Vol. 10 · pages 811–815

790 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (b) Are the Government contemplating to demolish temporary buildings ? What would be the cost of demolition and what would be the manner in which these buildings will be pulled down ? The Honourable Dr. B, R. Ambedkar : (a) No. The primary object of the buildings is to meet war requirements and they have been constructed in a manner and on sites most suitable to meet such requirements. This has involved in most cases temporary construction on sites which will be required for other purposes after the war. The actual order of demolition of the buildings must depend on the programme laid down for the utilisation of the sites and the development of Delhi. (b) Yes. It is not possible at present to estimate the cost of demolition and to lay down the manner in which the buildings will be pulled down. 222 * Accommodation Constructed in Delhi and New Delhi @ 135. Sir F. E. James : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) for how many officers and staff (i) office, and (ii) residential accommodation has been constructed in Delhi and New Delhi by the Central Public Works Department since the beginning of the War; (b) the total cost of (i) the temporary, and (ii) the permanent accommodation so erected; (c) what temporary office and residential accommodation is now under construction and at what estimated cost; (d) whether any further temporary construction is under consideration, and, if so, for what purpose; and (e) what plans are being made for the removal of the temporary constructions after the war, and for the disposal and utilisation of the materials employed in their erection ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: (a) Since the beginning of the war the construction of office accommodation to the extent of * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1944, 7th November 1944, pp. 321-22 @ Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner being absent.

791L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 12,24,516 sq. ft. and roofed residential accommodation for 969 officers and 745 clerks has been completed. These figures do not include accommodation provided for the Far Eastern Bureau of the British Ministry of Information, the South East Asia Command and the U.S.A. Forces. Information regarding the number of officers and staff for whom the office accommodation has been constructed is not readily available. (b) The total costs of office and residential accommodation, constructed since 1939, are (i) Rs. 5.29 crores for temporary accommodation and (ii) Rs. 1.09 crores for permanent accommodation. (c) A statement containing the required information and also information regarding permanent accommodation under construction is placed on the table of the House. (d) No further proposal has as yet been approved. (e) It has been decided to remove the temporary buildings as soon as possible after the War. The question of the disposal and utilisation of the materials is under consideration. Statement of temporary and permanent office and residential accommodation now under construction and their estimated cost Description of accommodation Estimated cost Rs. I-Temporary— 1. Additional residential accommodation for G.H.Q. Signals Officers. Not readily available. 2. 1000 Single Clerks Quarters at Kitchener Road 23,41,000 3. Accommodation for 367 clerks at Asmara and Masawa Lines (by alteration of existing temporary buildings). 4. 68 married clerks’ and 224 single clerks’ quarters in Tibbia College, Hostel Compound. 21,00,000 5. Accommodation for 200 single officers in existing Government Hostels. 7,80,000 6. Hostel for 160 married officers on King Edward Road Not readily available. 7. Office accommodation of 3,05,043 sq. ft. 39,65,559 I-Permanent— 1. 50 ‘D’ type and 168 ‘E‘ type clerks’ quarters on Railway land near Minto Road. 23,67,386 2. 2,468 clerks’ quarters on Lodhi Road 2,94,00,000 3. 228 married clerks’ quarters in 12 acres of land in Karol Bagh 32,00,000 4. 8 ‘E’ type clerks’ quarters in Aram Bagh 80,000 5. Three-storeyed flats for 120 clerks on Chitra Gupta Road 15,00,000

792 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 223 * Creation of Central Technical Power Board 139. Mr. K. C. Neogy : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state : (a) whether Government have any plans for the creation of a Central Technical Power Board; (b) whether it is a fact that the Chairmanship of this Board has been offered to a former employee of the British Firm of Messrs. Merz and Melellan and that one of the two seals on the Board has been filled by an American Engineer; (c) whether his attention has been drawn to reports that Government are considering the appointment of Messrs. Merz and Melellan, and the American Bond and Share Company as consulting engineers; and, if so, whether they are true. (d) whether these two American and British firms, respectively, have acquired any interest in the erection or operation of electrical undertakings in India so far, and what they are; (e) whether it is a fact that a Committee of leading Power Engineers appointed by Government early this year have reported that India would require electrical plant to the value of Rs. 400 crores, and that Government have accepted this recommendation; and (f) whether Government would publish full details of the recommendations of the above-mentioned Committee ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) Yes, but in the case of the former he has for the last three years and nine months been in the service of the Government of India as Electrical Commissioner. (c) Government have seen certain press reports to this effect but they are not correct as they have not yet taken into consideration the question of appointing consulting engineers. (d) In so far as Messrs. Merz and Melellan are concerned, the reply is in the negative. Government, however, understand that the Electric Bond and Share Company of U.S.A. (and not the American Bond and Share Company) which is a holding company has substantial interest in the Tata Hydro Electric Agencies and the United Eastern Agencies * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1944, 7th November 1944, pp. 325-26.

793L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS who are Managing Agents for the electric supply undertakings at Karachi, Broach, Nasik-Deolali and Poona. (e) No. (f) Steps are being taken to public the proceedings of the Conference. Mr. K. C. Neogy: When may we expect to see these recommendations ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I think in about a week’s time. Mr. Manu Subedar : With reference to part (e) of the question, can the Honourable Member give us some idea of the figure, if it is not 400 crores ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have not got the facts before me. 224 * Government Contribution to Indian Labour Federation 152. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state, in reference to the Labour Department’s letter No. L. 1882, dated the 3rd March 1942 in which Mr. M. N. Roy’s scheme for propaganda on the Labour Front, costing Rs. 13,000 per mensem was approved : (a) whether Government have satisfied themselves that the said moneys have been spent according to the scheme; (b) whether they have received any reports from Mr. M. N. Roy or his Labour Organisation on the manner of their utilisation; (c) whether Government have drawn any conclusions upon their work and reports, if so, what they are, and whether they will be placed on the table of the House; (d) whether there is any audit, and, if so, by whom; (e) whether the audit report at least be placed on the table of the House; (f) whether similar subsidies arc being granted to any other individuals or organisations; if so, what they are, and what sums are being thus granted, and with what effects; and (g) whether Government propose to continue these grants; and (h) whether these grants arc grants-in-aid and, if so, on what basis ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1944, 7th November 1944, pp. 337-38.

794 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) I would refer the Honourable Member to my reply to part (d) of question No. 31 put by Mr. Lalchand Navalrai. (b) Yes. (c) As already stated in reply to an earlier question, Government is satisfied that it has received adequate value for the money spent. The monthly grant is spent on the publication of printed literature, oral propaganda, visual publicity and the dissemination of reassuring news. (d) and (e) This expenditure like all other expenditure is subject to Government audit and any comments made will appear in the Audit Report. (f) No. (g) Yes, it is the intention to continue for the present the grant made to the Federation. (h) They are not grants-in-aid but represent payment for certain work carried out by the Association at Government’s request. 225 * Paucity of Muslims in the Eastern Zone of Central Works Department 154. Khan Bahadur Shaikh FazI-i-Haq Piracha : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state if it is a fact that the Central Public Works Department has been bifurcated into Eastern and Western Zones ? (b) Is it a fact that there is under recruitment of Muslims in all grades of service in the Eastern Zone ? If so, have Government taken any steps to redress this grievance ? If so, what ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) In the case of Subordinates, there was an under recruitment of Muslims in the Eastern Zone and over recruitment of Muslims in the Western Zone, if these Zones are considered separate units. But there is no deficiency in the recruitment of Muslims in the Central Public Works Department considered as a whole. In the case of Temporary Engineers there was over recruitment of Muslims in the Western Zone, and under recruitment in the Eastern Zone due lo the fact that suitable Muslim candidates were not available * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1944, 7lh November 1944, p. 339.