There isn't enough money to give to the states but in fact, there are calls for donations across the country Appeals to care more by loosening your pockets are being made. While mega bailout packages are being announced in other major economies to save themselves we are merely dilly-dallying.
But amidst this coronavirus pandemic, a splendid Central Vista Project worth more than Rs. 20,000 crore has been progressing with great power. Let the common man starve, let him lose his job- it doesn't matter. But the enjoyment of the government must grow.
THE CENTRAL VISTA PROJECT
credits:thewire.in
Central Vista- that is, Rajpath, India Gate, North Block, South Block, Rashtrapati Bhawan and the Rashtrapati Bhawan. This entire area is referred to as "Central Vista" Delhi's centre and India's power centre. The talks about the redevelopment of this area were raised in a notification dated 2nd September last year People assumed that the government buildings might be in need of some minor repairs but they want a completely new Parliament Brand new and customised. The land has also been approved for this purpose on 20th March 2020 and the delivery date has also been decided upon so swiftly. The entire Central Vista will be completely transformed into a new area by 2024, work will also commence on it very shortly.
WHAT WILL CHANGE?
credits:national herald
Under the Central Vista reconstruction, the same government buildings will be reconstructed after getting demolished. Under this project, the entire Central vista will be redeveloped, the entire 3 kilometre stretch from the Rajpath to Rashtrapati Bhawan will be completely changed. The buildings of a number of ministries will be demolished, a new triangular Parliament of 9.5 acres will be constructed beside the existing Parliament. Proposals for converting the entire Parliament into a museum have also been put forward. Not only this, there will be a common Secretariat on the 3 kilometres long Rajpath and near the South and the North block will be the new residences of the Prime Minister and the Vice President. That is, the Pradhan Mantri Niwas (Prime Minister's residence) will be on the Rajpath and proposals of starting an underground shuttle service or a monorail in redeveloped Central Vista have been put forth which will directly connect the new house of PM to the new Parliament.
QUESTIONS RAISED ON THE PROJECT?
credits:theindian express
When questions were raised as to what was the need for shifting the Prime Minister's residence on the Rajpath What is the significance of this? If you talk about the permanent residence of the Prime Minister, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg There's already an airport tunnel, a Helipad, bulletproof passageways, a conference hall there. All the facilities exist and the security is enough for the Prime Minister's residence. Despite that, why does the Supreme Leader want a new house on Rajpath?
A few smaller questions are also raised on this Rs 20,000 crore and counting project.
For example, Why wasn't the bidding process transparent? Why is such a huge task being done in such a hurry? Is it right to demolish the heritage buildings? How will the green cover that will be destroyed be replenished? What about the area that was a public space earlier, but will now become a politician space? There will be an expense of almost Rs 20,000 crore in the Central Vista redevelopment.
If you consider the country's situation similar to a common Indian household, then (it would mean that) there's no money at home and someone has already fallen sick in your family then would you borrow money to buy a new house? Or would you cut down your expenses, save money and get insurance as well as treatment?
The contract of the entire reconstruction has been given to a firm named HCP Design. It is the same famous firm which constructed the Sabarmati riverfront in Gujarat, Gujarat secretariat and the Kashi Vishwanath corridors and during the pre architectural bid when all the other architectural companies requested the CPWD that the firm should be chosen on the basis of an open design competition. Then this was one company that did not sign on the open design competition letter and they were the ones to bag the contract!. BJP is doing great for the Gujarati's so far.
PROBLEMS WITH THE CENTRAL VISTA PROJECT
Now you'd ask me what my problem is and why do I raise so many questions? When it takes Rs. 3,000 crores to erect a statue in our state, then it is bound to be expensive if the entire central vista is being transformed. There's no problem with the project The problem is the timing when the country is reeling under the epidemic of coronavirus and the government does not have enough money to feed the people, In fact, when the COVID bailout packages of countries like the US have reached 11% of GDP, we are unable to make a bailout package of even 1% of GDP. The salaries of the government employees are being cut, their allowances are halted. Moreover, the Centre already owes Rs 30,000 crores to the states.
credits:worldeconomicforum
In fact, where the rest of the countries are spending lavishly on COVID relief packages, and crediting money to the people's bank accounts as well as the bank accounts of the middle-class people. Here, the government is unable to give money to the public because THERE IS NO MONEY! and then we are spending 20,000 crores for a new building. An iPhone in one hand and a begging bowl in another will only make for a good TikTok video but not for a superpower, and what will you do with this Disneyland if it is not visible to anyone? Because pollution is a bigger problem in Delhi than pollution which kills almost 80 people every day Let winters arrive- you wouldn't be able to figure out whether you're wearing a mask for Corona or for pollution.
At a time when we should pay attention to hospitals and on the fight against pollution, we are indulging in such a massive renovation project at this time. In fact such a massive project would raise the pollutant levels in the heart of Delhi which no one cares about because pollution exists every year, but elections come only once every five years!
WHAT ELSE WE COULD HAVE DONE WITH THIS MONEY?
What else could be done with this expense? Since you will not get the answers to this on the TV news, So I thought of telling you myself. We can buy approximately 7 lakh ICU ventilators and 13.3 lakh portable ventilators with this money. The ventilators that can save us from Corona and other serious illnesses. Talking about healthcare, it takes almost 150 crores to set up a hospital in Delhi. So that means that we can construct 130 states of the art hospitals over the next four years with the money that will be spent on Central Vista redevelopment. That means that there could have been more hospitals. Had we utilised this money correctly? do tell us in the comment section.
CONCLUSION
I'm also not saying that you should not do the Central Vista Project, carry out as many renovations as you want but first just become a 5 trillion dollar economy, first control the corona, take the economy out of negative, spend some money on healthcare and when all this is done, then go ahead and renovate the Central vista- we don't care. We're not stopping you and we'll not let anyone stop you but until then, when the country is fighting an epidemic like Corona, when you do not have money until then, stop this monstrous joke!
On one hand, the government asserts that it does not have money there are talks of tax raise, people's money is being cut, and salaries are being forfeited and such a massive vanity project is ongoing on the other hand. Common sense demands that until the issue of coronavirus ends and until the government's bank balance improves such projects be put on hold. Otherwise, it is an awkward joke being played on us.
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ABHISHEK RAWAT
Content Writer
@DAYLIGHTMEDIA
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