IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 6: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge) Vijay Goel’s comment on the proposed construction site of the National Sports University (NSU) in Manipur has evoked sharp reaction from state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
“Why not they said this during the time of handing over of the land (allotted for the NSU). So why the last minute change,” argues Chief Minister Ibobi responding to the Union Sports Minister Goel’s comment on Yaithibi Loukon, the proposed construction site of the country’s first ever NSU.
In his maiden visit to Manipur after assuming charge as Sports Minister in July, Goel while inspecting construction sites along with Ibobi on Friday said that Yaithibi Loukon in Thoubal district is not suitable as the area is low lying agricultural land besides having law and order problem.
“The site (Yaithibi Loukon) selection was done by Sports Secretary Sh Ajit M Sharan led Central team (in August, 2014) not by the state authority,” Ibobi said while addressing media persons on Saturday night. “The state authority had already handed over more than 300 acres of Yaithibi Loukon land (against the demand of 200 acres for the setting up of NSU) on August 27 last year and now why so many reasons.”
Clarifying the reason for acquiring more land area against the demand, Ibobi said it is for further expansion of the university or for other government purposes. Stating that government has no intention to acquire land without the consent of owners, he also made it clear that currently there is no different opinion on acquisition as all the matter has been settled.
“So now the state government is ready for any site for the setting up of the NSU,” he added and appealed to the Prime Minister and central leaders to immediately start setting up of the NSU by using the existing infrastructures as a temporary campus for the varsity.
“They can utilize the existing sports infrastructure including the newly built hostels at Khuman Lampak sports complex or SAI complex Takyetpat as temporary campus if they really love the state and its sports persons,” he observed citing the functioning of other central institutions such as National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Imphal by using the Government College of Technology at Takyelpat near Imphal as their temporary campus as the construction process of the NIT will take time.
