Shillong: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday praised Meghalaya’s football potential and urged the northeastern Indian state to take advantage of the Under-17 FIFA World Cup Football India that will host in 2017.
“Meghalaya has a large number of football clubs and associations. Perhaps, you can organize competitive local tournaments and lead the way for other parts of the country, to build a series of major events leading to the Under-17 World Cup,” the prime minister told a public meeting in Shillong, Meghalaya capital.
Earlier in the day, the premier listened to the chief ministers and governors of eight northeastern states and responding to their issues at the 65th Plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC).
“We are all aware of the love that the people of the Northeast, and especially Meghalaya, have for football. Football is a passion here and is played in every nook and corner.”
The prime minister recalled famous football players from the region such as Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Aibor Khongjee, and Marlangki Suting. “They have done both the country and the state proud, by representing India in international tournaments, and their clubs in the Indian Super League,” Modi said as the crowded applauded.
Earlier in the day, Modi laid the foundation stone of a football stadium in Shillong and applauded Meghalaya’s Meghalaya Mission Football that aims at identifying talents at the grassroots level and providing support for grooming and nurturing them as professional footballers.
The stadium is built at a cost of 380 million rupees. “I am sure that the football stadium will go a long way towards fulfilling this objective,” he said.
The prime minister also spoke about Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on earth, for which he formally dedicated a Doppler Weather Radar earlier in the day.
“We all know Cherrapunji for being one of the places that receives the highest rainfall in the world. Today, another feather has been added to its cap. The Doppler Weather Radar at Cherrapunji has been dedicated to the Nation.”
He commended the Indian Space Research Organization; Bharat Electronics Ltd.; and the Indian Meteorological Department for setting up this Radar in Cherrapunji.
The Weather Radar System, he said, would enable better weather forecasts, especially for the northeastern region. “This should help in minimizing the threat posed by extreme weather conditions,” he said. “The Northeast, a land of beauty and adventure, has been hit by several natural calamities in the recent past, on account of heavy rain and landslides,” the prime minister added.
Referring to his pet campaign Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Prime Minister Modi mentioned Mawlynong village in Meghalaya that has earned the distinction of being the cleanest village in Asia.
“I am happy to note that the traditions of hygiene and cleanliness in the region got a boost with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya, the cleanest village, and the entire state of Sikkim, including Gangtok, have become major tourist attractions,” he added.