New Legislature Complex for special session inaugurated

Srinagar, Jul 6 (UNI) Hours before facing the vote of confidence, following the withdrawal of support by its alliance partner, Peoples Democratic Party, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today inaugurated a new legislature complex here.

The complex, work on which was initially started more than 30 years ago, will witness a historic one-day special session tomorrow when Mr Azad will move a vote of confidence in the House.

Governor N N Vohra summoned the special session to allow the Congress-led coalition government in the state to prove its majority on the floor of the House after the PDP had withdrawn from the ministry and coalition on the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board land transfer issue.

In early nineties, the main legislature complex on the bank of the river Jehlum was gutted in a devastating fire. Later a new hall was constructed where only Legislative Assembly (LA) proceedings were being conducted.

As LA building was just a ground floor structure, two fidayeen who stormed the complex, entered nearby three storey building in October 2000.

The Legislature Complex, first of its kind in the country and unique in terms of architecture, design, woodwork and workmanship, was initially started in 1977 when then Chief Minister Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah laid its foundation on September 27. The construction, however, was subsequently stopped.

In 1997, the work was restarted, but after completing about 20 per cent construction, it was again stopped in 1998.

Since the holding of the sessions of the Legislature in the winter capital in the old complex was causing severe inconvenience to people at large in view of security restrictions, Mr Azad decided to have a new Legislature Complex in the summer capital.

However, when he was told about the abandoned structure, he immediately visited the site and held a high-level meeting where it was decided to complete the project within the shortest possible time.

The construction work was finally again taken up in September 2007 and has been completed in nine months.

The new Legislature Complex has been completed at a total cost of Rs 37 crore and is reckoned as the best state legislature building in the entire country.

UNI BAS ASM SW AS1719