Shillong – Ongoing renovation work at the old Assembly building in Khyndailad, currently serving as the office of the Meghalaya Assembly Speaker, has raised questions over the necessity of the project. Despite the expectation of a soon-to-be-completed new Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang, substantial funds continue to be invested in refurbishing the old site.
The recent work includes replacing the previously installed high-quality tiles with a concrete surface and other general renovations, including refurbishing the boundary walls. Notably, workers are removing tiles that were installed only a few years ago and are reportedly still in excellent condition. This has led to public questioning about whether these changes are genuinely needed or simply a means to award contracts, potentially leading to unnecessary expenditure of public funds.
This building has been in use for administrative purposes since the original Assembly hall was destroyed by fire on January 9, 2001. Now, nearly 20 years later, the state still awaits a fully functional new Assembly complex, with the interim solution at Khyndailad continuing to consume resources.
