Team Goemkarponn
Canacona: Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar on Monday inaugurated the renovated Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) ground at Shristhal in Canacona amid criticism from some local residents over the quality and completion status of the project.
The inauguration of the ground, renovated at a reported cost of ₹1.38 crore over several years, was carried out in the presence of Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Ajay Gaude and other officials of the Sports Authority of Goa.
Tawadkar unveiled the inaugural plaque and cut the ribbon marking the formal opening of the facility.
The inauguration comes amid objections raised by a section of residents who alleged substandard work at the ground, including faulty floodlights, absence of a grass turf and incorrect measurements of the running and walking track.
Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, Tawadkar said the project had originally commenced during his earlier tenure as Sports Minister in 2013 but remained incomplete for several years before being completed recently through Tribal Welfare Department funding.
The Minister stated that the original proposal to develop a grass lawn at the venue had later been dropped due to inadequate groundwater supply from the borewell required to maintain the turf.
“It was decided earlier to have a grass lawn on the ground, but the plan was dropped after the borewell did not provide sufficient water needed to sustain the grass,” Tawadkar said.
He maintained that all other planned works had been completed and added that additional infrastructure, including a gymnasium and compound wall, had also been provided at the venue.
Tawadkar said the Shristhal ground would primarily be utilised for cricket activities, along with sports facilities at Poinguinim and Loliem, while another ground was proposed at Talpona.
Responding to criticism over the inauguration of what opponents termed an incomplete project, Tawadkar accused “vested interests” of targeting the initiative and questioned why the project had not progressed during the period when he was not the local MLA.
“The decision not to have grass on the ground was taken by the department due to technical reasons and not personally by me,” he said.
The Minister further stated that additional sports infrastructure was planned in the constituency, including another sports ground at Gulem.
Shristhal Sarpanch Sejal Gaonkar welcomed the gathering, while DSYA Director Ajay Gaude addressed the event and spoke on the completion of the project works.
