Former MLA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das has urged the State Government to set up a residential Sports University in order to make Odisha the sports capital of the country permanently.
Das has placed this demand in a letter sent to the Chief Minister, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister and the Principal Secretary of the Sports Department recently.
“Respect of the State has been heightened at international and national level due to successful conduct of the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup recently. But it is not everlasting,” mentioned Das.
He said athletes from Odisha have already made big achievements in national and international games. To keep it up and make Odisha a sports capital, a residential Sports University needs to be established soon, argued Das.
He lamented that the Union Government didn’t consider the then Sports and Youth Services’ Minister Sudam Marndi’s request for funding a Sports University in the State. “Due its step-motherly attitude, the Union Government didn’t consider the State’s proposal. But the State Government can source funds from the public sector undertaking and private industries for establishment of such a university,” suggested Das.
Das further suggested that hundreds of office rooms lying unused at Samal barrage can be used for such a university for a temporary period. Besides, the under-construction Talcher sub-divisional stadium can be used for games and Samal barrage for water sports, he said.