Meg to lay foundation of new Assembly on Dec 18

Shillong, Dec 6: After a gap of six years, the Meghalaya government has decided to lay the foundation stone of the new Assembly building in Upper Shillong here on December 8.

The construction of the new state Assembly building was necessitated after the historic Assembly building was reduced to ashes on January 9, 2001.

The original Assembly building, made of Burmese teak in gothic style was located at Khyndailad (police bazaar).

''We have decided to lay the foundation stone on December 8 after the first day of the winter Assembly session,'' Assembly Speaker and High Power Committee (HPC) Chairman Martin M Danggo told reporters here yesterday.

He stated that the foundation stone would be laid at the Arts and Culture Auditorium, the make-shift of the Assembly building in Rilbong.

35.3 acres of land has been acquired, Mr Danggo said informing the initial cost estimate of the new Assembly building made four years ago would entail an expenditure of Rs 22 crore. However, he said that there would be some escalation in the project cost with the passage of time.

The defence authorities have granted permission to the state government to construct the Assembly building since it is located near the Eastern Air Command headquarters, the Speaker added.

Mr Danggo informed that the state PWD (Building) has been entrusted to undertake the project, besides working out the modalities. While the award of contract for constructing the building would be decided by the state Additional Advocate General.

UNI