‘Construction In Accordance With Covid Guidelines’: Centre Defends Central Vista Project In Delhi HC

The Central government on Tuesday filed a reply to the petition in Delhi High Court seeking to stop construction activity in the Central Vista Project. 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta while responding to the petition before the Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh at the Delhi Court, defended Centre and said that the petition seeking to stop the construction of the project is “sheer abuse of the process of law and is one more attempt to stall the project.”

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He argued that 400 workers for redevelopment of the Central Vista Avenue were engaged “well before” the imposition of curfew in Delhi. He pointed out that as per order dated 19.04.2021 by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, construction activities during curfew are permitted where labourers are residing on-site.

The plea filed by petitioner Anya Malhotra seeks a stay in ongoing construction activity on the part of the Central Vista project in New Delhi during the pandemic. The petitioner argues that Centre and CPWD’s act of carrying on this project has the potential of being a super spreader of Coronavirus. The plea seeks high court to issue orders related to the matter.

The two-judge bench meanwhile noted that reply was not on record and directed to bring the Center’s affidavit on record. The court said that it will hear the petition tomorrow.

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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.