Imphal: The Manipur government has identified Lanjing Achouba ground in Imphal West District to develop it as the second artificial football turf in the state.

This was disclosed by youth affairs and sports department director N. Praveen Singh at the DIPR office at Moirangkhom on Saturday.

Singh said so far there is only one artificial football turf in the state located near Lamlong bridge in Khuman Lampak, which proved inadequate for uninterruped training or competitions when Khuman Lampak main stadium is occupied.

The state government is also looking for another suitable ground to developed one more turf in Imphal East.

The amount for development of Langjing Achouba ground has already been sanctioned and tender of the same will be floated within a week.

The director also said a Rs 35 crore budget has been allocated to set up floodlights at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium and Hockey Stadium with a completion target by this yearend.

The shooting range located inside Khuman Lampak will make a revamp as does the Indoor Stadium too.

However, on being asked about development of trap shooting range, Singh said there is no marked out ground for the event at the moment but will be looked into it.

He added that as most of the sports infrastructure is confined to the state capital or district capitals, the state government's Go to Hills and Go to Village campaigns will help make inroads in the districts and help talent hunt programmes from next month.

He said: "We have submitted a project proposal of Rs 11 crore to North Eastern Council for construction of southern gallery of Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium."