Hosting of NG-2022 on govt priority list: Banteidor

SHILLONG, MAR 9: Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh on Friday said the process is on with regards to identifying and acquiring of land for the construction of stadiums and game village for hosting the National Games 2022 in Meghalaya.

The Host City Contract for the 39th National Games 2022, a mega national sporting event, was signed between the Indian Olymic Association (IAO), Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) and Meghalaya government on January 3.

The state government had also paid the bid money of Rs 4.5 crore for the games.

According to officials, the initial estimates was at Rs 2,000 crore for hosting the National Games in 2022, which will also coincides with the celebration of the 50thyear of Meghalaya’s statehood.

The state government has also been asked to complete all infrastructural requirements for the game by 2021.

Any delay in hosting the National Games, the penalty clause in the contract will come into play in which the state government will have to pay Rs 2 crore per year.

“The preparation is already on and we are in the process of identifying and acquiring land for construction of stadiums and game villages in the different districts of the state,” Lyngdoh told journalists here.

He informed that the Land Bank Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary PW Ingty, which is looking into the matter, have held at least four sittings.

“In some places, land have been identified,” Lyngdoh said while informing that the government would require to construct as many as 17 new stadiums and two game villages for hosting of the mega sports event in the state.

According to the minister, land for construction of the game village is 100 acres, for mini game village 50 acres while 10 acres each for the stadiums.

He said that different committees including the Team Preparation Committee headed by the Director of Sports & Youth Affairs were also formed.

The sports minister further informed that the organizing committee headed by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma will also hold a meeting to discuss on the preparation for the event on Wednesday next.

“We want to ensure that the government is successful in its endeavour to host this mega event,” he said.

Reacting to a query, Lyngdoh said that the initial amount required for spending on infrastructural requirements and others have been worked out but the same has to be finalised by the working group committee.

Meanwhile, as many as 35 sports disciplines have been shortlisted for the event.

By Our Reporter

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