Water leakage in new Parliament building, surrounding premises raises concerns
New Delhi: Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, proposing the formation of a specialized committee to investigate water leaks in the new Parliament building. This action follows Tagore's sharing of a video purportedly showing rainwater leakage inside the Parliament lobby, allegedly caused by heavy rainfall.
Paper leakage outside,
— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) August 1, 2024
water leakage inside. The recent water leakage in the Parliament lobby used by the President highlights urgent weather resilience issues in the new building, just a year after completion.
Moving Adjournment motion on this issue in Loksabha. #Parliament pic.twitter.com/kNFJ9Ld21d
In his notice, Tagore emphasized the need to examine the building's weather resilience, particularly in the path used by the President of India. He proposed that the committee, composed of MPs from all parties, should thoroughly inspect the building, identify the causes of the leaks, evaluate the design and materials used, and recommend necessary repairs. The committee would also be tasked with establishing a maintenance protocol and ensuring transparency by publicly sharing its findings.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed concern over the situation, suggesting that the old Parliament building was superior to the new one, which he noted cost billions of rupees to construct. Yadav questioned whether the recurring water leaks in new constructions under the BJP government were part of a deliberate design flaw.
इस नई संसद से अच्छी तो वो पुरानी संसद थी, जहाँ पुराने सांसद भी आकर मिल सकते थे। क्यों न फिर से पुरानी संसद चलें, कम-से-कम तब तक के लिए, जब तक अरबों रुपयों से बनी संसद में पानी टपकने का कार्यक्रम चल रहा है।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 1, 2024
जनता पूछ रही है कि भाजपा सरकार में बनी हर नई छत से पानी टपकना, उनकी… pic.twitter.com/PpJ36k6RJm
After heavy rains in Delhi, various areas across the city were flooded, and even the country's Parliament was not spared. The unprecedented downpour led to significant water accumulation in numerous parts of the capital, highlighting the city's vulnerability to intense weather conditions.
दिल्ली में भारी बारिश के बाद बाकी इलाके तो दरिया बन ही गए, देश की संसद भी अछूती न रही! #NewParliamentBuilding #HeavyRain #Sansad #Waterlogging pic.twitter.com/T7NNKUuqaj
— AajTak (@aajtak) August 1, 2024
The incident comes as Delhi recorded significant rainfall, with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting 147.5 mm of rainfall in certain areas from July 31 to August 1. The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall for Delhi-NCR on Thursday.
The monsoon session of Parliament, which began on July 22, continues, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled to introduce a bill to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Additionally, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present a statutory resolution related to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. The session is set to conclude on August 12.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Intend to allow feeding of pigeons for 2 hours in morning at Dadar Kabutarkhana: BMC to HC
Mumbai, Aug 13 (PTI): The city civic body on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court it intends to allow controlled feeding of pigeons for two hours each morning at the Dadar Kabutarkhana subject to conditions.
A bench of Justices G S Kulkarni and Arif Doctor, however, stated that before granting any such permission, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has to first issue a public notice inviting objections and then take a decision on allowing controlled feeding of the birds at the popular site in Dadar.
Since the BMC's decision to close kabutarkhanas (pigeon feeding spots) in the city and prohibit feeding of pigeons was in larger interest of public health, the sanctity of the same has to be maintained, the court noted, while hearing a bunch of petitions.
Last week, tarpaulin sheets were placed at the Dadar Kabutarkhana, a popular pigeon feeding site, by the BMC to prevent people from offering grains to the birds, a move which had led to protest during which the covers were forcibly removed by agitators.
Pursuant to this, a few individuals submitted an application to the BMC seeking interim arrangements for controlled feeding of the pigeons.
On Wednesday, BMC counsel Ram Apte told the court the civic body intends to permit controlled feeding of the birds from 6 am to 8 am subject to certain conditions.
The bench then questioned if the civic body had first invited objections to the application (seeking nod for controlled pigeon feeding) before taking its decision.
"You (BMC) cannot just allow feeding now once you have already taken a closure decision keeping public health in mind. You will have to take a well considered decision," the HC observed.
Once an application is received, you need to issue a notice and invite objections from people and then take a decision. Once you have taken a decision keeping people's health in mind then you need to maintain that sanctity, the bench affirmed.
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday also submitted a list of 11 names to be part of a committee that would carry out a scientific study on the issue of pigeon feeding at public places and its impact on human health.
The court said the government shall notify the committee by August 20.
Advocate General Birendra Saraf, appearing for the state government, said the committee would comprise officials from state public health and town planning departments and medical experts.
The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by people who regularly feed pigeons at kabutarkhanas. The petitioners have challenged the civic body's decision to ban such feedings and close down kabutarkhanas in the metropolis over potential health hazards from the exercise.
The high court had last month refused to grant any interim relief to the petitioners, but had asked the civic authorities not to demolish any heritage kabutarkhanas. The court had also said the BMC could take action as per law against those feeding pigeons at public places.
The Supreme Court had earlier this week refused to intervene in the HC order.
Senior counsel Anil Sakhare, appearing for the petitioners who have sought permission to offer grains to pigeons at the Dadar Kabutarkhana, said once the BMC takes a decision permitting controlled feeding, then they would move the HC seeking modification of the earlier order refusing interim relief.
