Separate sports deptcreated in state, finally

Patna: With the consent of governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the state government on Tuesday notified the creation of separate department of sports, delinking it from the arts, culture and youth affairs department.Accordingly, the department of sports became the 45th department of the government, and will function independently now. The state cabinet had cleared the proposal for the creation of the separate sports department on Monday. It had also approved different activities to be conducted by the new department, such as creation of the required infrastructure, training and welfare of sportspersons, and setting up a sports university and a sports authority in the state.As per the notification, the new department’s expenditure would be met from the budgetary allocation already made for the arts, culture and youth affairs department for the time being. Separate budgetary allotment will be made for the department of sports from the next financial year.Further, the government also notified the bureaucratic heads of the state sports department. While principal secretary of the general administration department B Rajender will have the additional charge of the new department, Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency managing director Mahendra Kumar will hold the additional charge of its director.As for the manpower of the sports department, the committee headed by chief secretary Amir Subhani will divide the existing staff and officials of the arts, culture and youth affairs department to provide the personnel required by the new department.Further, the building construction department has been authorised to make arrangements for the building, furniture and other accessories of the sports department.