*8 weeks certificate course for J&K coaches from Nov 1
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Union Secretary of Sports, Rajiv Yadav and Chief Secretary, BR Sharma reviewed the implementation of the Rs 200 crore special package announced under the PMDP-2015 for development of sports infrastructure in J&K.
While speaking during the review meeting, Yadav said that the package is set to boost sports infrastructure as state of art sports facilities will be developed in both the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu besides indoor sports halls will also be developed in all 22 districts.
He said creation of water sports infrastructure in both Kashmir and Jammu will receive special focus under the package besides the Union Sports Ministry will also be conducting 8 weeks certificate course for coaches from J&K. Till date 171 applications have been received for the programme which will commence from November 1 at NIS Patiala.
It was informed that the sports infrastructure will be developed through agencies of the Union and the State Government–National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) Limited and J&K Sports Council respectively.
Rs 84 crore will be spent on developing Bakshi Stadium Srinagar and MA Stadium Jammu into state of art stadiums along with facilities of synthetic tracks and turf for athletics, hockey and swimming pools. Rs 2.63 crore will be spent on lighting system in synthetic football ground at TRC and Gani Memorial Stadium Srinagar. Similarly, Rs 6 crore has been earmarked for development of infrastructure for water sports activities in the State. All these components of the package will be executed by the Union Government through NPCC.
A team of the Project Management Consultant has already visited Bakhshi Stadium Srinagar and MA Stadium Jammu last month for inspection and preliminary study, following which a presentation on the design of the stadiums was made. A tripartite agreement is in the process of being signed by GoI, State Government and the NPCC.
Further, it was informed that J&K Sports Council has already set in the motion the process for the construction of Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports (MPIS) halls. It was informed that locations in 12 districts have already been identified and DPRs of these have been formulated. For expediting identification of land in the remaining districts, Secretary Youth Services and Sports Department was asked to coordinate with the respective DCs.
Under the project, an amount of Rs 4 crore will be spent in upgrading existing stadiums in Poonch and Rajouri districts for which works have been awarded. Similarly, the formulation of DPR for construction of an outdoor stadium at Udhampur is under process.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary instructed that two sub-committees headed by the respective Divisional Commissioners to facilitate coordination in the implementation of the sports package and timely address of any arising issue.
On organizing sports competitions between schools, colleges and the universities, it was decided in the meeting that a sports calendar will be formulated and accordingly different sports events will be organized in all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladkah. Funds to the tune of Rs 5 crore have been released by the Union Sports Ministry to the J&K Sports Council for organizing various sporting activities. The GoI has also released Rs 1.06 crore for conduct of District and State Level Competitions.
In addition, Action Plan for an amount of Rs 33 crore under the scheme “Khelo India” for 2016-17 has also been submitted to centre for approval.
Meanwhile, Union Secretary of Sports, Rajiv Yadav accompanied by Joint Secretary (Development), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Director Sports Authority of India (SIA), and other SIA officials visited Bakshi Stadium, Indoor Statium, TRC Astro Turf Stadium and Polo Ground in Srinagar.
He said that while Multi-Purpose Stadiums will be constructed in all the districts of the State, a special programme called ‘Sports for All’ is being implemented through J&K Sports Council. Secretary also said that the SIA is keen on preparing a local coaching team from Kashmir.
Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Hilal Ahmad Parray, OSD J&K Sports Council, Mushtaq Ahmed Baba and other senior officers of the Council accompanied the Union delegation during the review inspection.
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