IMPHAL, June 23 - Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today called upon all civil societies and others concerned to help his Government persuade the Central Government to start the functioning of the National Sports University in its temporary stage at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.
�There is no question of negligence on the part of the Manipur Government. It is a gift from the Centre as it has been satisfied with the performance of our talented sportspersons. The proposed Sports University is a future asset of Manipur,� Ibobi Singh said in a press conference at the Cabinet Hall of the CM� Secretariat here.
The Chief Minister�s statement came close on the heels of a letter from the Centre, asking the State Government to clear any obstruction at the selected site to set up the sports varsity within June this year. �I hope the final hearing of the case pending in the court will be done and disposed of in the next two-three days,� Ibobi Singh added.
The Manipur Government has acquired land measuring 336 acres at Yaithibi Loukol in Thoubal district, which has been provided to the Centre to set up the sports varsity. But 34 acres of land are currently under litigation, preventing the Centre from going ahead with the construction plan. As per the Centre�s instruction, there should not be any disturbance on the allotted land.
�The handing over and taking over of the acquired land was done in August last year,� the Chief Minister said.
Repair and renovation of rooms to open the offices of the Vice Chancellor and Registrar have already started at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex so that the university can commence its session there temporarily till the proper buildings are constructed.
Ibobi Singh said his Government had tried to acquire 400-500 acres of land for the varsity for any future expansion. But the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports asked for only 200 acres of land for establishing the varsity.
The Chief Minister stressed the need of help from social organisations and others concerned in approaching the Centre to facilitate the early commencement of the session at the temporary complex of the sports varsity.
Ibobi Singh said the Parliament is yet to pass the Bill concerning the proposed sports varsity. �We also need to put pressure on the Centre to do what is needful at the earliest.�
Manipur Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore Singh, who was also present in the press conference, clarified that there would be no hurdle in starting the construction of the sports varsity on the allotted site, adding that the 34 acres of land now under litigation are located on the fringe of the proper site.
He said the construction might take two years to complete and now the Parliament needs to pass the Bill related to the varsity. Nabakishore claimed that the Centre had assured that a team would visit the State to assess the development soon. Several ministers of the Ibobi Singh were also present during the press conference.
