DREAM PROJECT OF CUNCOLIM SPORTS LOVERS FINALLY TAKING SHAPE ARMSTRONG VAZ
CUNCOLIM Jan15;- After several false starts, for the last two years, the Cuncolim ground is finally destined for take off and complete the incomplete race, while overcoming many a hurdle in its path. Politicians including chief ministers and sports minister have come and gone giving assurances which they had failed to fufill in completing the Cuncolim ground. Things seem to be in the right direction thanks to the initiative of the Alemao brothers who have set the ball rolling for the completion of the grounds in the last six months. It may recalled that the ground was to be inaugurated on 27th September 2003 but was called in the mist of protests from locals who took protest to the incomplete ground being inaugurated during the tenure of former sports minister Francisco pachecho. Now South MP Churchill alemao has promised to allot Rs. 25 lakhs from his MP local area development scheme for the ground in Cuncolim constituency. The tender for construction of compound wall, well and turf has been allotted to two separate contractors and the contractors are awaiting work orders to start the project. The recent politicians who visited the ground for inspection this week was sports minister Mathany Saldhana. Saldhana took to task sports director of SAG VM Prabhu dessai in the delay in work and for the incomplete ground. He also inquired of the funds already used for the ground. Prabhu dessai informed that already Rs.38 lakhs had been paid for mud filling. Saldhana also inquired from the engineers as how the project was cleared when no approach road was demarcated leading to the ground.. Saldhana also sought comments from the local sports lovers and questioned as to why the ground at panzorconi should not be developed. State level football coach Levino Dias informed that the panzorconi ground will three kilometers away for the school children and as the present ground at kalata was convenient for all, the Kalata ground should be developed. It may recalled that sports minister pachecho too had accompanied the former Arecio D~Tsouza to the site of the Cuncolim ground and given an assurance soon after the constitution of the present assembly in the month of August 2002 that he will complete the ground within six months. South MP Ramakant Angle, a son of Cuncolim, too had given an assurance that the will develop the ground giving Rs. 50 lakhs for the Cuncolim ground. Incidentally all the assurances were washed away through the twelve bunds and numerous rivulets of Cuncolim . Recently a high level meeting of government officials and other associated was held at Ciuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao office in Cuncolim which was attended by government officials including JE Fernandes and other junior engineers. In the first phase of the project a seven metre approach road is to be constructed through the land acquired by the government for the bus stand. Further a well is to be constructed for supplying water for maintenance of the grounds and other needs of those using the ground. The other facilities to be covered in the first phase of the project include fencing and providing support for the loose laterite stone for the base of the support wall, in the form of a concrete layer. A fence is also to be provided for the ground. Engineers who visited the ground along with the committee members of the Cuncolim play ground development committee also marked an area of 120 by 80 for the football ground. The south Goa MP funds are also to be used for constructing a seating capacity of 250 spectators in the first phase and also a conference room and two dressing rooms. Further provisions have also been made for providing turf playing surface for the ground. Sources informed that remaining works will be taken up in the second phase. Members who were present for the meeting insisted on the government officials that work soon be carried out at a fast pace and completed within three months, in view of the Birthday of the local MLA Joaquim alemao in the first week of November. Meanwhile in a related development V. M. Prabhu Desai Director of Sports has in a letter addressed The Chief Architect, Office of the Chief Architect, has asked the chief architect Radha to ~Sthink 20 year ahead and make a unique plan and design for each Village Sports Complex, which should not be repeated. This is as per the advice of the Minister for Sports Mathany Saldhana in reference to the plans for the Cuncolim play ground. In a letter which has been sent by the sports director after Saldhana took over from Micky Pacheco has stated the land acquired and filling done is 16,400 Sq.metres Among the things the director of sports has asked the chief planner to plan and draw out the plans for the project include playgrounds for Football, Volleyba11, Kabaddi, Kho-kho, Handball and Sepaktakraw. Further he has also instructed the planner to plan stands adding that ~SThe spectator seating stand capacity of at least 1000 persons could be provided adjoining the change rooms.~T Also adequate toilet facilities for Ladies, Gents, and Changing Room with, washroom for players should be planned by the architect in the plans to be provided to sports authority of Goa. The other facilities to be provided are ~Sstage for dignitaries and officials ~S and also a ~SHigh Chain link fencing around the playfield~T and taking care of ~S Adequate parking~T at the site of the play ground. In his letter V M Prabhu dessai has also informed the chief planner that the department is; making efforts to obtain adequate access and further Sufficient budget provision is also available wherein department can provide required funds to complete the project. Some athletes however wondered as to how no provision has been made for construction of an athlete track. Athletics they argues is the mother of sport and urged the SAG to consider plans to fit in an athletic track at the Cuncolim ground. Meanwhile a coordination committee has been constituted under the chairman ship of Jaoquim Alemao, other members of the Committee are Dayanand Naik, Mario Moraes, Tony Rebello, Levino Dias, Santosh Dessai, Armstrong Vaz, Moti Dessai, Xavier Fernandes, Ramesh Dessai, , Manish Ghodekar and all The Physical Education Teachers Of The Five Schools , Two Higher Secondary And One College Of Cuncolim. It may be recalled here that the proposed inauguration of The S.AG. Ground at Cuncolim on 27th September 2003 was called off in the mist of opposition to the proposed inauguration of the ground by local educational institutions and clubs from the village. Educational institutions and clubs from the village had in an representation made to The Chief-Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar dated 24th September 2003 while Opposing the Ground at Cuncolim had citied the reasons for opposing the same The reasons mentioned were the surface:--The top soil has been totally washed away and the grazing cattle have made deep holes making it impossible to play and very risky to play which could end up in severe injuries. . Fencing: the ground is on a higher level ,and therefore it is very risky for our children as children love to run blindly 'When they are set free in excitement. This should be very dangerous to the innocent lives of our young innocent children. Approach road: There is no approach road. Before any inauguration it is very necessary to have an approach road there is grass and' dung and the way leading to the ground is not leveled Nothing has been done to see that there exists a proper approach road. Parking facilities: There is no arrangement been made for the parking of vehicles and in case there is any sporting event ,the vehicles will be parked on the National Highway which will cause a lot of traffic hazards. Dressing room: There is no provision made for the dressing room and toilet facilities, which will adversely affect the participants they had warned further they had also mentioned that there were lack of stands and drinking facilities at the ground. Hope fully all will change on the sporting front with a new ground and slush green surface for the sports persons and spectators to enjoy the action at Cuncolim ground.