[EMAIL PROTECTED] BY ARMSTRONG VAZ
CUNCOLIM MAY 1;- After several false starts, for the last two years, the Cuncolim ground is finally destined for take off and complete the incomplete race, while overcoming many a hurdle in its path. The Cuncolim football constructed under the government school playground scheme with additional funds being made available through the local MP local area development scheme would be inaugurated on May 5th at 4.30 p.m. at the hands of the Goa governor S C jamir. On the occasion an exhibition match between Churchill bros and Goa under 21 team would be played. Politicians including chief ministers and sports minister have come and gone giving assurances which they had failed to fulfill in completing the Cuncolim ground, with the work of the Cuncolim ground dragging for the last two years. This is the first ground in the historic Cuncolim village and the former MLA and agriculture minister Arecio D’souza was instrumental in moving the first phase of the project going with filling of the paddy fields with mud for the project. The works which was completed at the cost of Rs.38 lakhs almost two and half years back,. Churchill Alemao has allotted Rs.25 lakhs for the first phase of the work for the Cuncolim ground while the additional funds have come through the sports authority of Goa. Local MLA Joaqium Alemao informed that additional funds of Rs.70 lakhs would be provided for additional works at the mini stadium. The works he said would be completed in the second phase. It may recalled that the ground was to be inaugurated on 27th September 2003 but was called in the mist of protests from locals who took protest to the incomplete ground being inaugurated during the tenure of former sports minister Francisco pachecho. It may recalled that then Sports Minister Pachecho too had accompanied the former Cuncolim MLA Arecio D'souza to the site of the Cuncolim ground and given an assurance soon after the constitution of the present assembly in the month of August 2002 that he will complete the ground within six months. In the first phase of the project a seven metre approach road is constructed through the land acquired by the government for the bus stand. Further a well is constructed for supplying water for maintenance of the grounds, providing turf surface for the ground.
