Ranchi, May 5: Conceding that hosting the national games would be an uphill task if the construction work at the proposed ?khelgaon? did not begin soon, sports minister Sudesh Mahto remained hopeful that things would fall in place before the games.

?Construction work is normally disrupted for three months during the monsoon. Thus, we are left with only 17 months. I will talk to the chief minister on the issue again soon after he returns to the capital,? Mahto told The Telegraph.

Though the minister preferred to keep mum on the actual reasons behind the delay in construction work, he said the expansion of Birsa stadium was going on in full swing.

He said upgradation of some of the existing hotels in the capital would serve the purpose of the guests coming here during the national games, but had no specific reply to how. ?Just wait and watch. Everything will be set right on time,? he said.

The state government has been running from pillar to post for setting up a five star hotel in Ranchi before the national games. Though several proposals came up, the deal could not be finalised because of various reasons. While signing the deal for setting up a new 12 million tonne steel plant in the state last year, Tata Sons chairman Ratan Tata, too, announced to set up a five-star hotel in Ranchi, but its groundwork is yet to begin.

In fact, Jharkhand has also not been able to lure the foreign tourists despite immense potential in absence of a five star hotel.

Mahto, who is also the state?s home minister, refused to comment on the issue arguing that it was related to the tourism department: ?The ministry of tourism is being headed directly by the chief minister. I cannot comment.?