Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 11
Mystery over the whereabouts of a “Multipurpose Hall” constructed under the Khelo India programme deepened with the Directorate of Youth Resources and Sports issuing an explainer. The explainer came via a letter from the Director of Youth Resources and Sports on August 11.
The explainer from the Director was preceded by public queries raised by the Mangkolemba Ao Youth Telongjem (MALT) regarding the project. The MALT sought the whereabouts of the structure, worth Rs 3 crore, that was officially declared to have been constructed at Mangkolemba town but was not.
The structure in question was remotely inaugurated by the Chief Minister on July 3, 2026. It was traced to the private residence of the Nagaland Minister for Higher Education and Tourism in Longtho village. Longtho falls under Mangkolemba Sub-division, in Mokokchung district.
Responding to the queries raised by the MALT, the Director of Youth Resources and Sports claimed that the project was “implemented at the designated and Ministry-approved geo-tagged location within the Mangkolemba administrative area.”
The Director claimed that while the nomenclature is “Multi Purpose Hall, Mangkolemba,” the location has “not been stated as Mangkolemba ADC HQ or Mangkolemba Town.” The Work Order issued in July 2024 to M/s Aren Enterprises designated coordinates under the Mangkolemba administrative circle, which reportedly aligns with the current site.
The department also said that the “Land Availability Certificate” was issued by the ADC's office after verification with the concerned Village Council, certifying the site was free from encumbrances. Furthermore, a joint Project Monitoring Committee consisting of state and central officials conducted a physical verification, submitting a report on December 9, 2025, certifying “100% completion of the project.” It sought the dissemination of the “factual position” to dispel misunderstanding.
Prior to the statement from the Y&RS Director, the youth body had written to the ADC, Mangkolemba, on August 10. It had also asked the contracted firm to furnish information about the project prior to writing to the ADC.
As reported by the Mokokchung Times, the youth body sought project details from the contractor, atleast twice, regarding where and how it was executed in relation to the approved project documents and work order. The firm allegedly failed to provide the requested project details.
According to available information, the Multipurpose Hall was sanctioned and funded by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2023-24, under the Khelo India programme, and implemented by the Nagaland Youth Resources and Sports Department. The name of the work was cited as “Construction of Multipurpose Hall at Mangkolemba, Mokokchung District,” which seemed to give the impression that the structure was constructed within Mangkolemba town itself.
Writer’s Note: This report originally stated that the Mangkolemba Ao Youth Telongjem (MALT) had written a memorandum to the Nagaland Governor. In fact, the MALT has not submitted any memorandum to the Governor regarding the multipurpose hall. The text has been corrected to reflect this. The oversight is regretted.
