January 26, 2020 marks the 70th year of
the adoption of the Constitution of India. This is a moment to celebrate the
country’s rich legacy as a Republic, to pay tribute to all those who
helped it evolve as a constitutional democracy and nurtured its traditions, and
also to reiterate the commitment to preserve constitutional values, which have
been so precious, and have shaped the Indian State as well as the Indian
society. When, on January 26, 1950, India became a Republic, few gave the
polity a chance. After all, this was a society divided by caste and religion;
it was deeply unequal and hierarchical; poverty and illiteracy were rampant; it
had just gone through a violent Partition. Yet, the audaciousness of the
drafters of the Constitution was that in this seemingly inhospitable
landscape, they invested in creating a democracy140 with periodic elections and universal adult franchise;
fundamental rights for citizens; an independent judiciary; a complex
federal structure; a deep160
commitment to equality and non-discrimination, especially on lines of identity.
Sceptics had history on their side. No other country of this size, diversity
and socio-economic indicators had become a full-fledged democracy. But
India’s founders had idealism, commitment and pragmatism on their side.
Their vision prevailed. Of course, there have been challenges. Indian
constitutional democracy faced its most severe test in 1975, when the then
Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, proclaimed an Emergency and suspended
fundamental rights. Fortunately, this period lasted for only two years. While
growth has brought millions out of poverty, the persistence of poverty is a
betrayal of the vision of the founders. While caste hierarchies are less entrenched
today than the past, the persistence of structural discrimination,
unequal280 opportunities, and untouchability
is a black mark on India’s record. While the country has remained secular, the
persistence of religious divisions and the increasing use of religion in
electoral mobilisation threatens to deepen the cleavages in society. While
citizens have320 continued to enjoy rights, and seek
justice from judiciary when denied these rights, the concentration of power in
the executive’s hands and the weakening of the instruments of checks and
balances on State power is a matter of concern. While India
continues to remain united, the continued challenge to the integrity of the
State from Kashmir, parts of Northeast and the Maoist belt in central India,
poses a security threat. While democracy has only become stronger and more
rooted, the temptation by citizens to adopt extra-constitutional methods
in making a political point, or by the State to use excessive force, 420 or resort to authoritarian measures, to quell the
voices of citizens remains a concern.
I would like to draw the attention of this House to the serious threat posed by
the tailings pond of Uranium Corporation of India Limited to the villages falling
under my Parliamentary constituency. It is because of non-fulfilment of
the standards of construction that this480
pond is posing serious threat to the human and animal habitations, leading to
environmental imbalance in the area. Air, water, and land around the project of
Uranium Corporation of India Limited have got severely contaminated. The
people of the said villages have been suffering from a lot of skin diseases,
joint pains and problems related to pregnancy failures. Goats, buffalos, cows
and other animals in these villages have also been suffering and dying
as well. The crop yield in these villages560
has considerably reduced, and in some cases, the entire crop is getting
spoiled due to contamination. Due to improper construction of tailings pond,
the chemical waste coming into the tailings pond is getting penetrated into the
soil and water. The uranium content in the sample of water is found to be 400 ppm,
whereas the permissible level is only 30 to 60 ppm. I have written several
representations to UCIL and to the hon. Prime Minister of India as640 well. Keeping in view the environmental
problems being caused by UCIL, I request the hon. Prime Minister to take this
matter very seriously and safeguard the lives of the people and animals in
these villages, by directing the UCIL authorities to reconstruct the tailings
pond. If the problem is not addressed now, it will become a disaster. So, I
request the700 Government of
India to wake up on this issue and protect us.
Sir, there is
a wireless transmission station in 500-yard aerial radius in my constituency at
Juhu Vile Parle, Mumbai. It is a military signalling station of British era. Except
for a small area of 500-yard radius under military authorities, the entire land
surrounding this station is either private land or leased land. The entire area
is thickly inhabited by huge civilian population, surrounded by a number of old
buildings, high-rise buildings, schools, colleges, hospitals, etc. Residents of
this area are suffering for the last ten years as800 reconstruction or repair of their
dilapidated buildings has been suddenly stopped by the military authorities.
Thousands of residents have been shifted temporarily. Many buildings and slum
clusters legally exist with CC under re-development. They have lost their
permanent residency. Though we840
have placed this issue before the defence authorities for redressal, they
have remained silent. With the modern technologies and topographies, satellite
signalling does not get hampered by the height of the surrounding buildings.
This signalling station is more often used for the club as well as for
marriage and other functions. Hence, restriction imposed by the military
authorities holds no ground at all. Since majority of the buildings around this
area are very old and in a dilapidated condition, those require urgent repairs,
restoration and maintenance. I urge upon the Defence Minister to intervene and
lift the restrictions forthwith.
Let me congratulate the
Government for taking up the mammoth task of cleaning of the Ganga under the
Namami Gange960 programme. I would like to draw the kind attention
of the Government to the urgent need to protect the water of980 the
river Musi from contamination and pollution on the similar lines. I had raised
this issue during the last session of the Parliament and requested the
Government to take immediate necessary steps to contain the contamination and
pollution. But there is no action either by State Government or Central
Government in this direction. A new study by researchers from the Department of
Geophysics of Osmania University has shown that the river Musi is full of filth
and dirt up to 70 kilometres from the city’s periphery. Large quantities of
untreated sewage and drug residue are released by major and minor
pharmaceutical companies established along the bank of Musi in Telangana,
making its water extremely toxic. At several areas, waste water and groundwater
co-exist along the river. The contaminants have have percolated up to 300 feet
below the ground at many1120 places and up to 500 feet at a
few places. More than 40 pharmacy industries established in nearby area release
chemicals into the river. Chemicals and drug-resistant superbugs have seeped
into the groundwater not only in Hyderabad but also in rural areas. The groundwater
on either side of the river has become alkaline and unfit for consumption. At
many places, the pH value of groundwater has crossed 10. I humbly request the
Government to set up tertiary sewage treatment plants to clean 3000 MLD,
take up massive tree plantation around water bodies and penalise those
polluting the water bodies. All encroachments should be removed immediately.
I wish to
highlight the increasing number of cesses and surcharges imposed
by the Central Government. Since 2014, the Government has imposed multiple
cesses for various causes, starting from Clean India Cess, increase in Education1260 and Health
Cess, and increase in Clean Energy Cess. Despite Government’s GST vision to
promote “one nation, one tax system”, 1280 the
cesses are still clinging to the pockets of citizens. Although the Central Government
has failed to explain the non-utilization of collected cesses on multiple
occasions, still there has not been any indication to improve upon
current practices. I seek clarity from the Central Government in two respects.
First, how the funds allocated are to be utilized, and second, whether the
funds have any negative implication on the State’s economic condition.
Moreover, I would ask the Government to make a monitoring dashboard for various
cases and surcharges collected throughout the country and the projects funded
by the collected fund. In order to review the specific economic loss to the State
and particular industries, this model can guide the Government to1400 reduce
the cess charges. I seek support in bringing a dedicated expert committee to
review all central charges except tax, examine the necessity of these
surcharges and cesses at current time, and present its recommendation to
promote more State-specific1440 fund allocation.
We have been hearing about suicides
by farmers due to debt, crop loss, etc. But we had never heard suicides
committed by construction workers due to non-availability of sand. Due to
alleged criminal delay in formulating sand mining policy by Government of
Andhra Pradesh, 3 suicides have been reported in my Guntur district alone.
Overall, 30 construction workers committed suicides in Andhra Pradesh during
the last 3 to 4 months and 30 lakh workers in construction industry lost
employment in the last 5 months in view of acute shortage of sand. Sand is not
available to common man. The State Government says that it is available
online, but the website will open for one minute literally. It is anybody’s
guess where sand is going. It is the alleged sand mafia which is ruling the
roost. I request the Government of India on behalf of all those construction
workers who have died due to non-availability of sand to pay1600
compensation of Rs.10 lakh to the next of kin from Building and Other
Construction Workers Welfare Fund immediately.
