Question : PENDING PROPOSAL OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

(a) whether some proposals of Himachal Pradesh Government aimed at bringing about diversification in agriculture system collecting rain water and giving clearance for outside financial assistance for the purpose of raising the standard of life of women in the State are pending for approval;

(b) if so, whether the Government of Himachal Pradesh has also requested for giving approval to clear the dues under Centrally sponsored scheme namely market intervention scheme to protect the crops against pests and epidemics and also for settlement of accounts from 1991 -92 to 1997-98 and for clearing the dues from 1998-1999 to 2002-2003;

(c) if so, the date on which the request was received;

(d) the reasons for which the same is kept pending; and

(e) by when it is likely to be approved?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)

(a): Governemnt of Himachal Pradesh has submitted two proposals namely, Diversified Agriculture for Enhanced Farm income and Natural Resource Management for Sustainable Livelihoods to raise the standard of living of women in the State for external financial assistance. These proposals have been cleared from the technical angle.

(b)to(e): The Market Intervention Scheme for Procurement of 78,495 Metric Tones `C grade apples at the Market Intervention Price of Rs. 325/- per quintal during 1998-99 was implemented in Himachal Pradesh. The Central Government share of loss amounting to Rs. 10.90 crore has already been released.

The proposal of Government of Himachal Pradesh for procurement of apples under Market Intervention Scheme in Himachal Pradesh for the years 2001-02 and 2002-03 could not be considered by this Department, as there was no justification. Hence, the question of clearing the dues of any loss under this scheme does not arise.