IMPHAL, September 18: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal had on September 17 assured ex-MLA of Thongju Th Biswajit to set up a new multi-sports complex in his constituency, according to sources.
Sources informed that Biswajit, who joined the BJP following his disqualification from the Manipur Legislative Assembly earlier this year, had met the Union Minister at the latter’s Tughlak Road residence in the national capital.
In an hour long meeting with the Union Minister, Biswajit who was accompanied by BJP national executive member Tapir Gao, highlighted the various difficulties faced by sports players from the remote villages and the hill districts in accessing the facilities available at the Khuman lampak Sports Complex, informed the source.
It is also learnt that he had urged Sonowal to improve and develop sports infrastructure in the remote villages and at block levels in the hill districts.
Continuing his appeal, he had proposed setting up of a multi-sports complex including facilities for both indoor and outdoor games at Thongju Constituency as the first phase.
Sources also said that the Union Minister granted Bishwajit’s appeal and to sanction the estimated amount for the multi-sports complex at his constituency.
It is also learnt that the ex-MLA has also been instructed to identify a suitable site which will help sports players of Imphal District.
During the meeting, the Union Minister had also lamented that the State government was yet to initiate construction of the National Sports University which was already sanctioned by the centre in 2014, sources added.
He had said the State government is claiming that frequent bandhs and blockades are the main factors for the delay in construction of the university, the sources continued.
Sonowal had also observed that once the university is open, players from both outside the country and other States of the country will be coming to study there which would boost Manipur’s contribution to Indian sports, the sources added.