No Central funding to Odisha for hosting Hockey World Cup 2018

Bhubaneswar: The Centre is not providing any funds to the Odisha government to organise the Men's Hockey World Cup scheduled to be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in November this year.

In reply to a query from BJD's Koraput MP, Jhina Hikaka in Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Sports, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the Centre has not allocated any funds to Odisha for organising the Men's Hockey World Cup.

In an unstarred question in the Lower House on August 9, Hikaka had asked about the amount of funds the Centre has provided to Odisha for the Hockey World Cup.

On the other hand, Odisha's Sports Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera said the State government is hosting the hockey world cup and is not bothered about the Central funding.

"It's a proud moment for us and the country as well to organise such a global event. But, the Central government's attitude towards it is very sad," said Sarathi adding that the State government is fully prepared to hold the world cup under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

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Putting away the charges, Odisha BJP leader, Lekhashri Samantasinghar held the State government responsible and said it has always delayed sending proposals to the Centre.

"The Odisha government should learn to take everyone along. I believe that the Centre will not neglect the State in any way. The State always delays sending proposals and never follows up," Samantasinghar added.