21 Jun 2022  |   06:17am IST

Keep Pernem Sports Complex free for promising players: GSF writes to CM

Team Herald


PANJIM: The Goa Sports Foundation urged the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant  to temporarily rent out the Pernem Sports Complex to GMR company or any other by relaxing the conditions for use without disturbing the regular training of sports persons.

"Referring to the proposal of the complex to the Competition Commissioner of India, Government of India, charging exorbitant price and returning of excess amount by the construction agency as the Govt. of India turn down the request despite Double Engine Sarkar to release Rs 37.58 crore,” as stated by the General Secretary, Goa Sports Foundation Licio Roncon in a memorandum written to the CM.

"As per the  the existing Central Government scheme, the State Government is eligible for Rs 10 crore grant for development of multipurpose hall (of size 60M x 40M x 12M) with facilities for badminton, volleyball, handball, kabaddi etc. The State government forwarded a proposal for Rs 37.58 cr, but to our surprise the Central Government turned down the State government proposal pertaining to the Pernem sports complex at the PAC meeting of MYAS on 11 February 2019, where the Centre approved only the upgradation of Santa-Cruz football ground at Rs 4.25 cr." Roncon added.

The GSF had also demanded that all stadiums  for the schools and State Sports Association should be kept open for free. However, till date no action has been taken so far.

"The Former Dy. Director General, CWG’ 2010 and Executive Director, SAI Roque Dias revealed that Goa and North-East states were considered “backward” in sports over a decade ago, but today the North East states are olympic medallist while Goa is lagging behind. Therefore, he called upon for a reorientation of existing schemes of Govt of Goa, so as to be result-oriented." Roncon lamented.

 “The Khelo India Youth Games provides scholarship of Rs 5 lakhs per year for eight years to promising sportspersons, but the State team left for competition at Haryana without proper planning, intensive coaching camp and train reservation-despite financed by the Goverment of India,” stated Roncon.


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar