NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha secretariat on Thursday allayed concerns about weather resilience of new Parliament building and said water leakage in the building’s lobby was due to slight displacement of an adhesive material which was used to fix the glass domes above. The clarification came as several videos of leakage and waterlogging in new Parliament building after Wednesday’s rain went viral on social media platforms.
“It is worth mentioning that keeping in view the concept of Green Parliament, glass domes have been provided in several parts of the building, including in the lobby, so that abundant natural light could be utilized in day to day work of Parliament. During the heavy rain on Wednesday, the adhesive material used to fix the glass domes over the lobby of the building was slightly displaced, causing minor leakage of water in the lobby,” the Lok Sabha secretariat said in a statement.
“The problem was, however, detected timely and corrective measures were taken immediately. Thereafter, no further leakage of water has been noticed. Similarly, accumulated water opposite Makar Dwar also got drained out quickly,” the statement added.
Opposition takes swipes at Modi government
Earlier today, the opposition leaders took swipe at the Modi government over “water leakage” and hailed the “sturdy” old Parliament building.
Congress’ Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore posted on X a video of water leaking from the roof in a lobby of the new Parliament building and a bucket placed to collect it.
Sharing the video, Tagore said on X, “Paper leakage outside, water leakage inside. The recent water leakage in the Parliament lobby used by the President highlights urgent weather resilience issues in the new building, just a year after completion.”
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also took a swipe at the government over the issue.
“The old Parliament was better than this new Parliament as there even former MPs could come and meet. Why not go back to the old Parliament building, at least till the time the water leakage programme is going on in the (new) Parliament building built with billions of rupees,” he said in a post on X and shared the video of the leakage.
“People are asking whether water dripping from every new roof constructed under the BJP government is a part of their well thought out design or …,” Yadav said, taking a swipe at the Centre.
In a post on X, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, “New parliament lobby is leaking water. Given the building is a monstrous edifice to Narendra Modi’s ego it is only fitting that it has got shaky post 2024 Lok Sabha results. Bharat Mandapam leaks another case in point.”
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose said new Parliament building has no porch and steep precipitous steps and last night when there was a cloudburst in Delhi, it was the sturdy old Parliament building “which came to our rescue – sheltering us under its thoughtfully designed porch and providing some dry ground”.
“The new building built hurriedly and without shelter, failed, while the old one stood firm,” she said on X.
Congress MP gives adjournment notice
Meanwhile, Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment notice in which he said that “water leakage highlights potential issues with the building’s weather resilience, just one year after its completion.”
“I rise to address concerns following yesterday’s heavy rains, which caused water leaks inside the Parliament lobby along the path used by our President of India when entering the new Parliament building,” the Congress MP said.
Manickam Tagore proposed forming a specialised committee, including all party MPs, to inspect the building thoroughly to address the issue.
(With inputs from agencies)
“It is worth mentioning that keeping in view the concept of Green Parliament, glass domes have been provided in several parts of the building, including in the lobby, so that abundant natural light could be utilized in day to day work of Parliament. During the heavy rain on Wednesday, the adhesive material used to fix the glass domes over the lobby of the building was slightly displaced, causing minor leakage of water in the lobby,” the Lok Sabha secretariat said in a statement.
“The problem was, however, detected timely and corrective measures were taken immediately. Thereafter, no further leakage of water has been noticed. Similarly, accumulated water opposite Makar Dwar also got drained out quickly,” the statement added.
Opposition takes swipes at Modi government
Earlier today, the opposition leaders took swipe at the Modi government over “water leakage” and hailed the “sturdy” old Parliament building.
Congress’ Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore posted on X a video of water leaking from the roof in a lobby of the new Parliament building and a bucket placed to collect it.
Sharing the video, Tagore said on X, “Paper leakage outside, water leakage inside. The recent water leakage in the Parliament lobby used by the President highlights urgent weather resilience issues in the new building, just a year after completion.”
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also took a swipe at the government over the issue.
“The old Parliament was better than this new Parliament as there even former MPs could come and meet. Why not go back to the old Parliament building, at least till the time the water leakage programme is going on in the (new) Parliament building built with billions of rupees,” he said in a post on X and shared the video of the leakage.
“People are asking whether water dripping from every new roof constructed under the BJP government is a part of their well thought out design or …,” Yadav said, taking a swipe at the Centre.
In a post on X, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, “New parliament lobby is leaking water. Given the building is a monstrous edifice to Narendra Modi’s ego it is only fitting that it has got shaky post 2024 Lok Sabha results. Bharat Mandapam leaks another case in point.”
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose said new Parliament building has no porch and steep precipitous steps and last night when there was a cloudburst in Delhi, it was the sturdy old Parliament building “which came to our rescue – sheltering us under its thoughtfully designed porch and providing some dry ground”.
“The new building built hurriedly and without shelter, failed, while the old one stood firm,” she said on X.
Congress MP gives adjournment notice
Meanwhile, Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment notice in which he said that “water leakage highlights potential issues with the building’s weather resilience, just one year after its completion.”
“I rise to address concerns following yesterday’s heavy rains, which caused water leaks inside the Parliament lobby along the path used by our President of India when entering the new Parliament building,” the Congress MP said.
Manickam Tagore proposed forming a specialised committee, including all party MPs, to inspect the building thoroughly to address the issue.
(With inputs from agencies)