Sports Minister Vijay Goel arrives in Manipur

IMPHAL, November 4: The Union Sports Minister of state (Independent Charge) Vijay Goel who arrived here on Friday on a two day visit to the state said that an expert team from Centre will be sent to conduct a detailed study of the construction sites for the proposed National Sports University (NSU) in Manipur. Minister accompanied by state BJP leaders was addressing a press conference at the BJP Manipur Pradesh office in Imphal after inspecting the proposed constructions sites at two different locations in the state. Earlier soon after his arrival, Minister Goel along with the state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Secretary Manipur O Nabakishore and Joint Secretary(Sports-Development) Rajvir Singh drove to Yaithibi Loukon area, about 30 km south of Imphal in Manipur’s Thoubal district to inspect the land allotted for the construction of NSU. Without delay, Union sports minister accompanied by Chief Minister rushed back to Imphal and head for Koutruk, another proposed site for the construction of the national project located about 10 km north of Imphal near Khurkhul village under Imphal West district in the afternoon.Earlier BJP Manipur Pradesh leaders who prefer Koutruk for the construction of the NSU, expressed apprehension over the chances of shifting the construction site from Manipur unless the necessary formalities including land acquisition process at Yaithibi Loukon are cleared on time. Media persons who followed the Minister’s inspection trip tried to get his comment on the proposed construction sites. But he refused to give any comment, sources said. Meanwhile Minister Goel accompanied by BJP state unit leaders also addressed a party meeting at Khurai Laikhulembi Madap in Imphal in the afternoon.It may be mentioned that Manipur government has claimed that a land measuring around 336.93 acres at Yaithibi Loukon had been handed over to the Union Ministry of Youth affairs and sports against the 200 acres of land they proposed for the setting up of the NSU on August 27,2015 following the finalization of the construction site by an expert team in August 2014. Sources here also said that the Union Minister Goel is also expected to inaugurate a Football Academy at SAI North Eastern Regional Centre, Imphal before his departure on Saturday.