TURA: The Garoland State Movement Committee has expressed displeasure over the lack of maintenance of the only open mini stadium of North Garo Hills located at Resubelpara.
An inspection of the stadium by its members identified extensive damage to it’s seating arena and the lack of maintenance of the field.
“A lot of repairing is needed and the most dilapidated areas happen to be the seating arrangements in the gallery section. This is the only stadium for youth and sportspersons to utilise,” said Tangbang M Sangma, GSMC general Secretary for North Garo Hills district.
The organization has called upon the state government, particularly the sports department, to do the needful so that both athletes and spectators alike can utilise the stadium.
Interestingly, although it is branded a stadium, yet, the sporting centre is bereft of much needed infrastructure, such as changing rooms, artificial grass and floodlights, among others.
Investment in sporting infrastructure in Garo Hills has for decades been neglected leading to stagnation of sports even though the number of athletes have grown manifold.
Those who can afford are seeking training in centres and clubs outside the region.
The apathy to sports can be gauged from the condition of the Dikki Bandi Stadium at Tura which is bereft of proper sanitation in the changing rooms, broken equipment, lack of floodlights and a poor drainage system of the field where no form of sporting activity can be taken up after a downpour during the monsoons as it leaves the ground waterlogged for days at an end.