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Journalism of Courage
From nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) proof underground shelters to state-of-the-art security gadgets are some of the recommendations suggested as a part of security package for MPs.
It is learnt the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Parliamentary Security has proposed that NBC shelters be set up under the Parliament reception area to provide protection for VVIPs in the event of an attack by terrorists with ‘‘dirty bombs’’. Shelters, like the ones designed by the DRDO’s Pune-based Research and Development Engineers, could be created underground to protect MPs, said sources.
The Committee, which met on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed, discussed the issue with inputs provided by members including Ranganathan Mishra, CPI(M) member Basudeb Acharia and former Army chief Gen (retd) Shankar Roychowdhury. Once constructed, the VVIPs would be quickly escorted to the shelters which would have adequate safety and sustenance devices to protect them, said sources.
Delhi Police Commissioner R.S. Gupta, NDMC chairman, DDA vice-chairman and representatives from Home and Urban Development Ministries and the Special Protection Group attended the meeting.
The committee has also decided that Imtiaz Khan Road from Parliament Annexe to Akashvani Bhavan, will be closed to traffic by December 31 this year. Widening work and shifting of power sub-stations on the road will commence from July 21. It is understood that Gen Roychowdhury suggested the road be converted into a six-lane to enable it to tackle a high volume of traffic in the future. However, Che committee decided to conduct a study before taking a final decision on the issue.
