PM inaugurates flats for MPs, asks them to celebrate different festivals

Prime Minister PM Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated a complex of multistorey flats for parliamentarians in at Baba Kharak Singh Marg close to Parliament House comprisesFollowing the inauguration PM Modi suggested that residential premises comprising 184 typeVII multistorey flats should celebrate Indias different festivals and compete on cleanlinessHe also took a swipe at his rivals and said some people may link Kosi the name of one of the four towers christened after different rivers to the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections but he will tell such smallminded people that the tradition of naming towers after rivers unites peopleThe three other towers are named Krishna Godavari and Hooghly reported PTIThese rivers which give life to millions will now inspire a new stream of joy in the lives of public representatives PM Modi said adding that there had long been a shortage of residences for MPs and firsttime members had to struggle to get a house However no new residence was built for Lok Sabha lawmakers between 2004 and 2014 when the Congressled United Progressive Alliance UPA was in power and his government has constructed around 350 of them noted PM ModiThe India of the 21st century is as sensitive as it is eager for development he said adding that his government built a new government secretariat Parliament building and houses for MPs and also constructed over four crore homes for the poor hundreds of medical colleges and provided piped water supply for householdsPM Modi also stated that the old houses for MPs were in a poor state and posed several problems adding that lawmakers will face no such issue in these modern flats each with a carpet area of over 5000 sq ftWhen MPs are free of their own problems they can use their time and energy more effectively on addressing peoples problems Modi saidThese flats will also help save money as the government spent a considerable sum in maintaining old houses he claimedNoting that Members of Parliament MP from different states and regions will be staying in these premises he said it will symbolise the idea of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat It will be a great move if festivals of different states are celebrated collectively he said adding that the MPs can ask their constituents to join them as wellPM Modi further suggested that the MPs living on the premises should consider it their duty to ensure that the place is identified with sustainability and cleanlinessHe said he will urge the ministry and the residential committee concerned if there can be a competition two to three times annually among the different premises housing MPs on cleanlinessIt should be declared after competition that this particular block was found cleanest Maybe after a year we can also announce which is the best and which is the worstDuring the inauguration PM Modi also planted a sindoor sapling on the premises something he has often done to mark different events since Operation Sindoor Indias military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attackHe interacted with engineers and other personnel involved in the construction and praised them for their effortsThe complex is designed to be selfsufficient and is equipped with a full range of modern amenities to address the functional needs of the members of the Parliament according to a statementIncorporating green technology the project adheres to the standards of the GRIHA 3star rating and complies with the National Building Code NBC 2016 These environmentally sustainable features are expected to contribute to energy conservation renewable energy generation and effective waste management it saidEach residential unit provides ample space for both residential and official functions the statement added The inclusion of dedicated areas for offices staff accommodation and a community centre will support MPs in fulfilling their responsibilities as public representatives it saidAll buildings within the complex are constructed to be earthquakeresistant in accordance with modern structural design norms A comprehensive and robust security system has been implemented to ensure the safety of all residents the statement saidWith PTI inputs