Construction work for the Central Vista project is going unabated even when New Delhi has been under lockdown for the past ten days.
The national capital has recorded an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 infections, with a member in almost each family testing positive for the virus.
People can be seen desperately running from pillar to post to save the lives of their dear ones amidst a severe shortage of beds and oxygen supply.
The healthcare system has been stressed to the fore and medical personnel are a tired lot as they battle to save the lives of lakhs of people down with Covid-19.
While all construction projects have been banned during the pandemic, it is surprising and alarming that the Centre has allowed the construction of the Central Vista project terming it as an ‘essential service’, a report stated.
Under this project a 3.2-km stretch called the Central Vista that lies at the heart of Lutyens Delhi will be renovated.
Several government buildings, including iconic landmarks like the Indian Parliament will be reconstrucetd at a total cost of Rs 20,000 crore.
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This huge amount of money could well have been utilized in a better way to improve the healthcare system of India that would have prepared it to handle the second wave of infections in a better way.
It is surprising that the central government is spending Rs 201 crore to build 162 oxygen generation plants, while spending a whopping Rs 971 crore to reconstruct a new Parliament.
Although various countries have come forward to extend a helping hand in times of India’s battle with the deadly virus, it is essential that the Centre ensures proper utilization of funds in augmenting good healthcare to save lives