Calling the Central Vista project a "criminal wastage", former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged the Narendra Modi government to focus more on people's lives. He slammed the Modi government on the redevelopment project to construct a new Parliament and a common central secretariat.
"Central Vista is criminal wastage. Put people's lives at the centre -- not your blind arrogance to get a new house," Rahul said in a tweet.
Central Vista is criminal wastage.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 7, 2021
Put people’s lives at the centre- not your blind arrogance to get a new house!
The Congress and several opposition parties have questioned the need for the new Parliament building and suggested that all resources should be put to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Friday came three days after the reports of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has informed a government-appointed expert panel that the construction of the Prime Minister's residence under the ambitious Central Vista project will be completed by December 2022.
The CPWD, which is the project developer, had informed the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) that the expansion of the Parliament building and the construction of a new Parliament building will be done by November 2022 and the Prime Minister's residence will be constructed by December 2022.
The Ministry of Environment has already granted clearance for the expansion and renovation of the existing Parliament building, which is part of the Rs 13,450 crore Central Vista Redevelopment Project.
Congress and Gandhi since last year have been urging the centre to delay the construction of the Central Vista project and give priority to improve medical infrastructure as the country reels under the deadly effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Infection cases are increasing every day and the healthcare system has been overburdened by the rising pressure.
Opposition parties and activists have objected to the project concerning the well-being of the construction workers.
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A petition demanding immediate suspension of construction activity in Central Vista amid the massive surge in covid cases has been filed in the Delhi High Court to protect the lives of the workers and those associated with the project. The workers are exposed to the virus daily and are working without payment, the petitioners claimed in their plea.