PAC asks Sports dept to come out with blueprint for hosting

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Meghalaya Assembly on Tuesday told the state government to come out with a blueprint on preparations for hosting the National Games 2022.

"The PAC has given one month's time to the Sports department to come out with a blueprint on how the state plans to host the National Games 2022," PAC member H M Shangpliang said here after winding up a two-day review with heads of various government departments.

"We were informed that there was no blueprint on the preparation for hosting the National Games and we are afraid the state may not be able to host the games," he said.

The PAC has also asked the Sports department to explain in details how the state government has projected an expenditure of Rs 2,199 crore for hosting the National Games, he said.

While the department has mooted acquiring land in the New Shillong Township for construction of the games venue in the outskirts of the city, the committee member said it has learned that another plot of land in the outskirts of Tura town in West Garo Hills district has been identified.

The PAC also reviewed the earth cutting works for the expansion of the Shillong Airport at Umroi and demanded that the Public Works Department and the deputy commissioner of Ri-Bhoi district provide adequate compensation to the affected farmers whose agricultural fields were destroyed by the soil spillage at Umktieh village.

PAC member and local MLA George Lyngdoh said 30 famers from the village were affected by the soil spillage.