Panaji (Goa): Tarikh pe tarikh… Goa has now said the National Games can be held next year, not this year.

The hosting of National Games in Goa will now be postponed further with State Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar stating that the infrastructure required for hosting the event can be constructed only next year.

The games which were scheduled to be held in September 2016 in Goa were postponed to November 2017 by former State government.

Parrikar-led government has now dished out another deadline for hosting the event.

“Goa is ready to host the National Games next year after constructing the required infrastructure at much decreased rates,” Parrikar said.

“The initial estimate about the money required to set up infrastructure to host National Games was Rs 570 crores but I have reworked the estimates and brought it down to Rs 400 crores. I am sure it would be further decreased to Rs 350 crore,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that State government is ready to host the National Games for the next year only after constructing the infrastructure required for the games.

Stating that it sounds like a good idea to have sports infrastructure scattered across the State, Parrikar said creation of infrastructure has also to be supported by proper maintenance and its commercial value.

“If I put the sports facilities in the remote areas, the question comes about their maintenance and commercial usage. We have to construct sports infrastructure where both these aspects are taken care,” he said.

Team TNV