Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 12: The Government was considering various options on holding budget session of the Legislature after the collapse of a portion of Legislature complex building in the wee hours yesterday rendering the building unsafe for holding nearly one and a half month long session, which was scheduled to begin in fourth week of February next year.
A high level team of experts from New Delhi is flying here tomorrow for on spot assessment of the Legislature complex to see whether it could be repaired to the extent that the budget session could be held in both Houses (Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council) inside it.
Legislative Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone said various options were under consideration of the Government for holding budget session of the Legislature once the building was declared unfit.
“We would explore the alternatives in the next few days. There are many options but they would be taken into account only when the experts suggested that it was not fit to hold the Legislature session in the present structure despite carrying out repairs”, Mr Lone said.
Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra told the Excelsior that a high level team of experts is flying here tomorrow morning from New Delhi to inspect the cracks and damaged portion of the Legislature complex and suggest whether the repair works could make the building fit for nearly one and a half month long session or not.
“A decision on exploring alternates for the session would come up only after we obtain the expert opinion tomorrow”, Mr Malhotra said.
Mr Lone said construction of two Houses using pre-fabricated huts material in the lawns of Civil Secretariat, using Zorawar Singh auditorium or some similar complexes available in Jammu would be discussed in the next few days by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry and the Chairman and the Speaker of the two Houses.
“First, we would trying to hold session in the same complex with repair work but if the experts declared the building unsafe in view of deep cracks and collapse of a portion, we would try for alternatives like auditoriums and lawns using pre-fabricated material. But, if that too was not possible, another option of the Government holding a small session with Vote on Account in the winter capital and holding full fledged budget session in Srinagar could also be considered”, the Speaker said.
It may be reported here that the State Government had to pass the budget or take Vote on Account in the Legislature before March 31. If the Government decided to go for Vote on Account, it can be a brief session of 8 to 10 days. However, the full budget session would have 25 to 26 sittings lasting more than 40 days.
Sources said if the experts ruled out holding session in present Legislature complex despite subjecting it to repair works, the Government had to find out two halls at one place for accommodating both Houses of the Legislature.
“The options would be discussed including availability of halls or creation of two Houses with pre-fabricated material in lawns only after declaration of the present complex unsafe and not worthy of repair works”, Mr Lone said.
Meanwhile, the Government today constituted a committee of technical experts (engineers) to look into the collapse of the wall/ceiling of the Legislature building to identify reasons behind the collapse/damage, steps taken by the contractor and engineers to safeguard existing building before the damage was caused, identify areas which are safe/unsafe for use and measures required to be taken to prevent further damage to the existing building.
The Committee comprised Chief Engineer PMGSY Jammu, Joint Development Commissioner Works, Managing Director JKPCC, Chief Engineer Public Works (R&B) Department, Jammu and Chief Engineer Designs, Inspections and Quality Control. The Committee would submit its report to General Administration Department by or before December 14, sources said.
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