Northeast Desk, 6th December: Meghalaya Assembly Speaker, Thomas A Sangma, has reviewed the progress of the new Assembly building construction at Mawdiangdiang and set a deadline for its completion by July-August 2024. Sangma emphasized the importance of adhering to the tight schedule and expressed the desire to hold the next autumn session at the new assembly building. Line departments have been instructed to fulfill their tasks promptly.
Despite the initial plan to complete the building by July last year, a setback occurred when the central 70-ton steel dome collapsed in May. The debris has been cleared, and the construction of a new dome with fabricated steel is underway, with IIT-Guwahati overseeing the vetting process. The pre-fabricated structure is expected to arrive soon, and installation is scheduled to commence in February, concluding by April.
The new Meghalaya Assembly building project began in 2019 with an initial fund of over Rs 120 crore. The DoNER ministry has provided assurance for the in-principle sanction of the second phase of construction, with the detailed project report (DPR) in preparation. Sangma anticipates obtaining the sanction by March 2024.
The initiative to construct a new Assembly building was prompted by a fire that broke out in the previous building in 2001, leading to significant damage. The current Assembly sessions are conducted in an auditorium of the arts and culture department in the Rilbong area of Shillong.
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