The pictures of thick smoke billowing from the Parliament House complex did exaggerate the severity of the situation, but the “black” picture they painted pointed to a grim reality — for all its architectural mastery the maintenance of that heritage structure is pathetic: a showpiece of sarkari incompetence. Forget, if that were indeed possible, the fire that severely damaged the air-conditioning plant, even in terms of day-to-day upkeep the building would be found wanting –the customary white-wash and floor-polishing ahead of each session just an exercise in covering up the cracks. The roof leaks, many walls tell tales of seepage, even in the main chambers a degree of crumbling of the ceiling is evident. And a heavy downpour exposes clogged drains.

Only on the eve of an “anniversary” does someone take duster and broom to remove the cobwebs behind the portraits of national figures. The theory that “a stitch in time saves nine” does not apply to the maintenance philosophy, and what better exemplifies the failure to preserve the sanctity of the structure than sand-stone “tiles” on the floor being replaced by blocks of coloured cement.

It would be cynical, but not inaccurate, to link the decline in maintenance standards to the drop in the quality of the proceedings. And until a “shocker” comes along nobody seems particularly perturbed about either. The President, Speaker and others have “reacted” to the fire, inquiries have been ordered, a police investigation launched; maybe a simple welder will “take the heat”. But should the air-conditioning plant be operational when the budget session resumes the maintenance issue will have blown away.

It is true that the structure is 88 years’ old, but does that render it “dangerous”? The retro-fitting of air-conditioning and other “upgrades” have been piecemeal, perhaps adding to the strain. The raising of the Parliament House Annexe and the more recent Parliament Library complex have been impressive but have only marginally reduced the pressure on the Lutyens-Baker edifice that drew its circular inspiration from the Ashoka Chakra. During the previous Lok Sabha too had maintenance been an “issue,” suggestions made for an entirely new building (that had the thekedars drooling) and so on.

A committee of eminent architects and engineers were supposed to prepare a comprehensive renovation plan –possibly temporarily moving the legislating chambers to an alternative venue — but little has been heard of it. Radical action is now inevitable, Sunday&’s fire should be perceived as a beacon, preserving and restoring Parliament House must become a national priority. Mercifully, thus far at least, none of our “nationalists” have called for its demolition because of its “imperial” origins. But who knows? If sentiments that razed a mosque have now re-surfaced to vandalise churches….?