NEW DELHI: The ambitious proposal to build an alternative Parliament House complex would be finalized only after wide ranging consultations, government sources said today.
The sources said that the Urban Development (UD) ministry is examining the proposal to go in for a new building which would take the place of Parliament House, which has witnessed severe wear and tear since it was built in 1927.
A nod of the Prime Minister’s office and the entire cabinet will be taken before proceeding on the project, the first of its type in Independent India.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is expected to constitute soon a High Powered Committee (HPC) which is likely to set in motion the issue of an alternative Parliament House Complex.
The issue gained momentum after the fire at the Mantralaya, the Maharashtra government headquarters in Mumbai, with the Speaker asking for immediate steps to avoid such an occurrence in the Parliament House, which has not received a no objection fire certificate so far.
Sources said if the decision to build a new building for the Parliament is finalized, an important aspect that would have to be kept in mind is the requirements of the future.
Though both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha together have some 800 members, their number is bound to increase in the future in view of issues like women’s reservation and dual member constituencies.
The construction of a new building would have to factor that in along with the issue of growing footfalls in the complex housing the world’s largest parliamentary democracy.
The proposal for a new building emanates from the fact that the present 85-year-old heritage building has outlived its usefulness and is not well equipped to cater to the growing demands of the 21st century.
The Speaker will constitute the HPC after consultations with the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha soon after the Vice Presidential election scheduled for August 7.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath are expected to be the two prominent members of the HPC.
“The proposal has been received and it is under examination. A decision will be taken at the highest level, after proper consultations and deliberations,” the sources said.
The Central Public Works Department is learnt to have been asked the authorities to give vacant possession of the Parliament House complex for two years to carry out repair and restoration work.
This is being insisted by the CPWD to restore the original heritage character for the magnificent building which has undergone wear and tear. -PTI
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