New Meghalaya Assembly building to be completed by 2021: Speaker

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 9, 2020

Assembly Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh on Wednesday said the new Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will be one of the most ‘iconic structures’ in the Northeast region once it is completed next year.  

Lyngdoh’s remark came after conducting a spot inspection to the construction site of the new building at Mawdiangdiang under the New Shillong Town, where he also reviewed the progress of work.

The Speaker was accompanied by the Urban Affairs Minister, Hamletson Dohling, Chief Secretary, MS Rao, officials of the finance department and different line departments. Representatives from the Design Associates, the project consultant were also present.

“(Once completed), I feel that the new Assembly building will be one of the most iconic structures (in the region),” Lyngdoh told reporters.

He also expressed satisfaction at the progress of the construction work.

“I am happy to inform that the progress in terms of the civil works is 50 percent and we expect that it will be completed by the end of October or first week of November, this year,” he said.

“We also intend to complete the construction of the new building by December, 2021. Our intention is also that the first budget session of the Assembly should be held in the new building in 2022, when the state will celebrate its 50^th year of statehood,” the speaker also announced.

The project costing Rs 141.14 crore is being constructed at 80 acres of land. The work was allotted to the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Ltd.

On the measures taken to ensure fund flow, Lyngdoh said, “I have had a number of reviews with the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, who has assured that as far as the funding aspect for the project is concerned, there will not be any problem at all.”

The Speaker on the other hand admitted that the project is facing shortage of labour force due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“The contractor has really suffered a lot with regards to labourers. We have discussed at length the need for more skilled people to come in from outside the state. I have also spoken to the political department on this and the issue has been taken care of,” he said.

Asked, Lyngdoh however said that despite the challenges, the progress of work is really fantastic as compared to the last inspection conducted on June 23.

According to him, the water and electricity supply connection to the building will also be completed by the end of next year.

It may be mentioned here that the State Legislative Assembly for the past 16 years has not had a permanent building ever since the fire incident that destroyed the old assembly building at Khyndailad way back in 2001.

The incident had made Meghalaya to become the only state without an Assembly building.

The delay in the construction of the new building was also due to problems in finalization of the land.