Shillong, May 24: The High Powered Committee (HPC) on Tuesday decided to appoint a third party to investigate and audit into the recent collapse of the dome and the safety of the under-constructed new Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang under the New Shillong Township area.

The meeting of the HPC was chaired by Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh and attended by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma, PWD (Buildings) Minister Dasakhiat Lamare and others.

After the inspection on-site at the New Assembly Building, a High Power Committee meeting was held today.

A Third Party Audit will investigate the matter concerning the collapse of the dome. pic.twitter.com/EU9v35Jpsv

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) May 24, 2022

After the meeting, Lyngdoh told reporters that the HPC has discussed at length about the incident and has decided to appoint a third party which will audit and submit a report on the reason behind the collapse of the dome structure.

“They (third party) will also investigate the collapse of the dome and at the same time they will also look into the strength of the left wing, the right wing, the corridor of the main hall, the reception area, the chamber of the Speaker and the Chief Minister and others which are in that floor, also those which are on the ground floor and in the basement if there is any,” he said.

Lyngdoh said that the HPC has suggested that the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) should be involved in auditing of the building adding that the names of three have been shortlisted which include IIT Guwahati, IIT Kolkata and IIT Delhi.

“Any of the three IITs will be selected and it will depend on the readiness of these IITs who will be conducting this audit and investigation as far as this case is concerned. We have given the task to the PWD (Buildings) to officially communicate to these IITs,” he said.

The Speaker also directed that the reports should be submitted at the earliest so that the next course of action will follow.

He also announced immediate halt to the construction works in the main Assembly building till the audit team submits its report.

Lyngdoh further informed that the debris accumulated at the central hall will remain as it is. “We will not allow anyone to remove that debris. Only after the IIT appointed by the department suggests or advises us, we can remove those debris…,” he said.

Further, the HPC has decided not to allow outsiders or unauthorized persons to enter the building due to safety measures and to cover the open area that has been created after the collapse of the dome to ensure there is no water leakage in the building.

“The next course of action or the next HPC meeting will be convened after we get the report from the audit team. As of now, it is very premature for us to take such a decision or action (against anybody),” he added.

Lyngdoh also claimed that he is not aware if construction works of the Assembly can be subcontracted to other companies and said, “Those are technical part of the agreement, I think we have to look into the agreement (if) it is there or not… I am not aware as that has been done by the PWD (Buildings).”

Clarifying on this, PWD (Buildings) Minister Dasakhiat Lamare informed that basically it is allowed but only a small percentage. “In this particular project, 40% of the project is allowed to subcontract to a different company for the construction,” he informed.