‘Playground in each Panchayat will help introduce 15 lakh youngsters to sports’
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 11: Giving a massive impetus to the overall sports ecosystem across the Union Territory, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Sunday inaugurated sports infrastructure worth Rs. 49.78 Cr and laid foundation of projects costing Rs 10.5 Cr across Jammu and Kashmir.
The LG inaugurated a Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall worth Rs 5Cr in the presence of Kewal Kumar Sharma, Farooq Khan, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, and Baseer Ahmad Khan – Advisors to the Lt Governor; Pandurang K. Pole, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; etc.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor laid the foundation stones for Artificial Rugby Turf costing Rs 5 Cr and a Synthetic Hockey Turf worth Rs 5.5 Cr. Both projects will be completed in next financial year. He also e-inaugurated various PMDP projects and JKIDFC Projects worth Rs 17.03 Cr and Rs 27.75 Cr respectively.
While addressing the gathering on the sidelines of inauguration of various sports related projects at Polo Ground, the Lt Governor observed that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir has immense sports potential with many players from the UT representing the country in different sports. J&K is witnessing new revolution in Sports Sector. The UT is equally equipped like other states of India and is ready to produce world-class sportspersons, he added.
Acknowledging this sports potential of J&K, Prime Minister has sanctioned Rs 200 Cr under the Prime Minister’s Development Package for upgradation of sports infrastructure and encouragement of budding talent in the field. The package, which was aimed at boosting sports infrastructure, training facilities and providing professional coaches, has brought a revolution in the sports sector of J&K, the Lt Governor maintained.
With the combination of world class facilities, coaches and continuous monitoring and mentoring, we can certainly create the environment for empowerment, leadership and self-esteem among our children. ‘Consistent mentoring and monitoring is needed so that neither sportspersons nor coaches face any shortage of resources’, he said.
The Lt Governor termed the recently established sports infrastructure and facilities in J&K as historic. J&K is equally equipped like other states of India and is ready to produce world-class sportspersons, he said.
Laying stress on execution of works in a time-bound manner, the Lt Governor observed that apart from the projects inaugurated today, 81 other projects are already completed with a cost of Rs 108 crores. Another Rs 30 crores have been released by the Government for construction of a playground in every panchayat of the UT. ‘It is aimed that around 15 lakh youth be trained in various indoor and outdoor games to overhaul the sports ecosystem of J&K’, he asserted.
The rapid promotion of sports in J&K, especially at the rural sector has developed a sense of hope that the J&K will definitely feature among the top 10 medal winners in the next Khelo India Youth Games, he added.
