Maken assures funds for multi-purpose sports complex
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In what could be termed as a double boost to sports infrastructure in the State, the Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Ajay Maken said that apart from the new SAI Special Area Games Centre (SAGC) at NEHU, the Centre, under the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) scheme, would provide additional funds for development of a multi-purpose sports complex in the city.
The Central Government has funded Rs 42 crores for the mega project (SAGC) which, according to Maken, will be one of the best sports complexes in the North Eastern Region.
“Rs 42 crore has been sanctioned for NEHU multi-purpose sports centre which will be ready by August next year,” Maken said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the convocation of the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) here on Saturday.
While admitting that the project has been delayed, Maken said he had met the CPWD Superintendent engineer and asked him to complete the project within August.
“I am monitoring the project from New Delhi and hope it is completed by the targeted date,” Maken added.
It may be mentioned that the SAGC falls under the SAI scheme for hilly, coastal and tribal areas. The SAI and NEHU had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2003 for the 30-acre sports centre.
Talking about the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS), the Sports Minister said that the project would be offered to all the states for construction of multi-purpose sports centres in urban areas.
“The project can be a multi-purpose hall or a football pitch or whatever the state Government deems fit and we are ready to pump in money for it,” Maken said.
Maken stated that the Centre will offer one infrastructure project to Shillong and the State Government has been asked to submit the proposal for the same.
The USIS has been offered to the State under the 12th five year plan.
He also said that the ministry is focussing on the sports infrastructure of the state since Meghalaya has tremendous potential especially in football.