SAF Games: Meghalaya police seeks fund from Centre for security arrangement

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Oct 28: Meghalaya police have sought Rs seven crores from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs for security arrangement during the 12th South Asian Games to be held in February 2016.

This requirement was made known to the Union Minister of State in charge of Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbanda Sonowal during the review meeting with the State Government officials on Wednesday, even as Sonowal refused to make any commitment on the issue.

According to Sonowal the Ministry has no funds towards security arrangement.

“We will have to discuss and examine the matter with the Union Home Ministry since it concerns security arrangement,” Sonowal said.

Later speaking to reporters after the review meeting, Sonowal informed that the State Government has assured the Sports Ministry that necessary infrastructure for the seven disciplines to be held in the State will be ready by December.

“Officials from the state government officials informed that work on the existing infrastructures had already begun and I am confident that work would be completed within the stipulated time,” he said.

Meghalaya’s Sports and Youth Affairs department commissioner and secretary FR Kharkongor said that the government had received an amount of Rs 90 lakh from the Centre for putting the necessary infrastructures in place.

“We will be getting another Rs 35 lakh if women football is included as one of the event,” Kharkongor said.

It may be noted that seven events will be held in Meghalaya which includes- judo, wushu, archery, boxing, taekwondo, table tennis and badminton.

Kharkongor informed that the state government will get an additiol Rs 1 crore for organising the event.

Later, Sonowal iugurated the Games Secretariat of the 12th South Asian Games, at the Tennis Court Complex, JN Sports Complex, Polo Ground.

Speaking at the iuguration the Union Minister said that Shillong always carries a special status in the map of India.

“We should jointly take up the responsibility and make good use of the opportunity to make this grand event a success,” Sonowal said.

He also said that the South Asian Games will benefit the budding talents of the country especially from the North Eastern region as this is a platform for those youth who wants to excel in the area of sports.