Speaker Om Birla asks PM for new Parliament building; says LS to go digital

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 10

Speaker Om Birla said on Saturday that Lok Sabha has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a new parliament building.

Birla, who was briefing the press at the end of his very first session as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, said: “We will take suggestions from all on whether to continue at same place or not”.

He also said that the Lower House of Parliament was making a push towards going digital.

He said Members of Parliament have been asked to exercise their option to get all documents digital format or the existing printed on paper system.

Some 80 per cent MPs have opted to go paperless, Birla said. The process, he said, would save crores of rupees and speed up the process of sending material to MPs. 

On being asked how MPs will be equipped, Birla said MPs have already been given an allowance to buy electronic equipment like tablets or laptops.

On the conduct of Lok Sabha, he said all parties have cooperated in running of the House. “Functioning of the House was a personal challenge. It had several first time MPs who made good contribution. For the first time, matters raised in zero hour are being sent as reference to department concerned,” he said.

Birla said Lok Sabha will help provide experts who will help MPs understand the Bills tabled in the House. This service is optional, and will be available to those want it.

 On setting up the Standing Committees and how demands of members to send Bills to a select committee were turned down, Birla said the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry was consulting parties. He added that he allowed more time for discussion to help solve the problem.

This is not the first time somebody has suggested having a new parliament building. Former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan had written to Urban Development Ministry in December 2016 saying that it was time for Parliament to have a new building because the current 88-year-old building was showing “signs of distress”.