Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, July 14: The works of lying Synthetic turf at KK Hakku Hockey Stadium Jammu is going on full swing with the estimated cost of Rs five crore by replacing obsolete one which was laid down on the same ground in the year of 1999.
The work of lying this turf at said stadium has been allotted to a Delhi based contractor by Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, said an official of the Council and added that recently, the Council asked the contractor to speed-up the works and complete it as soon as possible, so that it will be thrown open to organise tournaments.
The illumination works of KK Hakku Stadium as well as replacing its Astro-turf was inaugurated by the then Advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar in the year of 2019 but due to various reasons, the works of replacing the obsolete astro-turf wasn’t carried out, said sources.
As per norms of Sports Authority of India, the synthetic-turf should be replaced with new one after every seven years but unfortunately it was not replaced from last 22 years, resulting of it, the players were being forced to play on the obsolete turf.
It is pertinent to mention here that the issue of obsolete turf was brought to the notice of then Governor, Satya Pal Malik by some sports persons. Thereafter, he directed the authority concerned to put the replacing of obsolete turf of lone Hockey Stadium of Jammu in languishing projects and sanctioned Rs 5.25 crore for it.
An international player expressed happiness over speedy work of lying synthetic-turf at this Stadium and hoped that soon, it will be opened for conducting matches as the budding players have been depriving to get the facilities since it was closed for the renovation as well as illumination works.
Although, some players are not happy with newly lying down green Astro-turf and wants that the Council should replace the obsolete turf with blue turf which is having cool plus technology and remain wetness in the ground for longer times and use less water as compared to green turf.
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