The government’s intention to shift the international indoor stadium from Laidiengwah in Smit has not gone down well with the people in those areas.
The Synjuk Ki Riewrangbah Nongkrem, Mawryngkneng, Mawkynrew, Sohra constituency has threatened to take legal recourse. The Synjuk said it will move court if the government chose to shift the stadium to other places.
Sodar of Smit Pyllun Marbat Star Kharbangar today told reporters that the Synjuk has decided to set November 7 as the deadline for the government to resume construction of the stadium, which was sanctioned at Rs 22.75 crore.
Informing that already 30 per cent of the construction of the stadium has been completed by the M/S JC infra, he said, “The construction of the international indoor stadium at Laidiengwah Smit was suddenly stopped from November 2019 without any valid reason to date. The RTI finding received from the Chief Engineer of the State Sports Council however stated that the construction was halted on grounds of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The Synjuk has refused to accept the reasons provided in the RTI. “The Covid-19 pandemic started from March this year, but construction was halted in November last year which is ridiculous,” Kharbangar said.
He stated that as per information they received, Sports Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh was searching for a place at Jongksha-Mawkynrew to shift the indoor stadium. He said that the landowner of the place at Laidiengwah in Smit who willingly donated 8 acres of land free of cost was also told by Chief Engineer of the State Sports Council J Lakiang that the stadium would be shifted to other places.
“The Synjuk comprising of traditional heads of various Dorbar Shnong and sports clubs will fight till the last to ensure that the stadium is constructed at Smit even if we have to go to Delhi,” he added.
Stating that when the Sports Minister, MLA of Nongkrem Lamborlang Malngiang, officials from the NEC, etc inspected the place at Smit for the stadium all required agreements were signed and approved, Kharbangar said now he (Sports Minister) is giving an excuse that the stadium has to be shifted because of pathetic road conditions.
Owner of the land Edarstar L Nongbri said he sacrifices and willingly donated 8 acres of land to the government, where organic tea used to be cultivated before the construction.
“I sacrifice this land along with my family for the welfare of the people in the area and state as a whole and if they shift this stadium and try to politicise the issue I will move court,” he threatened.
Egenstar Kurkalang Secretary of the Synjuk said the Rs 22.75 crore projects should not shift from Smit at any cost or strong action will be taken by the Synjuk.
