Installation of artificial grass on Tuensang football ground on verge of completion

Our Correspondent
Tuensang, May 11 (EMN): Football enthusiasts in Tuensang will soon be able to play on artificial grass as installation work at the district headquarters football ground is expected to be completed in few weeks.

One of the officials in charge of the project, I Moanungsang confirmed to Eastern Mirror that installation of synthetic turf is set to be completed by the end of this month or the beginning of next month (June).

He informed that the football ground will be at par with international football fields in terms of quality and specifications, as approved by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

‘Tuensang people are very lucky; they will be having a standard ground. This will ensure that people from here will be able to easily adapt to football fields of national and international level,’ he said.

The astro turf project began in October 2021 under the State Plan after it was sanctioned in the same year. The total green area of the playground covers 110x74m, while the court area measures 104x68m, it was informed.

The workers, who are laying the artificial grass, said that they have been working about six to seven hours a day, excluding Sundays. It was also informed that the contractor and officials in charge of the project had visited the site earlier this month.

The Chang Wetoshi Setshang (CWS,  formerly known as Confederation of Chang Students’ Union (CCSU) is assisting the officials in charge to ensure smooth and early completion of the project.

According to sources, the total fund sanctioned for the project was INR 425 lakh but the government has released only INR 12.50 lakh so far.

The state current has two astro turf football grounds — Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima and Peren. This newspaper had reported last month that laying artificial grass in Mon is nearing completion, while a similar facility is in the pipeline in Dimapur. It is learned that the project in Mon has been taken up under Khelo India scheme and the one in Dimapur is under State Plan.

NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer also said earlier this month that Mokokchung would get astro turf football ground within 14 months.