Meghalaya Chief Minister Threatens to Terminate Assembly Project Contract

Shillong: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma stormed out of a review meeting on Tuesday at the under-construction Meghalaya Legislative Assembly complex in Mawkasiang. The meeting lasted less than 10 minutes. He expressed fury over the slow interior work on the main hall and threatened to cancel the contract if the deficiencies remain. Inspection happened before the meeting.

Sangma confronted a person connected to the project while visibly angry. He said, "You are playing with my reputation. That is what you are doing…. I will not let you go. I will cancel the work." The Chief Minister remains deeply unhappy with both the quality and speed of the site progress.

Records show the interior contract went to local contractor Kitbok Warbah. Sources claim he sub-contracted the work to a New Delhi-based firm, creating a delay-prone layer of management. The overall project is designed by Design and Associates and executed by Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Ltd.

This site has a history of failure. In May 2022, the building's iconic dome collapsed. That incident forced an inquiry into construction standards, though no injuries occurred. The new complex aims to replace the original building destroyed by fire over two decades ago. The Chief Minister’s Office has yet to issue an official statement on the walkout.