LS LIVE Updates: EAM assures house over Covid-19 monitoring

15:31 March 12

Major Ports Authority Bill introduced in LS

A bill which seeks to provideautonomy to India's top 12 major ports and improve their efficiency and competitiveness was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday amid objections by opposition parties who wanted the government to redraft the legislation to remove ambiguity.

Introducing the Major Ports Authority Bill, Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the idea is not to privatise major ports but to give them more powers to take decisions in a competitive market.

Shashi Tharoor (Cong) and Saugata Roy (TMC) opposed the bill at the introduction stage, saying the government should go back to the drafting table to bring in more clarity.

Responding to the concerns, the minister said the number of labour trustees remains the same as earlier.

The bill proposes to repeal the Major Port Trusts Act 1963.

The bill was later introduced by a voice vote.
 

14:53 March 12

Coronavirus outbreak: BJD for thermal imaging cameras at Par

BJD member Pinaki Misra on Thursday demanded thermal imaging cameras be installed in Parliament complex in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Misra noted that some members of Iran's Parliament have tested positive for coronavirus.

"Please fix a thermal imaging in Parliament," he said.

14:38 March 12

Gadkari advocates pink buses for women in cities above population of 1 cr

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday advocated introduction of pink buses for women in cities with a population of over 1 crore.

Replying to a question in Lok Sabha on security of women in public transport, Gadkari said in these buses the driver, conductor and passengers are all women.

Some cities have already introduced this service and it is running successfully, he added.

The minister said manufacturers have already been instructed that new buses must have panic buttons and CCTV cameras.

In response to a similar question on Delhi, Gadkari said all new public transport buses have panic buttons and CCTV cameras.

Gadkari said his ministry had also issued an advisory to states that electric two and three wheelers should be exempted from permits.

The two and three e-wheelers can be used by women for commuting female passengers and help generate employment.

13:14 March 12

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in Lok Sabha over Coronavirus Outbreak

"We are in touch with the health secretaries daily. We are receiving  a report in the evening from every state. There is no lapse in screening procedure. I have assessed the situation at the Delhi Airport myself. Today we are screening passengers at 30 airports in the country. National Institute of Virology in Pune is our central reference lab. After this we started with 15 labs because this is not a routine test, it can't be tested in every laboratory. Even now, despite this being such a big task, activities are being coordinated at 51 laboratories across the country and collection centres at 56 locations"

12:54 March 12

'Initial focus to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran'

 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said the initial focus is to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran, which is grappling with

cases of coronavirus.

The outbreak of coronavirus is a 'matter of concern' and "we need to respond responsibly", he told Lok Sabha as he spoke on the current situation.

He said around 6,000 Indians are stranded in Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

There are also around 300 students there, he added.

The "initial focus is on bringing back pilgrims, mostly stranded in Qom", he said, adding the government is also working with Indian authorities to look at the possibility of operating limited commercial flights.
 

12:37 March 12

India ahead of many countries in preventing outbreak

Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar assures the house over the monitoring of covid-19 situation in the country.

"We have been regularly issuing advisories and taking preventive measures to restrict the outbreak. India is ahead of many countries in taking preventive measures. Prime Minister has also reviewed the situation himself." 

11:28 March 12

LS LIVE Updates: Opposition targets govt over Yes Bank crisis

New Delhi:Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised questions over the Yes Bank crisis in Lok Sabha.

"People of our country, specially depositors have been deprived and cheated by the banks in a regular manner. One out of five banks have been collapsed, it is a testimony of our government's failure."