Imphal, January 25: Hurling charges against the State Government for non-release of Centrally sanctioned financial assistance.

Rural Sports Association (Rusa), Nambol secretary T Ibochou Singh said the indifferent attitude has severely affected completion of the Rs 1.20 crore Khoriphaba Indoor Stadium proposed at Nambol Khoriphaba.

Due to intense pressure from representatives of Nambol, Oinam and Utlou area sports organization and club demanded reasons behind the inordinate delay Ibochou made the allegations amid a press conference held at Nambol today.

Condemning stoppages of construction activities for the indoor stadium under grant of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports president of Struggle Committee Against the Discontinuation of Khoriphaba Indoor Stadium Shanti Kabui sought detailed information from Ibochou.

In reply, Ibochou elaborated that for the construction under the Union Ministry's Scheme of Grants for Creation of Sports Infrastructure implementing agency Rusa was supposed to contribute 25 percent of the total cost with the remaining amount to be provided by the Centre as grant.

BJP MP Th Chaoba during his stint as Union MoS for Youth Affairs and Sports proposed and approved the stadium construction and eventually laid the foundation stone on May 7, 2000, said Ibochou.

He further stated that Central Govt had sanctioned Rs 89.87 lakhs in March 31, 2000 and informed Rusa to begin construction with 50 percent of the latter's share after which 25 percent of the Central grant would be released on installment basis while fixing two years time for completion of the stadium.

The balance amount of the grant was assured for release on utilization of the first installment, he further said.

On completion of construction costing Rs 18.75 lakhs in April last, State Government was approached to release the first Central grant that yielded negative result, lamented Ibochou.

The construction activities was further hampered when certain vested interest misinformed the then Advisor EN Rammohan that Rusa's share has been misappropriated resulting in the Advisor recommending to the Central Government to cease funding and conduct an inquiry.

As the State Vigilance Department filed a case under IPC Sec 420 and 427 construction works came to a grinding halt, asserted Ibochou.

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