Congress MP Manickam Tagore has initiated an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha, calling for the establishment of a committee comprising lawmakers from all parties to thoroughly inspect the Parliament building after water leaks were discovered inside the lobby on July 31 following heavy rain in the national capital.
“Paper leakage outside, water leakage inside,” Tagore wrote on X this morning and announced his plan to bring this issue to the floor of Lok Sabha.
Tagore brought attention to the urgent weather resilience issues exposed by the water leakage in the Parliament lobby, particularly noting that the new building, completed only a year ago, already shows signs of structural problems. Tagore shared a video of water pooling inside the lobby and stressed the importance of addressing these issues promptly. The MP from Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu also serves as the Congress party’s whip in the Lok Sabha.
“The committee will focus on the causes of the leaks, evaluate the design and materials, and recommend necessary repairs. Additionally, it should establish a maintenance protocol and ensure transparency by publically sharing their findings,” Tagore said in the adjournment notice moved in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
“To address this, I propose forming a specialised committee, including all party MPs to inspect the building thoroughly. The committee will focus on the causes of the leaks, evaluate the design and materials, and recommend necessary repairs. Additionally, it should establish a maintenance protocol and ensure transparency by publicly sharing their findings. I urge also members to support this initiative to uphold the safety and integrity of our Parliament,” he added.
Joining the criticism, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the old Parliament building was better than the new one.
“The old Parliament was better than this, where even the old MPs could come and meet. Why not go back to the old Parliament, at least till the time the ‘water dripping program’ is going on in the new building constructed with billions of rupees,” the Kannauj MP said in a post on X. “The public is asking whether the water leakage from every new roof built under the BJP government is a part of their wellthought-out design,” he added.
The Aam Aadmi Party also criticised the BJP government, pointing out that the Parliament, constructed at a cost of Rs 1200 crore, now relies on a bucket worth Rs 120.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the new Parliament building on May 28, 2023. The four-storey building, built at an estimated cost of Rs 970 crore, held its first special session on September 19, 2023. It stands opposite the British-era old Parliament building, which is being preserved as a heritage site.
The heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening caused massive disruption in Delhi, with waterlogging affecting multiple areas and vehicular movement, including around the Parliament. The inclement weather also impacted air traffic, leading to the diversion of at least 10 flights scheduled to land at Delhi airport, with airlines warning of further potential disruptions. Schools in Delhi remained closed on Thursday due to the adverse weather conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted more showers in Delhi on Thursday and issued an orange alert, warning residents of the national capital to brace for continued heavy rainfall.
