Dehradun, Aug. 28 -- The establishment of the proposed Uttarakhand Sports University in Haldwani has faced a temporary but significant setback. It would be Uttarakhand's first sports university and was proposed to be set up near the Indira Gandhi International Sports Stadium. The Union Ministry of Forests and Environment has declined to provide approval for land transfer, halting the proposed construction of the project at least for the time being. Sources in the government concede that the state government may have to look for an alternative site to set up the state's first sports university.

The foundation stone for the university was scheduled to be laid on 29 August on National Sports Day. However, the Union Ministry has written to the...