The forest land issue, a persistent obstacle to establishing a state sports university, has finally been resolved. With the Forest Department reaching an in-principle agreement to provide land, the path is now clear for the university to begin operations in the 2026 academic year. Sports Minister Rekha Arya provided this information after a departmental review meeting on Thursday.
Following the meeting held at her office in the Vidhan Sabha building, Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya stated that the Forest Department had returned the file on this matter two or three times, but now both parties have reached an in-principle agreement. She directed officials to expedite the process of creating university positions.
The Cabinet Minister stated that the foundation stone for the Women’s Sports College in Champawat was laid by the Prime Minister during the state’s silver jubilee celebrations. In this meeting, instructions were given to start classes at this college as well from next year.
The Cabinet Minister stated that the entire amount for the Chief Minister’s Emerging Players’ Upgradation Scheme and the Chief Minister’s Players’ Incentive Scheme has been disbursed to beneficiaries until October. She has instructed officials to request further budgetary support.
In addition, to provide out-of-turn employment to medal winners, the Sports Department will now submit a proposal to the government to create all the necessary positions within the Sports Department. The Sports Minister stated that given the past poor experience with out-of-turn employment in other departments, the department wants to have the majority of these positions within itself.
In the meeting, the Sports Minister expressed displeasure over the fact that the department has not yet received the ₹1 per bottle cess from the Excise Department. He urged officials to take immediate action.
Special Chief Sports Secretary Amit Sinha, Sports Director Ashish Chauhan, Additional Director Ajay Agarwal, and Principal of Maharana Pratap Sports College Rajesh Manmgai were present at the meeting
