SHILLONG, March 11: Peeved with the set-up of a massive stage on the artificial turf at JN Stadium in Polo during the official 50th Statehood Day function, the Opposition on Friday flayed the government and questioned the rationale behind such a move.
Moving cut motion during the voting on supplementary demands for grants, AITC legislator HM Shangpliang said he was hurt to see a pandal being erected on an artificial turf for which a huge sum of money was already coughed up.
Maintaining that the artificial turf is solely for sporting activities, Shangpliang said, “The government could have used the other ground or organised the event in some other place.”
However, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who was replying on behalf of the chief minister due to his absence, informed the House that the pandal was erected on the artificial turf following due consultations with Sports department, Information and Public Relations, DC Shillong and Sports Associations.
“Repairing work has been done and it has been handed over; the games too can start any time there,” the deputy chief minister said.
He also informed that Rs two crore was coughed up for statewide celebrations of 50th Meghalaya Day.
It may be mentioned that during the 50th Statehood Day function at JN Stadium in Polo, a huge steel structure was set up on the artificial turf which is worth Rs 5 crore. To add to that, vehicles were too seen haphazardly parked on the sporting structure, leaving marks of the tyres behind.