PORVORIM: While the government is fast-tracking the long-pending creation and up-gradation of infrastructure for National Games scheduled in October, the project of the refurbishment of the existing swimming pool at Campal is lagging far behind.
As per information tabled by Manohar Ajgaonkar, Sports & Youth Affairs Minister, the work will complete by March-April 2020.
Details state that refurbishment of the swimming pool at Campal in terms of design, supply, infrastructure, testing and commissioning of arena lighting & electrical work; The electromechanical work at the venue is completed by 15%, while the total work completion has reached to just 5%.
The estimated cost of the first project is around Rs 2.66 crore while the electromechanical work is estimated at around Rs 3.62 crore.
While this part of the entire infrastructural project is witnessing a slow pace of work, the minister claimed that government has completed the construction of indoor stadium at Sawalwada and Pernem; reconstruction and development of existing Indoor Sports Complex at Campal, Construction of proposed indoor stadium at Navelim, Salcete; extension, alteration and modification of existing Indoor Sports Complex, Ponda and refurbishment of multipurpose hall at Fatorda.
The reply came in response to the starred question on the status of hosting the National Games tabled by Ramkrishna Dhavalikar, Vijai Sardesai, Vinoda Paliencar, Jayesh Salgaonkar and Ravi Naik.
In his further reply, Ajgaonkar stated, “The new Government that was instated in 2017, in consultation with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had decided to host the Games in March-April 2019. However, in January 2019, due to the By-Assembly elections and Parliamentary elections to be scheduled at the same time and the Model Code of Conduct was to be in-force for a long period of time, the deployment of police force required for the arrangements were being affected and the volunteers required from colleges were found to be difficult to get on account of their term-end examinations, the Government requested IOA to postpone the hosting of the Games to November 2019.”
“The IOA reverted to Government of Goa’s request by July 22, 2019 and with only 100 days left for the preparations, the Government requested the IOA to accordingly relook at the same and to provide a minimum 5-6 months period for its preparations. The IOA thereafter, in consultation with Government, decided to postpone the Games to October 2020,” he added. The 36th National Games will be held from October 20 to November 4, 2020.
