Aravallis pose a problem for Parliament8217;s new library

The foothills presented a particular predicament to the Rs 191-crore library project because owing to their situation, the rocks could not be blasted away.

8220;Each rock had to be chiselled away manually, which took most of the time,8221; says an official in charge of the construction.

The problem was compounded by the fact that the new building was to have three floors, one above the ground and two below.

8220;This to make sure that the level of the library does not cross height of the base of Parliament8217;s columnade. So most of the construction has to be underground,8221; the official says, adding the building will now be complete by August 2001.

The library can be directly accessed from the main Parliament building via a kilometer-long underground passage. 8220;This is being envisaged mainly as a passage for transporting books and other heavy stuff. Visitors will have to enter the building at ground level. However, there is no decision yet on who all will be allowed to use the passage,8221; the official adds.

Though most of the new documentation will be based on computers, what will be special to the building will be a new system to check theft of books and other invaluable documents belonging to Parliament.

8220;There will be a small computer chip hidden inside every book. While the book can be taken out of the shelf for reading or copying, it cannot be taken out of the building. This should prevent theft of books which have been acquired by the library over the last 50 years,8221; the official said.

Besides Internet, the library will be fully connected by computers to other state legislatures, foreign parliaments and other international bodies. The building plans envisage an archive with temperatures below freezing point round the clock to preserve audio/video materials, computer tapes and microfilms.

The main structure of the library will be very similar to Parliament House, unlike Parliament Annexe. It will have one main dome of glass ceiling and be surrounded by smaller domes around it.

The library building has been conceptualised by architect Raj Rewal and Associates, drawing inputs from temples of Raunakpur and Datia and the Taj Mahal. The building is estimated to cost Rs 191 crore, including Rs 141 crore for building, Rs 35 crore for furniture and Rs 15 crore for special services.

The total area of the building will be 46,914 square metres while the total usable area will be 34,785 square metres. Out of this 21,125 square metres would be for Library, Reference, Research, Documentation and Information Service or LARRDIS.

Just 11,000 square metres will be for library stacks which will be eleven round-shaped independent and self-contained blocks, seven blocks on the outer periphery and four in the inner circle. The central dome will have a glass ceiling to provide diffused natural light for basement levels.