Tura, Jan 20: Adokgre village in North Garo Hills, the launchpad for every successful parliamentary election for Garo Hills’ most famous political leader, Late Purno A Sangma, is to finally have its very own stadium with the former leader’s very own son and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma laying the foundation at the ‘victory’ site christened ‘Chenanggre’ or place of victory.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for Chenanggre Stadium in Adokgre, North Garo Hills and also inaugurated the new school building of Adokgre school funded by the Asian Development Bank.
Inaugurated the new school building of Adokgiri Secondary School funded by @ADB_HQ– Supporting Human Capital Development Project with Hon’ble MLAs, Sh.Rupert Momin & Sh Pongseng Marak. Dedicate this to the future of our children of Adokgre & #NorthGaroHills @DrRPNishank pic.twitter.com/6Aya0qRbKr
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) January 20, 2021
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Kharkutta and Bajengdoba MLAs, Rupert Momin and Pongseng Marak and the Director of education, A Ch Marak.
The stadium is being constructed at a cost of Rs 6.24 Crores and is expected to be completed by December 2022.
“Chenanggre stadium will be one of the biggest stadiums in the entire north Garo Hills and will give an opportunity for the youth to partake in sporting events and help build a career in sports,” said the chief minister as he was given a rousing welcome by the public.
Mentioning about the significance of Adokgre village the chief minister reminded the gathering that its people and place always hold special significance to his family because P A Sangma always began his political battles from this very place.
“Our father won every election he contested because he believed this place was his bastion which is why he named Adokgre as “Chenanggre” or the land of victory.
Adokgre was very special to my Father, (L) P A Sangma as he would always start his election campaigns from here. He called it ‘Chenanggre’, meaning ‘Land of Victory’. By laying foundation for the Chenanggre Stadium, I wish a victorious future for our youth.@KirenRijiju pic.twitter.com/mySOtLg5XW
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) January 20, 2021
While also inaugurating the new school building of Adokgre school, Conrad Sangma said education is a key focus of the state government and work is being done to improve the education scenario of the state.
The school building was constructed by funding from the ADB’s Supporting Human Capital Development project.
Since education is important for the core development of the region and its people he informed the gathering of the various financial aids being approved for the education sector. He stated that Rs 100 Crore meant for the up gradation of 250 LP Schools under different constituencies and more such funds for upgrading the existing educational institutions in the district has been allotted.
While laying the foundation stone for Chenanggre Stadium, Mr Sangma said Chenanggre which means ‘Land of Victory’ in Garo is a named lovingly called by his late father Shri P A Sangma to express his gratitude for the people of Adokgre since he believed the place to be his bastion. An amount of Rs 6.25 Crore has been sanctioned for the development of the sports stadium and its construction will soon take place. He also added that the completion of the stadium is likely to happen by December 2022.
The MDA government felt the need for more such sports infrastructures so as to mould the sportive talents of the youth and therefore has sanctioned Rs 3 Crore each for Bajengdoba and Resubelpara for the creation of Mini Stadiums while Rs 1.50 Crore has been earmarked for Damas Mini Stadium in Mendipathar, the Chief Minister informed.
Others who spoke at length regarding the ongoing developmental activities in the region were MLAs Shri Rupert Momin and Shri Pongseng Marak.
Kharkutta MLA Rupert Momin, under whose constituency Adokgre village and its upcoming Chenanggre stadium is located termed today’s event as “historic”.
“I laud the efforts of the government in putting its trust to improve the overall development scenario in Garo Hills. THe MDA government under the leadership of Conrad K Sangma will take Meghalaya to its greater heights,” said Rupert Momin.
He announced that the upcoming stadium would be named as Chenanggre stadium.
