The Lok Sabha Secretariat reported on Thursday that a minor water leakage occurred in the lobby of the new Parliament Building following heavy rains in Delhi. The issue was caused by the slight displacement of adhesive material used to fix the glass domes. Immediate corrective measures were taken to address the problem.
The Secretariat also noted that accumulated water opposite Makar Dwar of the Parliament building was quickly drained. In a press release, the Lok Sabha Secretariat responded to media reports about water leakage into the lobby of the newly inaugurated Parliament Building, raising concerns about the structure’s weather resilience.
Infrastructure quality under @narendramodi ji’s rule!
Hardly a year of its completion, water leakage in the lobby of new Parliament building that was completed in haste and hurry!@INCIndia @RahulGandhi @kharge pic.twitter.com/Aee7Lbf8Aa
— Dr. Girija Shetkar (@GirijaShetkar) August 1, 2024
The press release mentioned reports of waterlogging around the premises, particularly near the New Parliament’s Makar Dwar, with several videos of the waterlogging going viral on social media platforms. Emphasizing the concept of a Green Parliament, the release explained that glass domes have been installed in several parts of the building, including the lobby, to utilize abundant natural light for day-to-day parliamentary work.
“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 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 release stated.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment notice in Lok Sabha on Thursday regarding the water leakage in the Parliament Lobby. He pointed out that the leakage highlights “potential issues with the building’s weather resilience, just one year after its completion.”
Tagore proposed forming a committee, including MPs from different parties, to inspect the building thoroughly and address the issue. Opposition MPs, including Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT) and RJD’s Manoj Jha, also referred to the leakage in the Parliament Lobby during discussions in the Rajya Sabha on the demands for grants of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament Building in May last year.