Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 22
During the mid 2000s, a fledgling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio set off on an ambitious project to establish a state of the art sports complex in Dimapur. The mega project, christened ‘Multi-Disciplinary Sports Centre’, envisaged to replace a dilapidated State Stadium was announced with much media fanfare.
As per the original master plan, which was splashed in the local papers, the complex when complete would include a roofed 30,000-seater arena complete with an international standard football field and tracks for athletics. The master plan, as published was a treat to the eyes, incorporating a range of additional sports facilities surrounding the central arena.
The other utilities included a gym, hockey ground, swimming pools, practice fields and even a spacious parking bay. The entire complex would cover a sprawling 64 acres exclusively for sports.
As announced, construction began sometime in 2006 with an estimated completion timeframe of 3 years.
Twelve years, 3 Assembly elections and 3 different Chief Ministers later, the master plan as envisioned has still to materialise. Only the skeletal structure of the central arena has come up and works literally ceasing.
On August 22, the ACAUT facilitated a media interaction with the firm contracted by the state government to build the project in Dimapur. Apparently, public interest in the sports complex shot up in recent times compelling the ACAUT to inquire. According to the ACAUT, it received messages from the public inquiring about the status of the project and why the project has still to see the light of day.
Contractor speaks
Stoppage of government funding attributed as the reason by the contractor for the delayed project. Nibu Nagi, Managing Director of N.N. Construction & Decors, the firm building the complex, at the media interaction today informed that construction started in 2006. He said that the initial works started with a provision of Rs. 60cr from the erstwhile Planning Commission. The fund was doled out in instalments of Rs. 10cr per year.
After the monetary provision from the Centre stopped, work came to a halt too, he said. It stopped after December 2013 with Nagi stating, “My last running bill was (cleared in) December 2013.” As per the contract agreement, he said that the bills are supposed to be cleared every month.
He did not specify the total amount of money required to complete the project. He though added, “If I get the money as required, regularly, it’ll take 3 and half years complete the central arena.” The pending works for the main arena include gallery seats, roofs, fire fighting installations and approach road, he said.
While stating that he hopes the government would start funding, he said, “It is upto the state government how it will acquire the funds required.”
According to him, after the funding dried up, he had to invest his own money to give the project a semblance of life at the least.
Considering the gamut of the project and the potential it holds, ACAUT chairperson, Tia Longchar sought the government’s attention to revive the project. Terming football as a game where the Naga youths can excel, he commented, “One definite goal for the government to walk the talk is to set a deadline to complete this dream stadium without any further fund crunch.”
Meanwhile, it was informed that a portion of the total 64 acres of land was allotted to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) by the state government. Informing that the plan included a provision for it, he added that the apportioned land covers an area of 15 acres for a Special Area Games Centre to be established and maintained by the SAI.
The arrangement however has resulted in the State Sports Academy located within the sports complex without a practice field. The old football field, which served as the training ground, was fenced off to make way for the SAI centre.
According to the football coach of the academy, the trainees are now forced to practice in a make-shift ground that can hardly accommodate 5 a side. As per the agreement with the SAI, the country’s apex sports authority would arrange a practice ground for the Academy, which has still to materialise.
