SHILLONG, Sept 17: The High Powered Committee (HPC) on Friday decided to leave it to the wisdom of the state government to take action against the parties involved in the dome collapse.

“We will leave it to the wisdom of the government to handle these parties (which include the contractor and the designer and PMC),” Assembly Speaker and HPC chairman Metbah Lyngdoh told reporters after the meeting.

He informed that following the report of the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) the government had issued show-cause to the designer and the contractor. The penalty clause will be imposed on the designer, who has accepted and assured to appoint a technical person who has the capacity to look after the project.

He said the designer has also agreed to prepare the new design of the dome without any cost.

“As suggested by the IITG in its report to use light materials for the dome’s portion, we have agreed that we will go ahead with the light materials as far as the dome portion is concerned,” Lyngdoh said while adding “We have been informed that the new design will be ready within 3 weeks’ time. We have also agreed that a full presentation should be given on the new design.”

Lyngdoh further informed that the contractor has accepted that there were some lapses from their end. He also added that “since we have agreed to go ahead with the construction, the contractor has agreed to clear all the debris accumulated there after the collapse of the dome.”

He said the contractor has also assured to further strengthen the structure and make it stronger. “The contractor also agreed that there will be no claim for reconstruction works of the entire damaged portion. They have also assured to put in place a technical engineer to ensure retest of the strength of the building,” he added

According to him, the IITG report had clearly stated that the entire building of the new Assembly is safe.

Meanwhile, the Speaker said the government has decided to appoint a new Project Management Contractor (PMC) with a sound technical engineer without any delay.

“For matters related to the lack of coordination from the PWD side, the government will do the necessary audit,” he said.