By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Captain Williamnson Sangma Museum situated on the premises of the State Central Library is all set to miss its completion deadline.
According to officials, the project will miss the tentative target of March 2012 since the flooring of the building is yet to be completed. Besides, the Department of Arts and Culture has mooted additional plans for the Museum which is yet to be approved leading to the delay, the officials said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, PHE Minister Shitlang Pale and other officials from the Arts and Culture department, conducted an inspection of the site on Thursday.
Following the inspection, Dr Sangma recommended making the windows of the Museum building more attractive and construction of toilets on the ground floor.
The project was sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Culture at an estimated amount of Rs 2.17 crore out of which an amount of Rs 1.63 crore has been released by the Ministry while the State is contributing a share of 10 percent which amounts to around Rs 24 lakh.
Officials of the Arts and Culture department informed that the department was seeking funds from various channels to complete the flooring of the project (laying the marble and granite floor) which is expected to cost over Rs 1 crore.
The department is also planning to connect the old museum and the upcoming building besides constructing a café and a sitting place at the top of the building so that visitors may enjoy the view of the nearby areas and the city as a whole.