Speaker sets up panel to suggest new home for Parliament

New Delhi: Parliament may have a new building in place of the existing 85-year-old heritage structure with Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar giving approval to set up a high-powered committee to suggest an alternative complex.[caption id=“attachment_377346” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Parliament of India. Reuters[/caption] Lok Sabha secretary general TK Viswanathan said that the speaker had given an “in principle” approval to set up a committee to go into questions such as the site of alternate complex to house the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and how it will be constructed. He said there was need for an alternate complex as the existing building was heavily used and cannot take the strain. “Foofalls are increasing…Its heritage character should be preserved…. (There is need to) plan for the future,” he said. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) had said Thursday that the Parliament building needs renovation as there were apprehensions of loosening of small ceiling tiles. Viswanathan said composition of the committee will be decided in the next few days but it was likely to be headed by a leading public figure. The committee is likely to have representation from the urban development ministry. IANS