*Gulmarg to lost 6th National Winter Sports
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 8: Secretary Ministry of Sports, Government of India, Rajiv Yadav accompanied by Joint Secretary Onkar Kadia called on Minister for Youth Services and Sports, IT & Technical Education Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari here today. The Secretary discussed plans for revival of sports and athletic activities and infrastructural development in the State.
Commissioner Secretary Youth and Services and Sports, IT & Technical Education Hirdesh Kumar, Director General, Youth Services and Sports Mir Jehangir, Secretary Sports Council Javid Shah, Additional Secretary Technical Education, Sheikh Fayaz, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Srinagar S. Balbir Singh and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.
The Minister projected for generous funding from the Union Government for rebuilding of sports infrastructure in the State and informed the Union Secretary that sports infrastructure in the State was worst-hit during September 2014 floods.
He also informed the Union Secretary about the difficulties being faced by the Youth Services and Sports department due to the lack of basic facilities. He especially mentioned the condition of TRC playfield where basic facilities like flood lights, bathrooms and change rooms are not available for the players.
The Union Secretary assured giving final shape to Prime Minister’s package of Rs 200 crore for restoration of flood affected sports infrastructure in the State. Out of this package, the Secretary informed that Rs 80 crore each shall be utilized for upgradation of MA Stadium Jammu and Bakshi Stadium Srinagar while as 10 Indoor Stadiums shall be constructed at a cost of Rs 4 crore each in 10 districts of the State, 5 each in Jammu and Srinagar.
The meeting was also informed that development of water sports facilities at Pahalgam and Srinagar shall be considered by Union Sports Ministry separately, however, for this tourism department shall also be involved in the programme.
Referring to the latest coaching courses for local coaches, the Union Secretary said that special training shall be provided to local sports coaches at National Institute of Sports, Patiala to improve their skills.
The Minister informed that the Government is hosting 6th National Winter Sports at Gulmarg in the month of December this year, for which, he desired that Union Sports Ministry should provide necessary equipment and snow-boarding machines.
The meeting also informed that under Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, (RGKA) Sports infrastructure would be improved at block level, however, the concerned officers were directed to remove the bottlenecks if any hampering the process.
The meeting also discussed the measures regarding hosting of National level Football boys, National level cricket girls and national level group 3rd women sports in the state during the current financial year.
Later, the Union Secretary visited district Ganderbal to witness the ongoing sports activities under RGKA.
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