Shiv Dev Thakur
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 30: Notwithstanding the tall claims of the government and concerned department in developing the sports infrastructure of the state, the mini-stadium, Parade Ground, in the heart of city is craving for attention to get fit for sports activities.
At a time when the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council is in limelight over the construction of new sports infrastructure in Jammu and elsewhere in the state, the allegedly indifferent council administration is doing a little to save the existing infrastructure from systematic decay.
While sources in the council attributed the worst condition of the stadium to the lack of foresight on part of the council administration, many a sportsmen at the mini-stadium and a few parents complained of poor upkeep of the ground, saying it was reduced to dust and mud.
But notwithstanding the tall claims of Sports Council, the ground is still awaiting the development and potholes have developed in the stadium. "All that this ground needs is some watering and supervision to become grassy and fit for playing," a sportsman said adding, "some of the tiny tots while playing and practising get injured after falling into these potholes". He said this was due to the negligence of the administration which had failed to ensure its maintenance. The condition of main centre of M A Stadium was also not good, he alleged. Sports officer Rajan Sharma, when contacted, put blame on the district administration and said that the work of maintenance was initiated by the sports council but was postponed owing to the Independence Day celebrations last year. He said that the council had also reminded the district development commissioner of Jammu to lift the sand spread in the stadium but no initiative was taken by the department in this regard. He, however, said that the work was going to be started again and soon it would get completed. |
