AAI got K3.2K crore from 6 leased-out airports
The Central government on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that the state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) has received a total amount of Rs 3,245 crore till February this year from the private partners of Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru airport.
Union minister VKSingh informed the RS: “Private partners of Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru airports have paid approximately Rs 896 crore to AAI as Per Passenger Fee (PPF) till February 2023. The AAI has also received an amount of approximately I2,349 crore from the private partners of these six airports in the form of upfront fee towards the capital expenditure incurred by AAI at these airports.”
Airports at Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangaluru were leased out in 2020 while the remaining three were leased out in 2021.
‘Most student suicides in central varsities’
As many as 15 students died by suicide this year, with nine cases reported from Central Universities alone, the Lok Sabha was informed Monday. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) reported three cases each this year. From 2018 to 2023, 103 students in these higher educational institutes in India have taken extreme step.
In 2018 and 2019, 20 students died each by suicide. In 2020, the number dipped to 13 and dropped to 10 in 2021. In 2022, 25 students died by suicide, while the maximum number of cases of nine were reported from IITs. This was followed by seven from NITs, five from central universities and three from the prestigious AIIMS.
Parliament proceedings adjourned till wednesday
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Monday after opposition parties staged a protest over the Adani issue. The House will reconvene on Wednesday, with Tuesday being a holiday on account of Mahavir Jayanti. Earlier, the House was adjourned till 2 pm after obituary references to incumbent MP Girish Bapat and former MP Innocent, who passed away recently. Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Monday after passing the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2023 without discussion amid uproar over the Adani issue. Soon after the Upper House reassembled at 2 pm, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar greeted the members on the occasion of Rajya Sabha Day.
‘Govt aware of privacy of drone use’
The government in Rajya Sabha on Monday informed that the it is well aware of the question of privacy in relation to the use of drones for the purpose of research, development and testing purposes. Informing the Upper House in a written reply, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the use of drones for the purpose of research, development and testing will not breach privacy.
“Such use of drone remains restricted to concerned institutions and locations within the control,” he said, adding that the government has waived the requirements of type certificate, unique identification number, prior permission and remote pilot licence for operating unmanned aircraft systems for such purposes.
“This provision adequately covers all offences including breach of privacy covered under the relevant laws including the Information Technology Act, 2000 that has provisions for punishment for violation of privacy. Further, Indian Penal Code (IPC) also has provisions to penalize privacy-related offences.
Gateway of India facelift on track
The Gateway of India in Mumbai has developed cracks however the structure is in a ‘good state of preservation’, Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy informed Lok Sabha on Monday. The Maharashtra government has already approved a restoration proposal for the iconic heritage site overlooking the Arabian oceans, added the minister. “The Gateway of India, Mumbai is not a centrally protected monument. It is under the protection of the Government of Maharashtra,” Reddy stated.
161.34 sq km of total land available with ASI
The total land available with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is 161.34 sq km according to the Government Land Information System, the Parliament was informed on Monday. Union Minister for Culture G Kishan Reddy said this in response in Lok Sabha. “ASI has 161.19 sq km land available around the Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites and 0.15 sq km of office building/staff quarters belonging to 39 Circles/Mini-Circle of the ASI,” he said.
ED arrested 374, including corporate directors, in 5 yrs
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested 374 people, including directors of corporate firms, under the anti-money laundering law in the last five years, the government informed Parliament on Monday. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, said that in major cases of “corporate fraud” like those against Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, the ED has attached properties worth Rs 33,862.20 crore.
Compiled by Rajesh Kumar Thakur, Kavita Bajeli-Datt & Parvez Sultan