Speaker chairs meeting on new Assembly building

Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma chaired a meeting of the High Powered Committee on the construction of the new Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira, legislators Charles Pyngrope, Lahkmen Rymbui, and Banteidor Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, Commissioner & Secretary, Meghalaya Assembly, Dr Andrew Simons and other government officials.

After the meeting, the Assembly Speaker informed that the HPC meeting was held to give administrative approval to the new design of the dome as well as financial approval citing the increase of scope of work.

He stated that the new design has been vetted by IIT Roorkee and IIT Guwahati, and added that construction work of the building will proceed now.

‘The HPC sat to give administrative approval (to the new dome design) and also there was some financial approval required. The scope of work has also increased,’ the Speaker said.

‘After Eid work will resume in full swing,’ the Speaker said.

He also informed that the HPC has appointed a Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) as per the observations made by IIT Guwahati in the report on the collapse of the dome.

He also informed that the PWD & PMC has been instructed to look at the second phase of construction simultaneously.

2nd round of border talks likely in May

Meghalaya and Assam are likely to start the second round of border talks next month for finding an amicable solution to resolve the remaining six areas of difference between the two states.

Informing this today, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “Sometime in the month of May, we will try to initiate the first round of discussion or continue the next round of discussion of border talks. Let the time come, I expect that maybe in the month of May we will be able to see the next phase (of border talks).”

On March 24, the state government reconstituted the three Regional Committees to examine the present status of the remaining six areas of differences and submit their reports within 45 days.

The six areas of difference include Langpih in West Khasi Hills District; Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdoomreah, Block-II in Ri Bhoi District; Block- I, Psiar – Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills District.

The two deputy chief ministers – Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar – will head the regional committees for Ri Bhoi District and West Jaintia Hills District respectively while cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh will be the chairman of the regional committee for West Khasi Hills District.