Waseem Ahmad
Srinagar, Jan 19: Four years have passed but Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council (JKSSC) has failed to complete the construction of the multi-purpose Indoor sports hall at Polo ground, Srinagar that was to be readied in six months.
The work on the project was started in 2013 after its foundation stone was laid by then Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din.
As per JKSSC officials, the project was set to be completed within six months but funds scarcity slowed down the construction process. “The project would have been completed but the funds for the second phase of the project are yet to be sanctioned. That was the reason behind delay in the project,” Nazir Ahmad, Joint Secretary, JKSSC said.
While divulging the details of the project, he said: “When the work on the project was started, Government sanctioned Rs 1.50 crores for the project. But the entire amount was spent on construction of the main structure of building. After that, we have send the proposal for the second phase of the project which is yet to be sanctioned by the government.”
The Multi-purpose sports hall was approved by the Government to relieve the burden of Srinagar’s lone Indoor Stadium. “It will have facilities for playing many indoor games like Judo, Badminton, Martial Arts, Table Tennis etc. We are facing a lot pressure in the existing Indoor stadium in Srinagar as lot of players are now participating in Indoor games here,” Nazir Ahmad said.
A female Badminton player said that the existing Indoor stadium is insufficient to cater to the huge rush of players that throng the hall every day. “Players of different games come here for practice every day. Owing to lack of space, players don’t get required room to move and that ultimately affects their performance in the game. An additional space will divert some players and ease the pressure here,” she said
However, JKSSC, Joint Secretary said that 60 to 70 percent of the work is complete and expressed hope that the funds for the second phase for the project will be soon sanctioned and the sports hall will be completed by the end of June this year. “The basic structure of the building is complete and only finishing work is pending. The funds will be sanctioned and released soon”, he added.
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