Assembly building: All set for inauguration
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 28 2011:
The new Assembly building constructed as a component of the Capitol Complex is all ready for inauguration by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on December 3 .
The site where the Assembly building now stands was used as a reserved line during the British colonial period before Assam Rifles turned it into their firing range.
Earlier, the site was quite swampy and the surrounding people had to endure perpetual nuisance due to constant loud report whenever firing practise was held.
This would be a thing of the past now and the site would be become the centre of political power and the heart of administration.
A woman who resides in the nearby locality said that they do not hear gun shots any more.
"We have seen many changes in the area after construction of the Assembly building even though the same building is yet to be inaugurated", she said.
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She was also apprehensive whether shifting the State Legislative Assembly there would bring more din and hullabaloo in the area.
The new Assembly building was constructed at the cost of Rs 142.42 crores starting from January 2006.Being a swampy area, around one lakh truck loads of earth were used in the ground development work, said a PWD official.
The new building is now the most spacious Assembly building in the entire North East region.
On the average, Simplex Infrastructure Private Limited engaged around 450 labourers on a daily basis in building it.
Construction work was halted for around six months and a half due to disturbances by UG groups.
Except for sand and stone, all the construction materials including tiles were imported from Kolkata, informed the official.
The main hall of the Assembly building can accommodate 150 MLAs.
Though offices for Chief Minister and Speaker have been completed, it would take some more time to complete the Assembly Secretariat and the banquet hall.
The Chongabon (dome) of the Assembly building has been painted beautifully by artist Bonomali reflecting the arts and artefacts of all the 32 ethnic groups of Manipur.
The front lawn and garden have been decorated with a local variety of grass.
However, carpet grass imported from Kolkata was used for the Rose Garden.
Though the Government allotted 31 acres of land for construction of the Assembly complex, it was found to be only 27.02 acres when PWD measured the area.