Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, SEP 17 (NPN): State chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio has expressed surprise over the controversy surrounding the location of the Khelo India Multipurpose Hall, Mangkolemba, saying he has sought an explanation from the Youth Resources & Sports (YR&S) department on how the project came to be constructed at Longtho village.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme at Chümoukedima, Rio, who also holds the Sports portfolio, said he had questioned the department about the project and would share details once he received a report.
“I am taken by surprise. Yes, I’m going into details with the department,” Rio said this when asked about the multipurpose hall constructed at Longtho village, at a site associated with minister Temjen Imna Along. Asked specifically whether a multipurpose hall would be constructed in Mangkolemba town, given concerns that a facility at a private property would not serve its intended public purpose, Rio said the government’s approach was to establish such facilities first at district headquarters and subsequently at sub-divisions.
“Firstly, we are doing it in all the district headquarters. Then after that, the sub-divisions,” he said.
Rio said extending similar infrastructure to every village would not be feasible given the number of villages in the state.
However, Rio maintained that he was unaware of how the Mangkolemba project had been handled and would seek clarification from the department.
“The department, I don’t know how they had done that,” Rio said, adding that he would obtain the relevant information.