Leader of the opposition Ronnie V Lyngdoh has suggested the Meghalaya government hold an audit into the recent collapse of a section of wall at the new PA Sangma Stadium in Tura so that the general public is reassured that their lives and property are not in danger.
Supporting the government’s move to have a magisterial inquiry into the incident, the Congress Party leader said that there should be a kind of audit as the stadium can seat several thousand people.
“Lives of the people should be a priority. I think an audit can be done to ensure that the structure is safe and, if need be, it can be rectified to ensure lives are not put in danger,” he suggested.
Although the Trinamool Congress criticised the constitution of a magisterial inquiry, saying that experts in engineering should ideally look into the issue, Lyngdoh backed the government in this matter, saying that magistrates would have the authority to interrogate. “The government has done the right thing because they (magistrates) can hold everyone to account and ask questions. Whereas, if you appoint someone from the PWD (Public Works Department), it will be technical and they will give technical reasons and it will end there.”
A magisterial inquiry also still has scope for experts to be appointed in the committee, Lyngdoh added.
