MATHABHANGA

Stadium yet incomplete at Mathabhanga

Ten years have passed but the proposed full-fledged stadium is yet to be completed at Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar. Following demands from different quarters of sports lovers the then MP (Lok Sabha) Mr Amar Ray Pradhan had sanctioned a sum of Rs 20-lakh in 2001 to initiate the construction of the stadium. According to the plan the proposed Netaji Krirangan was to accommodate 7,000 seats. Mr Ray Pradhan had sanctioned an additional fund of Rs 42-lakh in two instalments from his MP-LAD fund after allotment of the first instalment.

During the past ten years seating arrangements for about 3,000 viewers has been made including boundary fencing. As per the ambitious Rs 1-crore project seating arrangements for another 4,000 viewers is to come up there. According to the plan an ultra-modern gymnasium for sportsmen to be build up beneath the gallery. Offices of the Sub-divisional Sports Association, Sub-divisional School Sports Association are also to be added there. But, it is not yet clear who to fund the required money to complete the stadium.

Mathabhanga SSA sources said they spent the first instalment of the MP-LAD fund. In 2004 they received Rs 20-lakh as the second instalment and that was handed over to the public works department. Later, in 2009-2010 fiscal year that fund was transferred to the Mathabhanga Municipality to erect the gallery but it has been left incomplete.

Recently, the civic body called a tender for Rs 17-lakh. It is decided that a gallery with about 3,000 seats would be made on the east side of the stadium. The rest of the work would be completed after arranging the required fund. Locals have started to believe that the much awaited stadium would stand as a distant dream as no one knows from where the fund to come.