SHILLONG, MAR 14: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will be leading a delegation to meet the Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in New Delhi for discussing on the issue relating to hosting of the National Games 2022 in Meghalaya.
Preparation for hosting of the mega national sporting event was also reviewed by Sangma here on Wednesday in the presence of Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh and officials of the department.
The Host City Contract for the 39th National Games 2022 was signed between the Indian Olymic Association (IAO), Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) and Meghalaya government on January 3, earlier this year.
With the government require to construct as many as 17 new stadiums and two game villages besides others, the initial expenditure for the purpose was estimated at Rs 2,000 crore. 35 sports disciplines have been shortlisted for the event.
“The chief minister will be meeting the Union Sports Minister on March 17, to seek the support of the Centre on the matter. I will also be accompanying him to New Delhi,” Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh told reporters after the review meeting.
He said that the chief minister is taking initiative and is very positive about the mega sporting event.
The sports minister further stated that the government may float an expression of interest inviting professional consultants for ensuring successful hosting of the National Games.
He informed that it was also decided that ministers’ in-charge of tourism and urban departments will also be included as members of the Organizing Committee of National Games 2022 headed by the chief minister.
It may be mentioned here the state government has also been asked to complete all infrastructural requirements for the game by 2021.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) also felicitated the new Sports Minister, who is also the ex-officio president of the association, at his office chamber today.
“We have requested the minister, who also comes from the sports background, for ensuring team efforts by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), MSOA and the state government to ensure we are able to meet up with the deadline for hosting the national games,” MSOA working president John F Kharshiing told journalists.
Informing that the National Games Committee has to be constituted before April 3, Kharshiing said that the association has also sought a meeting with the IOA to discuss on various issues including the handing over of the original city host contract to the state.
Asked, he said that Team Preparation Committee constituted under the Land Bank Committee have conducted inspections for identifying of lands for the purpose of construction of the infrastructures for the national games.
According to him, lands have been identified in few districts including in East Khasi Hills District, Ri Bhoi and Garo Hills.
“However, we are yet to finalise the land as there were unique proposals from the side of the landowners which are based on various conditions including revenue sharing which now will depend on the state government to take a call accordingly,” he said.
Admitting that land acquisition is a big challenge, the MSOA working president however said there is need to ensure quick finalisation of the land as whatever that needs to be done have to be completed within a period of six months.
It may be mentioned land for construction of the game village is 100 acres, for mini game village 50 acres while 10 acres each for the 17 stadiums.
Stating that the effort will be to ensure world class infrastructures are created, Kharshiing said these infrastructures have to be designed in such a way that they are sustainable even after the completion of the national games. “Whether we can include a mix of tourism also need to be taken into consideration,” he said.
Pointing out that the earlier calculation was that the state would require spending Rs 2,000 crore for creation of infrastructures; Kharshiing said that the entire funding for the same could come from the Centre if it wants to give a fillip to sports.
Meanwhile, the Sports minister has also agreed to preside over the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the MSOA to be held next month.
By Our Reporter
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