IMPHAL, Nov 6 - Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has appealed to the Central Government to immediately start functioning of the National Sports University (NSU) in the State by using the existing infrastructure as its temporary campus.
�The Khuman Lampak Sports Complex or Takyetpat SAI complex here could be used as temporary campus from where the NSU can start functioning if they (central leaders) really love our State and our sportspersons,� Ibobi said.
Chief Minister Ibobi was speaking to media persons on Saturday night while responding to Union Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs (Independent Charge) Vijay Goel�s comment on the proposed construction site of the NSU.
In his maiden visit to Manipur after assuming charge as Sports Minister in July, Goel, while inspecting two construction sites � Yaithibi Loukon in Thoubal district and Koutruk in Imphal West district along with Ibobi on Friday, said that Yaithibi Loukon is not suitable as the area is a low-lying agricultural land besides having law and order problems.
�The site (Yaithibi Loukon) selection was done by Sports Secretary Sh Ajit M Sharan-led Central team in August, 2014 and not by the State authorities. The State Government had already handed over more than 300 acres of Yaithibi Loukon land (against the demand of 200 acres for the setting up of NSU) on August 27 last year,� he added.
Clarifying the reason for acquiring more land area against the demand, Ibobi said it is for the further expansion of the university or for other government purposes. Stating that government has no intention to acquire land without the consent of owners, he also made it clear that currently there is no different opinion on acquisition as all the matters have been settled.
�So now the State government is ready for any site for the setting up of the NSU,� he added.
The Union Finance Minister had announced the setting up of the NSU in his budget speech on July 10, 2014.
