Shillong, Jan 17: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday, has refuted news reports that the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), West Garo Hills, has declared PA Sangma Stadium, Dakopgre, as unsafe.
“This is completely incorrect and misinterpreted,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister said that the fact is that the PA Sangma Stadium has three corners, which were part of the first phase of construction and the West Stand, before the start of the project a retaining wall collapsed.
“Once the retaining wall fell we decided to take it (construct) up under the state government and Rs. 45 crore was sanctioned for it. Tendering was done and work allotted and construction will start soon,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that in this whole process some land is required from Coal India Limited which is near the stadium.
He said that some part of the Coal India Limited’s property is required for extension of the West Stand and a road that will lead to some of the localities.
Sangma said that in this context the DDMA, had written to the Coal India Limited asking for some part of the latter’s property since the structure is unsafe and therefore the West Stand area needs to be constructed.
“It is a letter directed to Coal India Limited, to give them the seriousness of why we need the land from them and it is not a statement that is talking about the unsafety of the whole stadium as a whole, but from a specific point of view,” the Chief Minister said.
It may be mentioned that there were reports that the DDMA has advised caution and directed immediate remedial measures following the collapse of the retaining wall of the West Stand of PA Sangma Stadium, Dakopgre, due to incessant rainfall.
