Manipur assembly building partially damaged by quake

The newly-constructed building of the Manipur assembly at Chingmeirong here was partially damaged due to Monday's earthquake, an official said here.

An engineer who visited the complex along with Works Minister T. Ratankumar on Tuesday morning said on condition of anonymity that the building might not withstand another earthquake of high magnitude.

Officials said once an expert committee submits a report, a decision will be taken on whether a new assembly secretariat should be constructed or the present one repaired and

strengthened.

Earlier, accompanied by engineers and high officials, Ratankumar visited the assembly complex on Tuesday morning to assess the damage to partially damaged buildings.

A temblor had jolted Manipur and other north-eastern states apart from West Bengal and adjoining countries of Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan at 4.35 a.m. on Monday. The quake's epicentre was in Manipur's Tamenglong district.

Lok Sabha MP T. Meinya said he had sanctioned Rs.10 lakh from his MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) funds for undertaking relief in his Inner Manipur constituency. "This is the first instalment. If necessary, more fund will be released," he said.