Jogger’s Park and Multi-Purpose Hall inaugurated in Kohima

Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 29 (EMN): Advisor for Youth Resources and Sports, Zale Neikha on Thursday said the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government has been focusing on creating a conducive atmosphere for youths to excel in sports.

Neikha was speaking at the inauguration of Jogger’s Park and Multi-Purpose Hall at Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in Kohima.

‘The PDA Government, headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, is committed to promoting games and sports in Nagaland and remains one of the main thrust areas of the PDA Government,’ said the advisor.

In this regard, he urged the youths to nurture their talents, exhibit sportsmanship and requested all the stakeholders to cohesively work with the government for ensuring development in all fronts.

He added that the present government has put a strategy where sports become an industry and a lucrative profession that provides gainful employment inside and outside the competitive arenas.

“Nagas are naturally talented and second to none in the field of games and sports,” he stated. Neikha asserted that the government was committed to work in all ways to promote sports with infrastructural development, developmental projects from grassroots, capacity building of coaches and trainers, improvement of diet and nutrition, exposure and scientific training of athletes, motivation and reward and career stability for sportspersons.

‘The department is currently undertaking five major infrastructure projects under Khelo India, all of which are expected to be completed by next year and more such infrastructures are in the pipeline,’ he said.

Further, he also informed that with the success of synthetic turf at Indira Gandhi (IG) Stadium in Kohima, the department was undertaking installation of synthetic turfs in Dimapur, Tuensang, Mon and Mokokchung from various schemes of the state and Centre.

Meanwhile, he maintained that the department was also keen to make a multi-disciplinary sports centre (MDSC) functional, for which DPR preparation is in the final stages.

Neikha said that with the selection of IG Stadium to be established as Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) to strengthen India’s pursuit of excellence in Olympics, talented sportspersons from the state can now avail the opportunity at their doorsteps in nurturing their talents for competitions at the regional, national and international levels.

He stated that besides infrastructure development, measures are being undertaken by the department by way of awards to recognise the achievements of sportspersons, coaches and administrators.

He challenged all the sportspersons of the state to take the opportunity and start honing their skills and use the platform to train and compete at the national level, to represent India in the international arena and bring laurels for the state and country.

He also congratulated the department for the successfully bringing the much-needed infrastructure and expressed hope that the multipurpose hall would be utilised well.

Minister for Planning and Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu called upon the people to make the state ‘a better Nagaland to live in’.

Recalling his experience of travelling around the globe, he shared that people across the world enjoy life despite the problems that surround them.

“Yes, the political solution is important to all of us, we need to be serious but before that we all have to get ready and we should not forget our day-to-day life,” he said.

The minister also lauded the Assembly Secretariat under NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, stating that it was ‘performing well’. Citing the latest development in the NLA complex -- an automated library –, he asserted that it was important for a civilised society.

The minister further stated that the government would try to start construction of a quarter for the NLA Speaker next year, adding that he (speaker) would be the guardian of all developments - library, Jogger’s park and multi-purpose hall. He also expressed the need to create beautiful places, citing his own contributions in building two parks for people to relax.

Protect government properties

Meanwhile, the minister stated that it’s time to protect all government properties and also start public parks in every district of the state.

He informed that directives have been given to all the deputy commissioners (DCs) of the districts to identify and protect government properties and send its report to the Planning department at the earliest, while also identify places in their respective districts for construction of parks.

He added that it was time for the state to come up with projects such as ‘a short landing street for small aeroplane to land or the helicopter in the form of heliport’ in every district. He exuded hope that once the reports were submitted by the deputy commissioners in a month’s time, it would be worked out.

Health is paramount — Speaker

Meanwhile, Sharingain Longkumer, in his address, said that focus on health has become paramount in a trying time such as the ongoing pandemic and that staying fit and keeping a healthy body was a requisite to fight the Covid-19.

He also acknowledged the department of Youth Resources and Sports and the then Advisor Khriehu Liezietsu for materialising the construction of the Multi-Purpose Hall which is attached with a ‘world-class gym’.

Longkumer said that the facilities would not only benefit the members of NLA residing in the legislators home but also the staff in the NLA complex and the public.

He extended his appreciation to the consultant designer, Richard Belho, for conceptualising the Jogger’s Park, and the PWD central division of Housing for maintaining the quality and bringing out the best.

Asserting that gift of health is the best asset given to humankind, he advised the people to stay fit and healthy.

More infrastructures for recreation required

Minister for Public Works Department (PWD) Housing and Mechanical, Tongpang Ozukum said that Kohima is becoming a space-crunch city where ‘the government don’t even have an acre of land for developmental works’. In this regard, he acknowledged the NLA for preserving the land to build the space for a Multi-Purpose Hall and Jogger’s Park.

Ozukum said that the people of the state capital were concerned about their health, citing people of all ages actively exercising in the morning and evening at Raj Bhavan area ‘although it might not be an ideal place.’

He stated that more infrastructure and facilities were required for recreational purposes in Kohima.

He also extended his appreciation to the chief minister, under whose initiative Jogger’s Park was built. He said it will become useful for the people of the state once the situation of the pandemic improves along with relaxation of SOP for public places and utilities.

Project reports

Earlier during the programme, the director of YRS, Akumla Chuba, presented a report on the construction of the Multi-Purpose Hall. She informed that the project was conceptualised in 2015 to cater to all the disciplines of indoor sports and also in hosting cultural, tribal and youth-related activities.

She maintained that the proposal was sent to North Eastern Council (NEC) and subsequently got sanctioned in 2015-16 with a project cost of INR 647.54 lakh based on 90:10 funding ratio between NEC and the state.

The work was awarded to M/s Eastern Associates and works commenced on July 14, 2016 and completed on February 26, 2021. The facility has a scope of a play area for indoor sports with provisions for three badminton courts, multi-gym, multi-utility hall, electrical room, change and green room, toilet blocks, storage rooms and galleries.

Presenting a report on Jogger’s Park, Executive Engineer, PWD (Housing) Central Division, S Lanu Jamir informed that the project was sanctioned under state plan 2019-2020 with a total cost of INR 70 lakh and implemented by PWD Housing, Nagaland.

He informed the construction was awarded to M/s Orion Enterprise, Class- 1 Contractor Kohima under the care of architect Richard Belho on March 19, 2020. It was completed on October 18, 2020 and handed over to the NLA on March 31, 2021.

He highlighted that the park has a total length of 1018 metre jogging track with two gates, 13 rainwater harvesting ponds, wherein two have been converted for composite pit among others.

The facilities were inaugurated by Sharingain Longkumer in the presence of Neiba Kronu, Tongpang Ozukum, Metsubo Jamir, Zale Neikha, Advisor KT Sukhalu, Advisor Mhanthung Yanthan and officials from YRS and NLA.

Earlier, welcome address was delivered by Commissioner and Secretary of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) PJ Anthony, while Commissioner of Youth Resources and Sports, Alun Hangsing handed over the MOU between the YRS and NLA to the former (PJ Anthony).