Key hurdles cleared for new Parliament building, Oppn fumes

NEWDELHI: The plan to build a new parliament building has received two key approvals, including from the environment ministry’s expert appraisal committee, taking a crucial but controversial government project a step closer to reality.

The Congress said the decision reflected the government’s “absurd priorities” at a time when the country was battling an epidemic, and experts who were meant to be part of one of the clearances that were issued late last month said the decision was taken despite their requests to delay deliberations. In addition to the approval by the EAC, which assesses a project on whether its environmental impact is acceptable, the proposal for the new building was cleared by the Central Vista committee. Both approvals came around the same time -- towards the end of April.

The second committee has representatives from the government and developers, as well as independent experts who protested the decision saying they sought a deferment because of the restrictions on movement .

“They went ahead without any external member in attendance.

It includes two members from the Institute of Town Planners (ITP) and two from Indian Institute of Architects (IIA). Only government officials were there, this is clearly a conflict of interest.

Even the Supreme Court on Thursday said ‘there is no hurry to hear the matter on Central Vista’ then what was the urgency in holding this meeting despite our requests to postpone it? .