Central Vista project is about misplaced priorities, says Congress
NEW DELHI — In a major relief for the Modi government, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court cleared the redevelopment plan for Central Vista with a 2:1 majority on Tuesday, although with riders.
The bench held that there were “no infirmities in clearances given, change in land use and the environmental clearances”. However, it imposed some riders like clearance from heritage conservation committee.
A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna said the heritage conservation committee’s approval is needed before construction begins and directed that the project proponents to get that approval.
The project envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with a seating capacity of up to 1,200 MPs. The project is estimated to be constructed by August 2022, when the country will celebrate its 75th Independence Day.
On December 7, the top court had expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Centre for reportedly initiating construction process with announcement of ground breaking ceremony for the new parliament building in the Central Vista project, even as the issues connected with the redevelopment plan was under its consideration.
On December 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the new Parliament building. The construction is expected to cost around Rs 971 crore and the common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024.
The petitioners had challenged the project with allegations of illegal change in land use and urged the court to quash the project.
The petitioners had challenged a notification issued by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on December 21, 2019 regarding changes in land use for the redevelopment.
Misplaced priorities
After Supreme court’s nod to the Central Vista project, the Congress on Tuesday said the case was not about the legal aspects, but it was an issue of misplaced priorities during the time of pandemic and economic recession.
Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “The Rs 13,450 crore Central Vista Project is not a legalistic issue but a case of misplaced priorities of a whimsical autocrat seeking to etch his name in the annals of history with cement and mortar.”
The Congress leader said it is ironic that in times of the corona pandemic and economic recession, Delhi has Rs 14,000 crore for the Central Vista and Rs 8,000 crore for buying aircrafts for PM. “But the same BJP Govt imposes cuts of Rs 37,530 crore in allowances of 113 lakh Armed Forces and Central Govt Employees and Pensioners,” he tweeted.
The Congress leader said the Prime Minister must not forget that he has imposed cuts of Rs 11,000 crore on 15 lakh soldiers and 26 lakh military pensioners and the same BJP government at the Centre has no time to provide ‘heated tents and equipment’ to our soldiers braving brazen the Chinese incursions in Ladakh. — IANS
