SHILLONG, June 1: A 30-member team from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati has begun investigation into the Assembly building project in New Shillong Township to find out the reason(s) behind the collapse of the central dome on May 22.
The IIT-Guwahati team conducted a preliminary recce of the site on Saturday and sought one-month time to complete its task.
Facing severe backlash over the massive embarrassment, the state government had written to four IITs requesting them to dispatch a team to inquire into the reasons behind the fiasco. It was only the IIT-Guwahati which responded to the government’s SOS and agreed to investigate the collapse of the central dome atop the Rs-127 crore Assembly building that was touted as a highlight of what was to be an iconic structure of Shillong and the state.
A PWD (Buildings) official on Wednesday said, “The IIT-Guwahati team will audit the safety of the building. The team has brought along all the necessary equipment to carry out the exercise.”
The official said senior PWD engineers will assist the IIT team and provide all logistical support.
According to the official, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh have asked the audit team to compile and submit the report at the earliest.
PWD (Buildings) Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare also confirmed that the IIT-Guwahati team has started its investigation. “A team comprising 25 to 30 members from IIT-Guwahati is conducting the audit and will submit the report in one month,” he said.
The high-powered committee headed by the Speaker has halted construction work pending the IIT audit.
Meghalaya has not had a permanent Assembly campus for 21 years after the iconic 125-year-old wooden building at Police Bazar was gutted in a devastating fire in 2001.
Work on the new Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang on the outskirts of Shillong began in June 2019 and was to be completed by August 2022.
The construction of the new assembly building was being undertaken by Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Limited which had subcontracted the work to Assam-based Badri Rai Company Ltd.
The design was prepared by Design Associates Limited, Noida and vetted by IIT-Roorkee.
