The newly constructed cricket pavilion at Jorhat stadium. Picture by Abir Borgohain

Guwahati, Oct. 26: Jorhat stadium might get a fresh lease of life with the Rs 2.4crore that Dispur has sanctioned for infrastructure development at the stadium.

Lack of funds and apathy of the authorities have left the stadium in a bad shape.

The funds will be utilised for completion of the cricket pavilion, which is under construction on the southern side of the stadium. A sum of Rs 1.3crore has already been spent on the construction of the pavilion, which, when ready, “would be the best in the region”. “With the best swimming pool in the region, an indoor stadium and a 400m synthetic track, Jorhat stadium, when completed, will be the best in the region,” a Jorhat DSA official said.

Set up in 1951 by P.D. Stracy, a forest official posted in Upper Assam, Jorhat stadium has witnessed some of the best sporting events in the region.

Cricketing greats like West Indian fast bowler Wesley Hall and the Ravi Shastri-led Indian team have played at the stadium. Ttali Miren Ao, the first Olympic captain from the Nor-theast, started his professional career from this stadium.

Former Jorhat MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami took the initiative to give a facelift to the stadium. In 1997, Goswami first made plans to construct a football pavilion on the western side of the stadium. The pavilion was completed within a couple of years and soon after its completion the district sports office was shifted to the stadium.

Hiten Goswami’s work was carried forward by Bijoy Krishna Handique, the MP from Jorhat. He took the initiative to construct a cricket pavilion on the southern side of the stadium. Work on the cricket pavilion started in 2003.

“We are trying our best to complete the construction work as soon as possible. Apart from government sources, we have also appealed to several other agencies to help us in this venture,” Jorhat MLA Rana Goswami said when contacted.

However, not everybody is happy with the new construction. “The stadium has lost its famous green pavilion. The concrete pavilions are no match for the grass cover that the stadium had,” said Arshad Ahmed, member of the district’s Nephotya Club.