Four years on, Indoor Sports Stadium Pulwama awaits completion
Pulwama: Even after a lapse of over four years, the indoor sports stadium at Rajpora area, of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district is awaiting completion. The incomplete civil works and lack of interest by the authorities is creating a sense of dejection among the youth.
Players from different villages of the area said that we were very hopeful that by enhancing the sports infrastructure in the area, the youth will get engaged in different sports activities and will desist from taking to drugs.
“However, even after four years since the project was started, the stadium is nowhere near completion,” the local youth said.
They said since beginning of the project, the construction work is going at a snail’s pace due to which the sports lovers besides players are feeling disheartened.
“The project was given a deadline of two years, however, four years have now passed but the project is yet to get completed,” said Aadil Ahmad a local resident, adding that, the stadium if completed will prove beneficial for budding and talented players of the area.
“Our valley, particularly south Kashmir is confronted with the menace of drug abuse among the youth and all this is happening because of lack of recreational opportunities for our youth and such projects are very important to keep them away from drugs,” said Sajad Ahmad, another local.
Locals said that they have brought this issue to the notice of concerned authorities but so far nothing has been done.
They once again requested authorities to complete the project at an earliest so that youth can get involved in sports activities and won’t fall prey to drugs.
Pertinently, the project is being executed by JKPCC with an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore.
On contacting Deputy General Manager JKPCC Pulwama Er Masood Ahmad Gagoo, he said that around 80 percent of the work is complete and further work is going on.
He said that due to situation after August 05 decision and Covid lockdown, the project completion got delayed and hopefully it will be completed till the end of this year.
