SHILLONG: The 1st Games Technical Conduct Committee for the National Games has stated that there is no magic but a will power which is required from the Meghalaya Government to host the National Games in 2022.
The GTCC headed by RK Sacheti which met the Sports Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh here on Thursday said that they have seen the sites and they are confident that Meghalaya can host the Games in November-December, 2022.
“In terms of the sites, sports Village and stadiums which they have proposed, the Games are feasible and with two consultants and parameters, we are confident that things can happened and Meghalaya is fully prepared,” Sacheti said.
When asked what magic would enable Meghalaya to prepare the infrastructure for the mega sporting event in two and half years, he said that if Meghalaya has the will power, it would take 2 and half years to complete everything.
Informing that with timelines, Meghalaya Government has prepared all tenders and bidding documents, he added that if major construction works starts by June this year, the Government can definitely achieve the target.
As far as the main stadium is concerned, he said that the Government is just awaiting an approval from the Union Cabinet after which Government would immediately invite render
Reacting to a query, he also said that the Meghalaya Government has taken a firm decision to host the Games in 2022 as it sidelines with the celebration of 50 years of Meghalaya’s statehood.
Meanwhile, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh said that the State Government is keen to host the National Games in 2022 since it coincides with the 50 years celebrations of Meghalaya statehood.
“We are committed to ensure that the timeline is met on the development of the various infrastructure required for the games,” Lyngdoh said while talking to reporters.
Replying to question that the committee had observed that the Meghalaya Government would not be able to meet the timeline to host the mega sporting event if the work not started within June this year, he said that the Government is exploring on many options to ensure that the timeline is met with the development of various infrastructures for the games.
“We are keeping a target to proceed ahead with the work on some of the projects by this coming March or April. We understand that the Government will face an uphill task to meet the timeline if the work does not commence by June,” he said.
According to Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, the tendering process on some of the projects has already been floated adding that the Government is targeting to complete the tendering process on all the projects for the National Games by February.
Informing that the State Government has managed to mobilise around Rs 450 crore from the various Ministries for development of the required infrastructure for the games, he said that the total expenditure will not touch even Rs 1000 crore since many of the existing infrastructure would also be utilized for the games.
