Sports Training Centre at Jammu, Srinagar soon: Bhalla

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, June 24: Minister for Housing, Horticulture, Culture and Youth Services and Sports, Raman Bhalla today said that the Coalition Government is making all round efforts to upgrade and develop sports infrastructure in the State so as to provide avenues to the youth to excel in sports sector.
The Minister said this after laying the foundation stone for the construction of Play Field at Bandu Rakh coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 50 lakh by J&K Sports Council.
Senior officers of Youth Services and Sports besides Panchs, Sarpanchs, number of players and the locals of the area were present on the laying of the foundation stone.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bhalla congratulated the people of Bandu Rakh, Kunjwani, Jogian and its adjoining areas for fulfilling of their demand of play field. He said that major thrust was being laid by the Government to promote sports and games particularly in the peripheral areas and to popularise sports among youth in the State.
He stressed upon the youth to take an active part in sports and said that better facilities will be provided to the players when the play field with Pavilion block/Indoor block will be constructed.
The Minister apprised the gathering that Sports Training Centre each at Jammu and Kashmir would be coming up soon at a cost of Rs. 20 crore to encourage the local talent and to channelize the energy of the youth in the right direction. He said that Rs. 3 crore would also be sanctioned shortly for Kunjwani to Narwal National Highway lighting project.
The Minister said that State has witnessed unprecedented development in all sectors in the recent past adding that scores of developmental projects like roads, bridges, schools, colleges, health institutions have been completed due to the tireless efforts of the Government. The Minister said that durable assets have been constructed in the peripheries at par with urban areas to benefit the neglected and marginalized sections of the society
The Ministers distributed sports kits among the players which were provided by J&K State Sports Council.
Earlier, the Minister inaugurated an exhibition of recent paintings by reputed artist of the state, M. Akram Khan at Art Gallery Amar Mehal Jammu.
The Minister while speaking on the occasion said that M. Akram Khan as a versatile artist of the State has carved a good nitche in the state art realm adding that his creation depicts love, nature, rural life and sensibility of the synergy between man, woman and environment.