Even after seven years of National Games held at Khelgaon in Jharkhand capital organiser Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) is still looking for a proper address as the State Governments has not allotted office to the prestigious sports body.

Speaking on the issue Treasurer JOA, Madhukant Pathak said, “Since the formation of the State, the JOA had its office at Morabadi in Ranchi till 2014.

The District Sports Department removed the lock of JOA and put its own lock at the same office forcefully in mid of 2014. Even they had not given our furniture and almirah kept in the office.”

Pathak further said, the sports body demanded several times to the State sports department in written since 2014 to provide office premises. Lamenting on the issue he said, “As next national games are round the corner which is scheduled to be held in March, 2019 we have to start our preparations for the game.

We have hired a rented flat at Harmu in Ranchi to operate our work which around five Kilometere from the Mohrabadi stadium. The office will be inaugurated after mid of January, 2019.”

Informing the issue, the Treasurer said, “In May 2018, we had met Secretary, Department of Sports, Manish Ranjan.

He had assured us that the department will provide office within one month. The secretary got transferred to other department after sometime and the allotment of the office is still pending. 

We have given a letter to Chief Minister Raghubar Das in December 2017 but the Government had not pay attention to our request.” Speaking on the issue Deputy Director, Department of Sports Vedratn Mohan clarified that the department had requested at that time to the various sports associations that they returned the office premises as the department has requirement of the place for its other activities.

Mohan futher said, “The department has assured the sports associations that they will get well furnished office premises in next financial year as in ongoing financial year the department has no budget in this regard.

Till now the State government has not given permission to give office premises to the association when the government will give permission on the issue then the department will allot them the office.”  He further replied that the department has not removed any locks all the associations had willfully returned the allotted premises.