SHILLONG, March 6: The state government will conduct safety audit of all the old buildings including the heritage ones in Meghalaya.
Informing that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has already instructed the Revenue and Disaster Management department to carry out the safety audit, Cabinet Minister and MDA Spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh, on Wednesday, said the safety audit is expected to be completed in a span of 4-6 months.
He informed that all heritage buildings will also be a part of the safety audit.
Lyngdoh further said that State Central Library complex will also be given a facelift and the Chief Minister will soon lay the foundation stone for the rejuvenated library complex, which also includes elements of safety.
Following the destruction of a number of iconic and old wooden structures in Shillong due to fire, particularly because of electrical short circuit, Power Minister AT Mondal had stated that the Power department is contemplating about conducting an audit of the electrical supplies of the iconic and heritage wooden structures in Shillong. The recent incident at the over-a-century-old Shillong Bar Association is said to have been caused by a short circuit.
It may be mentioned that the State government had in April 2016, after an earthquake, conducted a safety audit of old government offices and even some schools in view of the presence of several tall and rickety buildings standing without the mandatory safety norms.
