Day: October 10, 2012

SHILLONG, Oct 10 NNN: Union Minister of State independent charge of Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Maken Wednesday set a March – April 2013 as the “deadline” for the concerned implementing agency of Sports to complete the much-awaited Special Games Area Centre (SGAC) at the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Shillong to cater not only to Meghalaya but neighboring states in the North East.
The SGAC, which is will be the second “high altitude centre” in the country, was sanctioned way back in 2002.
However there has been an over delay in completing the project which has been a concerned for the government.
Maken, on his two-day visit which is for the second time to the region, conducted an inspection of the construction site. He said, “We have missed the deadline set earlier which the project was targeted to be completed in September – October last year.”
However, expressing satisfaction there is tremendous progress of the work in the last one year, the Union Minister said, “I have directed the officials that the ‘deadline’ should not be extended and that the project should be completed within March-April next year.”
He added, “I have asked them that I should be able to inaugurate the project on my next visit to the state.”
The Sports Centre equipped with the best facilities and infrastructures is expected to promote, develop sports activities and provide a proper platform for talented youths of the Meghalaya and even neighboring states in region.
Mentionably, the total project cost was estimated at Rs 43 crores out of which Rs 29 crores has already been released by the government of India.
Stating that there is no paucity of funds, the Union Minister said, “I have asked the concerned authority to submit the proposal on the required funds for the government to make the sanction.”
Maken further asserted, “The Sports centre in NEHU would be the ‘Game Changer’ in the region,” adding “This will not only benefit the youths from the state but will also cater to need of the neighboring states in the North East.”“We are aiming at producing young talented youths from the NE who will represent the country by 2020,” he opined and hoped that the centre will be utilized to the optimum.
The Minister was accompanied by the State Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Sports and Youth Affairs Bindo M Lanong besides officials from the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Stating that there is a need to set up a Sports Science Centre in the region, Maken said, “I have suggested that the region should have a ‘sports science centre’ and whatever the amount required, we are ready to sanction.”
According to the Union Minister, every modern sports centre requires sports science centre as the sports culture has been so scientific.
“If you want to do well in different level of competition, you need a sports science centre which will be well equipped with best coaches to train young talented youths of the region,” he said while speaking to reporters.
It is also learnt that there are altogether 90 SAI centres in the country.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/complete-sports-infrastructure-at-shillong-by-april-2013-maken/