Shillong, Sept 25: Information and Public Relations Minister, AL Hek said that the government is putting all efforts to ensure completion of building of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) within this current financial year.

Replying to a discussion in Assembly here on Tuesday, Hek said that as per the agreement signed between the DIPR and the Meghalaya Government Construction Corporation Ltd (MGCC) on December 16, 2014, the construction should complete by March, 2017.

“Due to inclement weather in the last two years, the construction could not complete. However, effort is on to ensure that the office building is completed within this financial year 2018-19,” Hek assured.

The minister further informed that the balance amount yet to be paid to MGCC is Rs 3.06 crore, since an amount of Rs 2.51 crore has been submitted to government for according sanction from the current financial year where there is sufficient fund for the purpose.

“An amount of Rs 55.78 lakh is the shortfall for payment to the MGCC,” he said.

The DIPR building should also accommodate the Pass Port Seva Kendra office, and the Commandant of Civil Task Force office.

Moreover, Hek informed that an additional amount of Rs 58.71 lakh is exclusive of the original estimate that required to meet the expenditure for the additional works for construction of approach road for the Pass Port Seva Kendra office, including modification and extension of rooms and additional staircase with path for separate entry for the office of the Commandant of Civil Task Force.