Vol. 10 · pages 961–965

940 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (b) the number of superintendents who have applied for but not given any Government accommodation so far: (c) the number of houses or flats requisitioned in New Delhi and Karol Bagh areas for the use of persons in (a) and (b) above during the war; (d) the number of houses and flats in New Delhi and Karol Bagh which have been handed over or proposed to be handed over to their owners on and from the 1st January, 1946; and (e) when he expects those who have applied for accommodation before the 1st January, 1945, will be allotted Government accommodation ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b). Applicants for quarters arc divided into two categories, viz., (i) officers drawing a pay of less than Rs. 600 and (ii) officers drawing a pay of Rs. 600 or more. All clerks and Assistants and some Superintendents come under category (i). The number of applicants under this category, who have not been allotted accommodation is 16.256. Information regarding the number of clerks and assistants or superintendents, who applied for but were not allotted quarters, is not readily available. (c) The number of flats requisitioned in New Delhi and Karol Bagh areas for officers, drawing a pay of less than Rs. 600 is 188. (d) 3. (e) It is not possible to furnish the information as an applicant’s propsects of securing an allottment of quarter depend on many factors which cannot all be forseen, such as the date of his posting to New Delhi, the amount of his pay, whether he is single, married or with family, his preference for a particular type of quarter, etc. 358 * Surplus Government Buildings in Delhi 25. Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : Will the Honourable the labour Member please state— (a) if any of the barracks and buildings built to the north and south of the Imperial Secretariat Buildings and in other places in New Delhi for the use of the American, British and Indian personnel have now become superfluous for such use, if so, how many, (b) the total number of rooms, etc., in the buildings in (a) above, (c) whether any offices are now located therein, if not, what is proposed to be done will them; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1946, 5th February 1946, pp. 478-79.

941 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (d) whether it is proposed to allot such buildings now or in the near future for (i) office use, and (ii) for residential accommodation with slight alterations for kitchens and bathrooms where necessary, (e) if the answer to (d) above is in the affirmative, whether any have been allotted so far, if so, how many, and (f) in particular what is proposed to be done with the American barracks on the Talkatora Road, Gurdwara Road, Queensway and Connaught Place ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b). I take it that the Honourable member is referring to temporary buildings which were till recently occupied by personnel other than that of the Government of India. A statement containing the necessary information in respect of such buildings as have been surrendered to Government or as will, according to the information in the possession of Government be surrendered within the next three months is laid on the table. (c) I confine my answer to this part of the question to the buildings which have actually been surrendered to Government. The answer is in the affirmative except in the case of the buildings surrendered only very recently which are also required by Government and are proposed to be used by them. (d) I confine my answer to this part of the question to buildings which will be surrendered within the next three months. Such buildings are also required by Government and are proposed to be used for one or the other purposes. (e) No, the latter part of the question does not arise. (f) The buildings on Talkatora Road and Gurdwara Road are being used by Government for office purposes and will continue to be used so long as these are required by Government. As regards the American buildings on Cannaught place and Queensway, the method of their disposal is under consideration but they are likely to be required for Government purposes. Statement showing the buildings surrendered or to be surrendered to Government within the next three months in New Delhi. Name of the building Number of rooms, etc., available therein L Block 74 M Block 107 Gurdwara Road 106

942 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Name of the building Number of rooms, etc., available therein Talkatora Barracks 14 barracks 49,000 Sq. ft. 1 barrack 2,890 Sq.ft. Office rooms (18) 4,446 Sq. ft. Recreation Hall with 4 adjoining rooms and godown. 5,000 Sq. ft. Kitchen and Dinning hall. 2,893 Sq. ft. Officers quarters on the Central Vista 288 rooms Jodhpur Mess 120 (To be surrendered in April 1946) … Canning Road Barracks—’B’ Block 6 barracks (double) 62,406 Sq. ft. (To be surrendered on 21-2-46) 1 barrack 4,598 Sq. ft. 10 office rooms 4,566 Sq. ft. 359 * Appointment of Mr. Harkness as Town Planning Officer, Delhi and New Delhi 26. Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state— (a) if it is a fact that one Mr. Harkness has been appointed as Town Planning Officer for Delhi and New Delhi recently, (b) the terms on which his recruitment has been made, (c) if the post was advertised in India and applications called for from qualified or capable Indians for the post, and, if so, whether any applications were received, (d) if the appointment was made through the Federal Public Service Commission, and, if not, why not, (e) if he has satisfied himself that no Indian of the necessary ability was available before Mr. Harkness was given the job, and (f) whether Mr. Harkness has had previous experience of town planning in a country like India or whether his experience has been confined to Europe and other countries ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) The post has been sanctioned for a period of 3 years and is non-pensionable. It carries a pay of Rs. 2,000 per mensem. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol.I of 1946, 5th February 1946, p. 479.

943 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (c) The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. (d) The post was first advertised by the Federal Public Service Commission but no suitable candidate was available in India. (e) Yes. (f) Mr. Harkness’s experience has been confined to Europe and countries other than India. 360 * Handmade paper for Members of Legislative Assembly 31. Seth Govind Das : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether he proposes to procure for future use of and sale to the Members of this House, handmade paper only which is manufactured as a village industry by institutions organised on cooperative basis ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : If all the Members of the House agree to accept and use handmade paper of the kind referred to by the Honourable Member, such paper will be procured for sale to them whenever it is available in acceptable qualities. 361 @ Wells and Additional Accommodation for Members of Legislature 33. Seth Govind Das: (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether it is a fact that there is a shortage of bungalows for the residence of members of both the Houses of the Central Legislature ? If so, what steps Government are taking to construct sufficient number of additional bungalows so as to provide residence for all the members ? (b) Are Government aware that the absence of wells in these localities cause great hardship to such orthodox members of the * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1946, 5th February 1946, p. 481. @ ibid.

944 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES families of M. L. As. who have objection to the use of tap water ? (c) Do Government propose to take steps to construct wells, at suitable distances and places in these localities, before the members take up their residences for the next session ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Until the beginning of this Session no shortage was reported to Government and no complaint of shortages was received by them. A small shortage of bungalow type accommodation has just been brought to the notice of Government and the matter is now under their consideration. (b) No. (c) Government have not at present any such proposal under consideration. 362 *Re-Constitution of Geological Survey of India 36. Mr. K. C. Neogy : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state what action has been, or is proposed to be, taken in the matter of (i) reconstitution of the Geologial Survey of India in order to make it “a potent instrument for the furtherance of Government’s mineral policy”, and (ii) undertaking legislation for the purpose of establishing control over minerals in terms of his statement in the Legislative Assembly on the 12th March, 1945, while defining Government’s policy regarding mineral resources of India ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (i) A very large expansion of the Geological Survey has been undertaken by the Central Government. The superior gazetted staff of the Survey has been increased from its pre-war strength of 27 to 102 which includes specialists, like Geophysicist, Mining Engineer. A copy of the brochure showing the Functions and Organization of the Geological Survey of India is available in the Library of the House. (ii) Provincial Governments were consulted in the matter and their replies are under consideration. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1946, 5th February 1946, pp. 482-83.