ITANAGAR, Feb 22: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Construction of Outdoor Stadium at Aalo, West Siang district today took out a mass rally in protest against the “inordinate delay” in construction of the outdoor stadium at Aalo which was sanctioned under SPA 2013-14. After the rally, the JAC submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the DC, West Siang who assured to forward the same to the Govt for early consideration.
Narrating the plight of players and sports enthusiasts of the district HQs in absence of a stadium, the JAC in its memo said though the project was sanctioned under SPA during FY 2013-14, the tender formalities took time due to re-routing of the project from erstwhile Planning Commission to the present NITI Aayog. Finally, the construction works started on 06.03.2017 with the completion target of 24 months i.e. 05.03.2019.
But it’s disheartening that even after an elapse of four long years; the project is yet to be completed. Only 10-15% of the structure has been achieved till (date) by the construction agency, TK Engineering Consortium Pvt Ltd, Naharlagun. On further enquiry, it was disclosed that only Rs nine crore was released till date. Moreover, the scheme/project has already been delinked, as the Special Plan Allocation (SPA) has been relinquished by the present Union Govt.
“Whereas the same projects at Yupia, Ziro, Pasighat and Daporijo sanctioned during same year had been completed by the Urban Development & Housing Department, GoAP, but the projects at Aalo, Tezu and Chimpu being executed by Sports (erstwhile Sports & Youth Affairs) Department are yet to see any tangible progress even after the expiry of targeted completion year. As such, the construction works of Outdoor Stadium at Aalo has been literally stopped by the agency, citing the paucity of funds,” it said.
“It is learnt that another 35 crore is now required for its completion. The Department of Sports, which is the nodal agency, too had expressed its regrets regarding the project completion as no fund had been allocated by the State Govt even after repeated pleas and proposals.”
The JAC (a conglomerate of various NGOs of West Siang) headed by Galo People’s Federation requested the State Govt to keep a budgetary provision of Rs 35 crore in upcoming Budget 2021-22 for construction of the outdoor stadium at Aalo.
JAC chairman Doya Boje disclosed that if the Govt fails to address the issue on top most priority, the JAC will launch a rigorous democratic movement to get its demand fulfilled. He also appealed to the legislators of the district to raise the issue in the ensuing House session.
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