Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 19 (EMN): Union Minister of State for Sports Vijay Goel has informed the ongoing Rajya Sabha that National Sports University Bill 2017 which would pave the way for establishment of country’s first ever National Sports University (NSU) in Manipur would be tabled in Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session. Union sports minister made the assurance while responding to a query raised by Manipur’s new Rajya Sabha MP K Bhabanand, also the president of Bharatiya Janata Party Manipur Pradesh.
He also informed Rajya Sabha that Hindustan Steel Works Construction Limited has been hired as project management consultant for the NSU and a sum of Rs. 13.50 crore was released to the construction company to start pre-investment activities. It is estimated that the first phase of the project would cost around Rs. 91 crores and total cost of the project including campus may require upto Rs. 500 crores.
Reacting to another question by Manipur Rajya Sabha MP Bhabananda, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan said there was no report of extensive deforestation in Manipur although jhum and shifting cultivation is practised in some parts of forest areas.
Meanwhile replying to a query Minister of State for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar informed that Rajya Sabha that there was no Goods and Serrvice Tax (GST) relaxation on dry fish, salted and Ngari, fermented fish and local delicacy.
Earlier, deputy chief minister Y Joykumar who holds the finance portfolio had been pressurising the central to exempt GST from the Ngari and local handloom products for public interest.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansukh L Mandaviya informed that altogether Rs. 117.29 crores spent in the last three years on developing and maintaining Imphal-Jiribam highway (NH 37).
