Shillong, July 20: A Land Bank Committee constituted by the Meghalaya government has identified around 300 acres of land belonging to the Urban Affairs department at the New Shillong Township would be utilized for the construction of Games village and other important sports infrastructure for hosting the National Games in 2022 .

Centre has also released Rs 350 crore in the first phase to Meghalaya for building of sports infrastructure in view of the National Games in 2022.

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh on Friday said that works would start very soon and a land measuring about 300 acres at the New Shillong Township would be utilized for the construction of Games village and other important sports infrastructure for hosting the National Games in 2022.

The Land Bank Committee constituted by the state government has identified the land which belonged to the Urban Affairs department at the New Shillong Township.

“The land was finalised at a joint meeting between the Sports department and the Urban Affairs department,” he said.

Besides the games village, multipurpose stadiums of international standard, parks and other infrastructures would be also constructed.

Other infrastructure will be also constructed in other districts in Khasi Hills and Garo Hills region.

During the 67th plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC) here, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had informed that the fund requirement for the creation of the stadia, games village etc is estimated to be about Rs 1500 crore.

Conrad had said that the state government has put forward a request to the Central government for a special grant for this purpose which may be routed through the Ministry of DoNER and the NEC.

The Sports Minister meanwhile informed that most of the works related to the preparation for the National games have started.

Lyngdoh who visited Russia and witnessed the FIFA World Cup matches there, said that he along with the chief minister had learnt many things especially the manner in which Russia has successfully hosted the tournament.

“We came back with so many ideas and we proposed to implement them so that the National Games in 2022 could be hosted successfully in term of logistic, transportation and others,” Lyngdoh said, adding that the state government would ensure that the National Games will transform the state in a big way.