The Hindu : National : Rajya Sabha adjourned thrice over odour

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Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006

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National

Rajya Sabha adjourned thrice over odour

Special Correspondent

Emanated from spray near A/C plant

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned thrice at brief intervals on Monday when a pungent odour drifted into the hallowed precincts of the House and hung in the air for over two hours. The kerosene-like odour emanating from the air-conditioning duct caused irritation to the throat and eyes of some of the members who brought it to the notice of Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat during question hour.

Minister of State for Women and Child Welfare Renuka Chowdhary, who was answering a supplementary on anganwadi workers said: "From where has this kerosene come. Please let the House run. This is a very serious issue about anganwadi workers."

Members complain

Initially, the Chairman remarked that the whiff had diminished but then after a brief word with Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri, he abruptly adjourned the House for 15 minutes. However, when the House met again at noon, members still complained about the odour. The House was again adjourned till 12.30 p.m. When the House reassembled, the Chair quickly conducted the business of tabling papers and adjourned the House again till after lunch at 2 p.m.

This is the first time that the House has been adjourned for this unusual reason.

Later, Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat Yogendra Narain told media persons that the maintenance staff had used a mosquito spray near the air-conditioning plant that got sucked into the duct.

Normally, spraying was done at 8.30 a.m. followed by use of room fresheners.

On Monday, the spraying was done at 11.30 a.m. (the House begins at 11 a.m.)

Mr. Narain said he had asked Joint-Secretary (Security) Kanwaljit Deol to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The police chief sent a sample fluid from the air-conditioning duct for "examination."

The maintenance of Parliament House had been entrusted to the Central Public Works Department, which, in turn, out-sourced it to a private contractor.

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