Shimla, Feb 23 (IANS): The Himachal Pradesh government will take over the land allotted to the state cricket body and develop it into a multipurpose stadium, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said Monday.

"The process of taking over the 'chougan' (ground) in Nurpur from the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) is almost complete," the chief minister said in Nurpur town in Kangra district.

He said the government will develop a multipurpose stadium there.

The chief minister was in Nurpur to inaugurate projects, including a Rs.32-lakh block office complex-cum-block development officers' residence.

He said the government was laying emphasis to promote sports, and this ground will facilitate the players in organising events.

Virbhadra Singh had sanctioned Rs.1.86 crore for developing synthetic track on the Nurpur ground during his previous term as chief minister.

Later, the BJP government in the state handed over the ground the HPCA, headed by BJP parliamentarian Anurag Thakur, on lease.

At that time, the government was headed by Thakur's father Prem Kumar Dhumal, who is now facing allegations of favouring the HPCA.