New Delhi: The Heritage Conservation Committee on Monday gave its approval for construction of a new parliament building days after the Supreme Court asked the government to seek the same from it.
At a press conference, Housing Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said the committee discussed the proposal and gave its approval.
Additional secretary of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is the chairman of the Heritage Conservation Committee.
A few days ago, the Supreme Court cleared the decks for the ambitious Central Vista Project, which covers a three-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Lutyens' Delhi, by upholding the environmental clearance and the notification for change in land use.
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In the majority verdict, the apex court said that prior permission shall be taken from heritage conservation committee and other relevant authorities before start of construction at new sites.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said construction of the new Parliament building would not affect the existing structure, which is a heritage one.
At a press conference here, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said the committee, headed by the ministry's additional secretary, granted approval to the construction of the new parliament building after examining and discussing the proposal.
Asked whether public hearing was mandatory before granting approval, he answered, "No".
The panel has officers from different organisations and experts as members.
Mishra said the committee's members are the ones who look into what is provided under unified building bylaws based on which they accept or reject a proposal or suggest modifications.
Work on redevelopment of Rajpath will start soon after this year's Republic Day parade. The work is expected to be completed in the next 10 months and the 2022 Republic Day parade will be held on a redeveloped Rajpath, the housing secretary said.
The Central Vista revamp, announced in September, 2019 envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with a seating capacity for 900 to 1,200 MPs, that is to be constructed by August, 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024 under the project.
PTI
