SHILLONG, Oct 10 NNN: Union Minister of State independent charge of Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Maken Wednesday set a March \u2013 April 2013 as the \u201cdeadline\u201d 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.
\nThe SGAC, which is will be the second \u201chigh altitude centre\u201d in the country, was sanctioned way back in 2002.
\nHowever there has been an over delay in completing the project which has been a concerned for the government.
\nMaken, on his two-day visit which is for the second time to the region, conducted an inspection of the construction site. He said, \u201cWe have missed the deadline set earlier which the project was targeted to be completed in September – October last year.\u201d
\nHowever, expressing satisfaction there is tremendous progress of the work in the last one year, the Union Minister said, \u201cI have directed the officials that the \u2018deadline\u2019 should not be extended and that the project should be completed within March-April next year.\u201d
\nHe added, \u201cI have asked them that I should be able to inaugurate the project on my next visit to the state.\u201d
\nThe 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.
\nMentionably, 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.
\nStating that there is no paucity of funds, the Union Minister said, \u201cI have asked the concerned authority to submit the proposal on the required funds for the government to make the sanction.\u201d
\nMaken further asserted, \u201cThe Sports centre in NEHU would be the \u2018Game Changer\u2019 in the region,\u201d adding \u201cThis will not only benefit the youths from the state but will also cater to need of the neighboring states in the North East.\u201d\u201cWe are aiming at producing young talented youths from the NE who will represent the country by 2020,\u201d he opined and hoped that the centre will be utilized to the optimum.
\nThe 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).
\nStating that there is a need to set up a Sports Science Centre in the region, Maken said, \u201cI have suggested that the region should have a \u2018sports science centre\u2019 and whatever the amount required, we are ready to sanction.\u201d
\nAccording to the Union Minister, every modern sports centre requires sports science centre as the sports culture has been so scientific.
\n\u201cIf 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,\u201d he said while speaking to reporters.
\nIt is also learnt that there are altogether 90 SAI centres in the country.<\/p>\n\n