Despite spending lakhs, sports stadium in Sethar Anantnag remains in shambles
Anantnag: A sports stadium in Sethar-Halmulla hamlet of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district is lying in dilapidated condition due to which sports lovers feel dejected.
Athletes and sports lovers from the area said that government has been spending lakhs of rupees on the stadium but the stadium reflects a bad picture on development and upgradation.
‘’We were hopeful that the government will prioritize upgrading facilities at the sports ground and engage youth in different sports activities but that isn’t being done,’’ locals said.
‘’In one year, part of ground is being levelled and next year other part is developed due to which the surface doesn’t get properly levelled’’, they said.
Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, a local player said that ground lacks all facilities and players have to suffer in absence of facilities.
‘’Despite levelling it several times, it remains full of water whenever it rains due to which athletes are unable to play for weeks together,’’ he said.
‘’Many a time officials of the administration visited the ground and assured that work on the ground will be taken up on scientific lines but nothing has been done so far,’’ he said.
Javid Ahmad, another player said that ground is lying in dilapidated condition and government must work on it so that local players can be engaged in sports activities
He said that if the ground will be developed on modern lines, it would help players to nourish their talent and prove their mettle at mega stages.
The locals said that developing sports infrastructure is the only option to keep youth away from drug addiction and other social crimes.
The locals said that they have brought this issue into the notice of concerned authorities but so far nothing has changed on ground.
They urged the authorities to develop the ground at an earliest so that youth will be engaged in sports activities and will not fall prey to drugs.
They also demanded investigation regarding the funds spent on the ground in last five years.
