4th Death anniversary of P A Sangma
TURA: In a major boost for sports infrastructure in the Garo Hills region, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday laid the foundation for the state and Garo Hills’ first ever exclusive football stadium and a multipurpose sporting arena named after his late father and long time Tura MP Purno Agitok Sangma, here at the P A Sangma stadium in Dakopgre.
The day’s event was memorial for the chief minister as it also happened to be the 4th death anniversary of his father, Late P A Sangma.
The P A Sangma Integrated Sports Complex to be built at a cost of 125 crores of rupees will come up at the existing (MP) P A Sangma stadium and its adjoining area. It will comprise of the state’s first and only natural turf football stadium and also an indoor stadium that will include a swimming pool, squash, badminton and basketball courts.
“Late P A Sangma inspired many a generation of people. He was someone people looked up to. Today we are here to celebrate the road map he laid down not just for Garo Hills, but the entire state of Meghalaya and the north east region,” said chief minister Corad Sangma while addressing the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony.
The chief minister also unveiled a life size statue of his late father at the entrance to the P A Sangma stadium, that had been donated by the P A Sangma Foundation. Widow of Late Sangma Mrs Soradini K Sangma also attended the inauguration.
Speaking about the upcoming integrated sports complex, Conrad Sangma told the gathering that the 125 crore project is being funded jointly by the state and central government.
“This will be the only stadium in the entire state, and possibly one among a few in the north east, which will be dedicated solely for football. There will be no track and field on the ground. Behind it will be the indoor stadium which will have multiple sporting grounds for badminton, squash, basketball and also a swimming pool. Once completed it will be able to host any national or international event,” announced the chief minister as he added that the tender process would be completed soon and work would begin within a few months time.
A parking arena that can accommodate As many as 500 vehicles at any given time is also to come up as part of the integrated complex.
Recalling Late P A Sangma’s role in the state and the country, Conrad Sangma said that his father’s most memorable contribution has been the nurturing and building up of leadership of many a youth.
“In many places leaders don’t allow others to grow. But P A Sangma believed in bringing out the best in every individual. He was a teacher who built an army of leaders. If we want to see change we must plant people, which is what our later leader did. People may come and go, but ideas will remain,” said the chief minister quoting his late father.
He recalled that his father was always at the forefront in championing rights of the tribals of the north east and the country which was why he took on the challenge to contest the country’s highest constitutional post- election of the president of India, despite the electoral numbers heavily stacked against him.
“He always maintained that we the tribals of our state and the northeast are second to none which is why he contested the presidential polls. He led us by example.”
Elder son of Late P A Sangma and minister in the state, James Pangsang K Sangma spoke of the memories shared with their father. “Our father came from very humble beginnings at a time when his grandmother had to break stones for a living. It was the Salesian priests who took him under their wings and helped him. With sheer determination and grit he overcame the challenges. This should be a constant reminder that a son of the soil can attain such stature,” said James Sangma.
A host of NPP leaders and ministers including Tura MP Agatha K Sangma, Transport minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, North Tura MLA Thomas A Sangma and MLAs of different Garo Hills constituencies, Jowai and Khasi Hills region also attended the programme at the stadium.