FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
SIVASAGAR, March 20: A golden chapter in the field of sports in Sivasagar has begun with the iuguration of the much-awaited Chau-Lung-Syukapha Indoor Stadium in Sivasagar on Sunday. The stadium was formally iugurated by Director (Onshore), ONGC Ved Prakash Mahawar on Sunday evening. With the formal iuguration of the stadium, the dream of Seuj Konwar Parag Chaliha, eminent educationist, social activist, sports activist and former Member of Parliament, has become reality.
The construction of the Chau-Lung-Syukapha Indoor Stadium was started way back in 1997 by Seuj Konwar Parag Chaliha with a sum of Rs 20 lakh from his MP fund and Rs 5 lakh from the Directorate of Sports, Government of Assam, but construction activities of the stadium came to a standstill with sudden demise of Parag Chaliha in 1999. The construction work which should have been cost more than Rs 2.5 crore as per 2010-11 government approved valuation report, was completed with an expense of Rs. 1,81,61,500, said Saurav Chaliha, general secretary of Chau-Lung-Syukapha Indoor Stadium Magement Committee, while delivering his report. He also stated that the construction work of the stadium was completed in 2013, but due to various pressing problems the formal iuguration had to be delayed.
Chaliha, who became emotiol during his speech, recollected the journey of the magement committee which under his supervision took the responsibility of bringing Seuj Konwar's dream to a successful fulfillment, despite the problem of acute fincial shortage.
He thanked ONGC for its noble gesture in completing the stadium and assured that the stadium would remain vibrant always.
Earlier, a galaxy of dignitaries which included eminent Assamese artistes Pranjal Saikia and his wife Purnima Pathak, former MPs Kirip Chaliha and Arun Kumar Sarma, Commissioner Secretary in the Government of Assam RC Jain, former Deputy Commissioners of Sivasagar NM Hussain and Jatindra Lahkar, Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Virendra Mittal, Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner rayan Konwar, Sivasagar Superintendent of Police Subodh Sonowal, former Directors of ONGC (On-shore) Ajit Kumar Hazarika and Ashok Verma, ONGC, Assam Asset ED Budhin Deuri, Arjun Awardee Bhogeswar Baruah, architect of the stadium Ashok Saikia and president of Sivasagar Sports Association Puram Mili, were welcomed from Phukan gar Kali Mandir to the stadium with a gayan-bayan and felicitated with cheleng chador and replica of Rang Ghar by the members of the Chau-Lung-Syukapha Indoor Stadium Magement Committee. The bust of Seuj Konwar Parag Chaliha, which was erected at the stadium complex, was iugurated by Seuj Konwar's wife Dipali Chaliha.
Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner rayan Konwar delivered the welcome speech, while former Director (On-shore) Ajit Hazarika released a souvenir brought out on the occasion.
RC Jain, amidst his speech, felicitated Saurav Chaliha with a cheleng chador for his relentless and untiring efforts in fulfilling his father's dream, while Pranjal Saikia saluted Saurav Chaliha for his indomitable spirit and constant efforts in overcoming all the hurdles that came in the path of construction of the stadium.
The iugural event included a modern dance performance by Mahathi Chaliha and Pragya Pratima Mahanta, students of Kala Bihar Sangeet Vidyalay, followed by Seuj Konwar's immortal creation Jaapi Nritya by a troupe of young artists.
The function concluded with vote of thanks from Budhin Deori, ED, ONGC, Assam Asset.