IMPHAL, December 26: The State government`™s failure to provide the required land for the construction of the National Sports University could result in the Centre shifting the university to another State like the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sarwananda Sharma`™s native State Assam, a high level source informed.
The establishment of the Sports University in the State was announced by the present NDA government earlier this year much to the joy of the people, however, it has been put off after the State government faced objections from certain sections especially the locals over the site selection.
The Centre had instructed the State government that the selected site should not have any dispute.
The people`™s dream of having a National Sports University in the State could be denied in case the State government fails to identify the site which meets the term set by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, the source said.
The State government had already identified the site for the proposed university at Yaithibi Loukon in Thoubal district and had already submitted its proposal to construct the university at the selected site, but the proposal faced much objection from the locals.
The government had to drop the site as possible site for the university after the objection from the locals coupled with a recent directive from the High Court of Manipur against the use of the agricultural land for the construction of the university.
The Union Minister had earlier showed a keen desire to transfer the establishment of the proposed university from Manipur to his native Assam and there is a high possibility that it would be shifted to Assam if the State fails to identify the required site within the next few months, sources said.
Acknowledging the State`™s high caliber-performance in any sports, the NDA government led by Narendra Modi had already reflected Rs 100 crore in the Union budget for the construction of the university in the State.
It may also be noted that while the govrnment face objection at Yaithibi Loukon, people of Koutruk Sanjam Chirang and Moirang Lamkhai had welcomed the establishment of the university in their areas, although the government seems to neglect such invitations.