steps taken for its mitigation. The representatives of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change also heard on Marine and Coastal Pollution in India and steps taken for its mitigation To hear the representatives of Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Dr. Deepak Pental on Genetically Modified Crops and its Impact on Environment. 1 hrs. 49 min. 2 hrs. 52 min. 1 hr. 15 min. 1 hrs. 54 min. 35 min. 5 hrs. 34 min. 3 hrs. 25 min. 135

7 15.7 Tours/Visits: The Committee undertook following study visits during the year 2016:- (i) Kochi and Agatti (Group-II) from 19 th to 21 st January, (ii) Nagpur and Pench National Park from 22 nd to 24 th January, (iii) Bengaluru and Goa from 4 th to 7 th February, (iv) Mussoorie, Katra/Jammu and Shimla from 6 th to 11 th June, (v) Udaipur and Mount Abu from 28 th June to 1 st July, (vi) Bengaluru from 28 th to 31 st August, 2016 (vii) Kolkata and Shillong from 20 th to 25 th October, Computerization: The Section is equipped with six Personal Computers, with Internet facility, two printers and a scanner. All the work relating to drafting of notices, minutes, reports, etc. are being done on Computers. The Section is also using the 'Data Management Information System (DMIS)' software for diarising all receipts, etc. The Section sends SMS via Internet about the meetings/study-visits of the Committee to the Members. The section also sends notices of the meetings/letters to the Members, through Inspection Report: The annual office inspection for the year 2015 was conducted on the 12 th February, Training: During the year under review, the following training were provided to the officials of the Section:- S.. Name Period Subject of Training 1. Shri Rohit Kumar Mishra, 16 th to 20 th Training Course for officials of Lok Sabha, Sr. Committee Assistant May, 2016 BPST, Rajya Sabha and State Legislature Secretariats working in Committees. 2. Kum. Saraswati Saraf, 16 th to 20 th Training Programme for proficiency in typing Sr. Committee Assistant May, Shri Bhim Singh, Sr. Clerk 1 st June, 2016 Workshop on LTC Software 4. Shri Ram Swaroop Singh, Sr. Clerk; and Shri Bhim Singh, Sr. Clerk 6 th to 8 th June, 2016 Use of Hindi in Typing work 5. Shri Harish Kumar, Sr. Committee Assistant 3 rd to 5 th October, 2016 Reservation in Services Budget: The total budgetary allocation for the financial year was Rs 1,50,000/- and the actual expenditure incurred till the month of December, 2016 was Rs. 90,260/- The expenditure was incurred on arranging refreshments/lunch, etc. for the meetings. The Section maintains a Budget register Goals and Achievements: The main goal of the Section was to provide timely Secretarial assistance in an efficient and effective way to the Chairman & Members of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests for its efficient functioning and it provided necessary secretarial support for achieving the targets set for the Committee. 136

Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Centre World Wide Fund for Nature-India New Delhi. ENVIS Centre-07 NGOs, Parliament & Media

Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Centre World Wide Fund for Nature-India New Delhi ENVIS Centre-07 NGOs, Parliament & Media Annual Progress Report (1 st April 2006 31 st March 2007) Submitted to the