Shillong, March 13: Student leader-turned-politician Paul Lyngdoh today said that no activities barring sports would be allowed at the Jawaharlal Nehru sports complex and other venues meant for sports and games.
“No messing around with sports venues will be allowed,” Lyngdoh, who was recently inducted as sports minister in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, stated categorically while carrying out an inspection of the sports complexes at the Polo Ground.
The Jawaharlal Nehru sports complex and the three other arenas on Polo Ground are the only venues available for sports like football, cricket and other outdoor games.
More often than not, the Jawaharlal Nehru sports complex and the ground adjacent to it have been used for holding melas, circus and musical events. Recently, the Jawaharlal Nehru sports complex was taken over during Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s visit and then by the district administration to store electronic voting machines. Sportspersons, practising for two national events, could not train because of non-availability of space. Earlier, it was given out to a group to organise a gospel function and before that for the Shillong trade fair and election rallies.
“We will not allow this anymore and make use of the facilities we have only for sports. Only for national occasions like Independence Day celebrations will the stadiums be given,” he said.
After inspecting the complex this afternoon, Lyngdoh told newsmen that the use of the grounds for non-sporting activities has caused a lot of damage to them. Lyngdoh has also promised to fence off the cricket ground. He said he would soon instruct his department to construct the much-awaited cinder track for athletes.
“We will have proper security for the sports complexes. The help of the police department will be sought in this regard and we are sure this step will go a long in preventing antisocials from damaging the ground”.
The new sports minister, one of the youngest Cabinet ministers in the history of the state, said he would visit New Delhi soon to meet the Union minister for sports and youth affairs to ensure that more funds are released for completing the Jawaharlal Nehru sports complex which is nearing its silver jubilee year.