Fight Covid, don't build PM's house now: Priyanka

May 04, 2021 13:32

Slamming the Centre over its Central Vista project, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said that at a time when people are grappling with the shortage of oxygen and vaccines in the country, it would be better if the government deploys all resources in saving lives instead of building a new house for the prime minister.

Her attack on the government came over reports that 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.

"At a time when the people of the country are struggling with shortage of oxygen, vaccines, hospital beds, medicines, it would be better if the government deploys all resources in saving the lives of the people, instead of building a new house for the PM at Rs 13,000 crore," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Such expenses send a message to the public that the priorities of the government are in some other direction," the Congress general secretary said.

The CPWD, which is the project developer, 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 the clearance for the expansion and renovation of the existing Parliament building, which is part of the Rs 13,450 crore Central Vista Redevelopment Project.

The redevelopment project of the Central Vista -- the power corridor of the country -- envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a Common Central Secretariat and the revamping of the three-km-long Rajpath from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate and new residences for the prime minister and the vice president. The Opposition has been strongly opposing the project, demanding that all resources should be deployed in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Odisha boat capsize toll rises to 8, search op ends

The incident took place when around 50 passengers hailing from Kharsia area in the neighbouring Chhattisgarh were returning in the boat after visiting a temple in Patharseni Kuda in Odisha's Bargarh district.

Unstoppable Duplantis breaks World record for 8th time!

The Swede broke his own pole vault world record with a 6.24 metres effort in the first Diamond League meeting.

Vinesh, Reetika, Anshu secure Paris Olympics quotas

Vinesh Phogat locked Paris Olympics quota in the women's 50kg category, reaching the final at the Asian Olympic Qualifier without conceding a single point.

'300-run mark will be crossed in the IPL very soon'

Dinesh Karthik said the 300-frontier will be breached in the IPL sooner rather than later.

Will K L Rahul get the nod for T20 World Cup?

LSG skipper K L Rahul will be among the front-runners for the wicketkeeper-batter role in India's Twenty20 World Cup squad.