‘False Narrative’: Hardeep Singh Puri Hits Back At Opposition’s Criticism Over Rs 1,300 Central Vista Project

Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday clarified that people must understand the difference that the Central Vista and Central Avenue are two different projects.

Hardeep Singh Puri

New Delhi: Union minister of housing and urban affairs, Hardeep Puri on Monday hit back at opposition’s remarks over the the Central Vista project work being done during the coronavirus pandemic. the minister said that a false narrative is being propagated about the project, none of the historic and cultural buildings will be touched. 

Addressing the media in National capital, Puri said that at present, there are two projects on process  - the New Parliament Building and the Central Vista Avenue, and decision on these projects was taken before the pandemic. 

"I have been noticing that for these past few months that a false narrative is being created. The political class should be careful if it talks about these things. Others need to be careful as well," Puri said. 

He clarified that people must understand the difference that the Central Vista and Central Avenue are two different projects. "The old Parliament building comes under Seismic Zone IV and … the people’s representatives should be able to sit and conduct the business." 

Earlier today, the Delhi High Court dismissed a plea seeking direction to suspend all construction activity in view of the second wave of the COVID19 pandemic. A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh refused to stop the construction and fined the petitioners Rs 1 lakh. “Since workers at the project at staying on sight, no question of suspending the work arises,” the court said.

The Central Vista revamp, announced in September, 2019 envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with 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 against which various pleas have been filed.