MAWKYRWAT: The villagers of Sakwang in South West Khasi Hills have been longing to see the proposed stadium, intended to be built to honour the contributions of the international marathoner Binning Lyngkhoi, erected in their village, but to no avail as “politics” has dashed away their aspiration, which was nurtured by the then state government.
According to the headman of the village, the differences between the then Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma, and Deputy Chief Minister, Rowell Lyngdoh, has been the root cause for the delay in completing the construction of the stadium at Sakwang village.
Bining Lyngkhoi of Sakwang village is one of the best marathoners Meghalaya has ever produced. He represented India in the 10th Common Wealth Games held in New Delhi, 2010, besides other international tournaments.
Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, Headman of Sakwang village, Shining Kharjahrin, informed that the then Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma, had promised the leaders of Sakwang village in 2010 to build a stadium at Sakwang in recognition of the achievements of Lyngkhoi who brought laurels to the state and the country as a whole.
Following this, the village had prepared a Detail Project Report (DPR) and also submitted it to the government, he added.
Kharjahrin said that in 2012, Sangma had also publicly announced to give South West Khasi Hills a present by building a stadium at Sakwang to honour Lyngkhoi’s accomplishments, adding that Zenith Sangma had also promised the same during his visit to Mawkyrwat.
He said the hopes of the people were upped further after the visit of the then Commissioner & Secretary of Sports to Sakwang football ground so much so that the people expected the stadium to be erected in a span of a year or two. Unfortunately, the dream has not seen the light of the day, even after a decade, he added.
Putting the blame on the differences between Mukul Sangma and Rowell Lyngdoh in the later years of the Congress-led government, Kharjahrin expressed regret that the situation cast doubts on the expectation of the people.
“It seems that the differences between Mukul and Rowell were the main reason behind the delay in the proposed project,” he lamented.
The headman urged upon Mawkyrwat MLA Renikton L Tongkhar to follow up on the project and the present dispensation to deliver what the previous government had promised to the people of Sakwang village.
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