Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday shared that close to Rs 425 crores worth of work only on sports infrastructure is currently going on in the state.
The CM was speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of upgradation of JN Stadium Sports Complex in Shillong that he attended as the chief guest and Sports Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh as guest of honour.
The CM said major investment has been made and a major boost towards sports infrastructure and the sports sector in the interest of the youth of the state has been made.
Sangma informed that the revamp cost of the JN Stadium is about Rs 34.5 crore and is expected to be completed by September or late October 2022. This long-pending facelift is coming after 30 years.
“This is funded from the state budget but over and above that, we are having an indoor stadium which will be a world-class stadium to be funded by New Development Bank (NDB) project worth about Rs 100 crore,” informed Sangma.
Other sports-related projects include PA Sangma Sports Complex in Tura, which is divided into two parts: one outdoor and one indoor. The estimated cost of this project is about Rs 125 crore. Another sports Complex is at Nartiang in Jaintia hills on which Rs 25 crore is being spent.
The CM informed that apart from these, different smaller projects are currently being undertaken across the state totaling roughly over Rs 100 crore. These sports complexes will have a number of facilities including indoor facility for swimming, other indoor games, and offices for various sports associations.
The CM shared that these complexes will also have different activities for the youth, so it will not just be a sports complex but a youth complex.
The state is also aiming to host a large number of activities going forward, including a ‘Northeast Olympics’.
“We plan to host it within the next calendar year. We also plan to once again have the Meghalaya games, which we had about two years back after a long span of 16 to 17 years. We also plan to have the northeast youth summit again and mark the 50 year’s celebration of the state. Also, we will have the national table tennis championship,” Sangma said.
The chief minister also informed that by January 21, 2022, the state will roll out different programmes for the youth policy. One of the pillars of the youth policies is a programme called ‘One skill one talent’. This programme, which is a first of its kind, is towards ensuring that every youth in the state is allowed to follow their skill, the Cm hared.
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