Gogoi’s multi-crore amnesia ails DSA

SARAT SARMA

Nagaon, Feb. 7 : Nearly one-and-a-half years have passed since chief minister Tarun Gogoi promised the people of Dima Hasao that he would upgrade the district’s only playground under a multi-crore rupees infrastructure development project.

Gogoi announced a Rs 50-crore package during a ceremony at the Dima Hasao Sports Association playground on October 2, 2009 that included the infrastructure development of the playground. The lack of drainage system and boundary and players’ accommodation leave the district sports association praying to the weather gods even when a district-level tournament is organised.

“We think the chief minister has forgotten the promise. We are waiting from some support either in cash or kind,” said a sports association officebearer.

The association and its playground in Haflong was established in 1952. The only assets of the organisation include an Assam type office building, an indoor stadium built in 2002 and a gallery along one side of the ground.

“Soon after the chief minister’s Haflong visit, we prepared a masterplan of Rs 5 crore. It included construction of a boundary walls and drainage system, a dormitory where at least six teams can be accommodated and a swimming pool. The proposal was placed before the district autonomous council authorities. We do not know when our dreams will see the light of the day,” the officebearer said.

Recently the association’s playground was named NL Daulogupu Sports Complex.

The general secretary of the sports association, Thai-Tsho Daulogupu, said, “Last time we had to postpone the Nindu Langthasa inter-club football tournament because of bad ground condition. Once this was one of the best grounds for national-level tournaments.”

“We hope the state government might listen to our aspirations for a better sports environmen,” Daulogupu said.