Mizoram sports minister Robert Romawia Royte on Thursday unveiled the laying of Astro Turf surface at Kamalanagar Football Playground in Lawngtlai district amidst excitement among the sports enthusiasts.
Minister Royte arrived at Kamalanagar, the headquarters of Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) on Wednesday.
Thursday’s event was attended by the chief executive member (CEM) of CADC, Rasik Mohan Chakma; HPC Lunglei vice-chairman Lawmawma Tochhawng and Chawngte SDO (civil) S. Kaptluanga besides others.
The infrastructure will be first of its kind for the remote area of the state.
“The creation of the asset indicates the keen intention of the government to make available world class sporting infrastructure to the remotest part of the state to provide opportunity to young talents,” said Prabin Chakma, information & public relations officer of CADC.
Football is the most loved game of Mizoram and it has produced world-class players, who have excelled in the game at the national level.
The Rs 532.50 lakh project of artificial turf will include site preparation, security fencing, concrete paver block footpath around the ground and RCC building for pavilion and changing room.
The department of sports and youth services, Mizoram will provide technical and professional assistance.
The project will be operated and maintained by the sports department.
Royte while addressing the gathering said the construction of the football ground will be the beginning of an era of development for this backward area.
He mentioned many projects that are in the pipeline for this area.
The projects include the construction of community service centre at Rs.140 lakh, construction of girls’ hostel at a cost of Rs.282.80 lakh, construction of volleyball court with viewing gallery at a cost of Rs.32.87 lakh and construction of residential school at a cost of Rs.3461.70 lakh.
He said a football academy will also be established at Chawngte in the coming days.
He requested for maintaining communal harmony between all the communities like Lushai, Chakma, Lai, Bawm, Bru, Hindu-Bengalis and Muslim-Bengalis living in Chawngte and Kamalanagar.
Royte added that the football ground shall be a force of integration and unity between the different communities.
He said, “Working for social and economic development of the minority communities of Mizoram was in our election manifesto and we shall remain committed to its spirit.”
He further said, “Without developing backward southern Mizoram we cannot claim to be a developed state.”
Rasik Mohan Chakma was full of appreciation for Royte for his ability to reign-in central fund for developmental work and thanked him profusely for the project.
He praised him for his vision of inclusiveness to develop Mizoram as a whole.