New Assembly: State Govt invites EOI

SHILLONG:  The State government has invited expression of interest (EOI) for engaging consultant to prepare the detailed project report for the proposed assembly building at New Shillong Township (NST).
Informing this here on Wednesday, the State Assembly Speaker AT Mondal said that the selected consultant would the necessary plans and   designs for the proposed assembly site at New Shillong Township.
Meghalaya has been without a permanent Assembly building for over 14 years now, ever since the heritage Assembly building at Police Bazar was gutted in a fire on January 9, 2001.
Since 2001, the Assembly sessions have been conducted either at the U Soso Tham auditorium or at the Arts and Culture Building, Rilbong.
For 14 years, it was under these “rented” accommodations that several legislations were passed, some governments voted out and some of the finest debates witnessed.
From 2001, efforts were made to construct the Assembly chamber at the Khyndailad locale, New Shillong Township at Mawdiangdiang, Upper Shillong and Tara Ghar which was the official residence of the chief minister opposite Ward’s Lake. But the efforts went in vain.
After mulling over several sites in the city for the construction of a new Assembly building, the State government had zeroed in on the NST at Mawdiangdiang in order to avoid further congestion in Shillong town.
The State Government has allocated 80 acres of land for the purpose.