Agartala, Apr 10 (IANS): State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has sanctioned Rs.24.32 crore to set up a sports complex and stadium of international standards in Tripura to boost sports in the northeast.

"The Tripura government has undertaken Rs.122 crore infrastructural development schemes for ambitious sports projects. ONGC's contribution would help in implementing the schemes," the official told IANS Wednesday.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, in presence of ONGC chairman Sudhir Vasudeva, laid the foundation stone of the complex at Badharghat, near here, late Tuesday evening.

Vasudeva said: "As part of ONGC's social responsibility scheme, the company would also try to contribute more funds for the sports project."

Vasudeva earlier met Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in New Delhi and discussed the setting-up of a football academy in Tripura.

"The ONGC chairman has assured the chief minister that the football academy would be set up after conducting a proper study of the project proposal," a Tripura government official told reporters.

ONGC, in association with Rajasthan-based private company Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (CFCL) and the Tripura government, will set up a Rs.5,000 crore gas-based fertiliser plant in northern Tripura. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed here Tuesday.

ONGC has also been setting up a giant gas-based 726 MW capacity power plant at a cost of Rs.1,000 crore at Palatana in southern Tripura to cater to the electricity needs of north east India.