IMPHAL, July 6: The BJP Manipur Pradesh organised the second public consultative meeting regarding the setting up of a National Sports University in Manipur today.
The meeting was held at Manipur Dramatic Union hall.
It may be mentioned that the proposal for setting up of National University in Manipur was formally announced by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and fund allocation was announced by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget speech in 2014-15.
A sum of Rs 100 crore for the establishment of National Sport University in the State was allocated but since the incapability of the State government in identifying the site for its construction, there are chances that the Centre might divert the project to another State, claimed BJP Manipur Pradesh President Th Choaba speaking to media persons on the sideline of the meet.
He said if the university is shifted to another State, it could adversely sports in the State.
And the sole responsibility for all this should lay with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who is at the helm of things, Chaoba asserted.
He said there are many locations including at Koutruk which are much more appropriate for construction of the university than at Yaithibi Loukol, and at the same time, the land owners are ready to provide their land, however, the State government has failed to respond positively on the issue.
Other appropriate sites are also available at Ukhrul and Moirang, he continued further asserting that the State Chief Minister seems to be more interested in creating disputes with land owners rather than construction of such national projects.
The BJP has already organised the first edition of the meeting in January this year but the State government has failed to address the current issue surrounding the National Sports University, which compelled the party to organise the second meeting today, he said.
The consultative meeting was also attended by State BJP General secretary Aswini Kumar, BJP member RK Ranjan, sports promoter and journalist RK Ranendrajit, advisor Protection of Agricultural Land and Natural Resource Mutum Churamani and organisation secretary All Manipur Students`™ Guardians`™ Organisation Sumati Devi.