https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Children of This Meghalaya District Will Now Play Football in the Rains Too

Having one of the highest rainfalls in the country, Football Fields in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya used to be unplayable during autumn District Administration led by the DC Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, gifted them an artificial turf which won’t get muddied and slippery during rains The funds were generated from the District Mineral Foundation Trust which is headed by the District Collector himself
Indian Masterminds Stories

Football is almost a religion in Meghalaya. People might not have good houses but there is bound to be football ground in every village and town. Meghalaya also receives heaviest rains in India – at least 7700 mm every year. Children can’t play during rains, lasting 7-8 months, as the ground become muddied and slippery.

To solve this problem and to fulfil the dreams of the youth, District administration of East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya has gifted them an artificial turf having underground drainage facility. That’s how this turf will be playable even after a heavy rainfall.

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, IAS officer Abhilash Baranwal, DC, East Jaintia Hills said, “It was a football ground by the East Jaintia District Sports Association which we have upgraded to an artificial turf.”

IAS Officer Abhilash Baranwal

A full-fledged artificial turf football ground and stadium like are on their course. The administration spent over Rs. 2.5 crore in the project which includes fencing, drainage, and some of the galleries which were already present in that football ground.

ROYALTY FROM MINING

The royalty generated from the mining limestone in Meghalaya helped the district administration to build the artificial turf. The green turf which is now shining is dotted black after years of rat-hole coal mining. This dangerous method of coal mining was banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014.

Inauguration of Artificial Turf Football Ground

“Companies undertaking mining in our district or any district pay 30% royalty to the state government,” Mr. Baranwal said.

He further said that the district receives an annual revenue of Rs 5-6 crore annually in the form of royalty from limestone mining.

FUNDING

The funds came from District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) of which the collector is the chairman. This is perhaps the only football stadium in the Northeast where funds from the DMFT were used to roll out the artificial turf.

The trust decides basically, how to use the money for the betterment of the people. Under the DMFT, the administration took up this work where they have updated the football ground into the artificial turf along with fencing, drainage on the parameters, renovation of the ground as well as renovation of the gallery along with the stadium lights.

PROS OF ARTIFICIAL TURF

The artificial turf was a long-standing dream of the district. Mr. Baranwal said that an artificial turf is required because it enables professional quality matches. There is heavy rainfall period in Meghalaya for 7-8 months, so all the natural grounds become unplayable during the rainfall but this artificial turf ground which has underground drainage facility will still be playable after a heavy rainfall.

“However, heavy the rainfall might be, the water will be drained out in less than half an hour automatically. It’s a major hit amongst the public,” he told Indian Masterminds.

After the inauguration of the artificial turf, a friendly match was played between East Jaintia District Football Association and Combined Team of Headmen, Officers and Legislators.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Nitish Kumar
Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar Vows to Create 1 Crore Jobs for Bihar Youth in Next 5 Years, Highlights Major Development Milestones
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Government Approves Rs 1,390 Crore for Four New Medical Colleges and Healthcare Projects
Pushkar Singh Dhami CM
Uttarakhand Government Launches Free Pre-Recruitment Training for Agniveer Aspirants Across All Districts
Airports Authority of India AAI
PESB Finds Candidates Unsatisfactory for AAI Member (Operations) Post, Calls for New Selection Process
justice-photo
Next CJI of India: Find Out Who’s Set to Become the New Chief Justice – Full Story Inside
IPS Ratan Lal Dangi
Who Is IPS Ratan Lal Dangi? Chhattisgarh Police Officer Accused of Harassment by SI’s Wife; IG Anand Chhabra Assigned Probe - Full Story
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
UP: CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Fire Stations Every 100 Km on Expressways, Approves 1,020 New Posts in Fire Services
SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma
Who Is SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma? The 2015-Batch RAS Officer Caught in Yet Another Scandal After Slapping Petrol Pump Employee
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Nitish Kumar
Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar Vows to Create 1 Crore Jobs for Bihar Youth in Next 5 Years, Highlights Major Development Milestones
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Government Approves Rs 1,390 Crore for Four New Medical Colleges and Healthcare Projects
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT