By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government is finding itself in a spot of bother as it is yet to find any suitable venue for the upcoming Independence Day celebration.
Following the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s (MCA) refusal to allow the Government to use the Cricket Ground at Polo for the celebration, the State Government is left with no viable venue to hold the programmes on August 15.
The Youth and Sports Affairs department had written to the MCA on July 27 requesting the Association to allow the Government to use the Cricket Ground at Polo for the celebration. However, the MCA rejected the request in its meeting held on Wednesday.
In his response to the Sports department, MCA President Conrad K Sangma said the cricket field at Polo is definitely one of the best maintained in the North East and this has been achieved after almost a decade of hard work and commitment put in by the members.
Citing the Association’s inability to allow the celebrations at the cricket ground, Sangma said, “Every year, since 2006 turf wickets are laid in April-May to ensure matches from September onwards. This year the wickets have already been laid and consolidation process is on. During the last 3 years in addition to State level tournaments, national tournaments are also being allotted to the MCA by the BCCI due to the excellent ground condition and other related infrastructures.”
“MCA members are all patriots and celebrate Independence and Republic Day with the same pride and enthusiasm like all other Indians. However, damaging a ground built assiduously for the last 10 years cannot be a part of Independence Day celebration. We consider sports activities as one of foremost expression of celebrating our independence,” Sangma added.
Sangma also mentioned that the memory of the extensive damage to JN Stadium is still fresh in the mind of different sports bodies, sportsmen and sports loving people of Shillong.
In fact, reacting to extensive damages caused to the virtual grassless JN Stadium on account of non-sporting activities, Deputy Chief Minister In-charge Sports & Youth Affairs Bindo Lanong had publicly announced after the last desecration that no sports ground would be allowed to be used for non-sporting activities.
Lanong had suggested the District Administration to consider utilising the 5th ground behind JNSC or the Second Division Ground for the Independence Day celebration.
Other options, like the use of the JNSC and the Third Division Ground are also out of bounds since the turf laying work is currently underway at the JNSC and an artificial turf under FIFA supervision is going on in the Third Ground. The Shillong Sports Association had earlier allowed use of the First Ground for the celebration, but retraced following stiff opposition from its members. The only one that remains, the Second Division Ground, is too small to be used for the purpose.
Considering the lack of options at Polo, it is quite surprising to note the mystery behind the reluctance of the authorities to requisition Garrison Ground, which is the most suitable site for celebration all such National events with optimal security. Use of the Garrison Ground would also spare other play grounds in and around the city.
However, Lanong has mentioned that he had already held talks with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 101 Area to allow use of the Garrison Ground for the Independence Day celebration.
“The GOC has agreed to look into matter,” Lanong claimed.
What remains to be seen is whether the Government, like in the past, bully around and use one of the few available grounds in the city for the National Day programme.