Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has had to assure the public that a Bryan Adams concert at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here will not harm the new natural grass football field.
Concerns have been raised that the concert in December will ruin the natural turf, which, along with renovations to the spectator galleries, has cost crores of rupees to install.
Sangma today assured that the concert organisers will use a platform to ensure that the stage and other musical paraphernalia do not damage the turf.
“All over the world, not just in India, large stadiums, whether it’s a football stadium or cricket stadium, they’re always used to have large gatherings and even concerts,” he said. “Technologies are available today in the market where the entire natural turf is actually covered by a certain platform and that platform is there to ensure that people don’t stamp on the natural turf and destroy the grass. So these are platforms that are put there, very strong and firm. Similarly, the same will be used at JN Stadium to ensure that the natural turf is protected.”
The government will want to avoid the controversy that blew up after a 2022 event to commemorate Meghalaya’s 50th year of statehood when a stage and giant canopy were erected and cars parked on the old artificial turf while a crane was stationed on the surrounding athletics track.
Sangma said that the organisers will be responsible to ensure that measures are put in place to protect the natural grass surface and only when satisfied will the government give permission to hold the concert there.
Given the kind of investment made in the stadium, the CM said that the government wants it to be used for multiple purposes, thereby raising revenue.
