Submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Rourkela administration, Koshal Kranti Dal (KKD) working president BN Mishra has said that there has been some disturbing news in the media that the Hockey Hostel of Panposh managed by the Sports Authority of India is being shifted to Bhubaneswar.

This has hurt the sentiments of the hockey fans of not only Rourkela but also of the entire Sundargarh district.

Strongly opposing the “immature” move of the State Government, Mishra has mentioned that Sundargarh has been the breeding centre of the country’s hockey talents and it has been proved time and again that the hockey stars of all-India as well as of international standards have been produced from this particular region.

But instead of putting up infrastructure of international standards at Rourkela and in Sundargarh, the Government has chosen Bhubaneswar as a hockey excellence centre, which is unfortunate, he has stated in his letter.

Mishra further said that if the local sentiment is not respected then his party would have no option but to protest this decision through all democratic forums available to it and the Government would be responsible for the consequences.

Similarly, various sports and other organisations like the Panposh Sports Association, Rourkela Sporting Club, Kickboxing Sangh, Paschma Odisha Unnayan Parishad, United Youth Sangh and Sahayata and many senior players have urged the Government through the Rourkela ADM to change the decision in favour of Rourkela.