To host National Games in 2018, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat announced that his Government would keep a budgetary allocation of Rs 100 crore in the Budget —2015-2016 for this purpose. He amade this announcement while performing customary ‘bhumi pujan’ for the proposed Indira Gandhi International Sports Stadium at Golapaar, Haldwani, here on Thursday.
The Chief Minister also promised in the presence of the sports fraternity that his Government would do everything to strengthen basic sports infrastructure across the State.
“We are planning to develop 10 sports grounds in every district so that the youths, particularly those interested in pursuing their career in sports, may prepare themselves for the sporting activities,” he added. More so, keeping in view the paucity of sporting manpower in the schools, the Chief Minister also maintained that the Government would appoint BP.Ed and other such trained people having expertise in sports as guest trainers in the schools so that the students could learn basics of sports even in schools.
As the aforesaid stadium is now being constructed on the bank of the local Gola River, the Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 10 crore for the development of Gola riverfront.
“Cities like Haldwani are expanding fast. But its urban character has not been developed according to its increasing population. So I appeal to the local public representatives and people at large to contribute to the plan management so that better services could be provided to the people”, he said.
He also asked the local representatives to extend the urban development plan to semi- urban areas adjacent to the cities like Halwani so that developmental works could be expedited in such areas also. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, State Finance Minister and MlA from Haldwani, Indira Haridayesh, who is instrumental to the implementation of this long- pending stadium project, said that it is good to see that they have finally been able to implement the project proposed during the ND Tiwari regime. Now our priority is to complete the project on time.
“Though as per the agreement, the project would be completed by the construction company in 18 months at a cost of Rs 200 crore, the officials concerned have assured us that it would take just 15 months. It would surely go a long way in promoting sports activities in the region,” she said Among others present on the occasion were Cabinet Ministers Yashpal Arya, Dinesh Aggarwal, Harish Chandra Durgapal and local elected public representatives.