Ranjit Thakur
JAMMU, Aug 22: Even after finishing 17 years, the development work on the Outdoor Sports Stadium Doda has not been totally accomplished, leading to grave resentment amongst sports activities lovers and gamers.
The basis of the stadium was laid in 2006 by the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, however the undertaking saved on hanging because of funds crunch for a very long time and later some funds launched by Government and work began however because of half-hearted makes an attempt the out of doors sports activities stadium work is but to be accomplished.
The founding father of the Young Star Cricket Club Doda, Manzoor Ahmed, claimed that the group had held quite a few competitions there wherein famend athletes from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India had competed. The absence of grass on the enjoying floor, nevertheless, resulted in quite a few accidents to the gamers throughout fielding, which discouraged them from enjoying on such surfaces sooner or later.
“We are constantly striving to improve the sports facilities at Sports Stadium Doda, but there have been minimal changes apart from some improvements made to the dressing rooms. However, our goal is to have proper grass fields and turf wickets so that national and international players can visit this remote area of Doda, which is blessed with favorable weather conditions,” he advised Excelsior.
President of the Doda Development Front, Ishtaq Ahmed Dev, expressed his concern concerning the situation of the Doda Sports Stadium stated, “Doda Sports Stadium has became a white elephant. The stadium has been reduced as a major portion of the stadium’s land has been allegedly encroached by land grabbers but none is bothered.”
“The idea for the construction of the sports stadium Doda was conceived in 1972, but regrettably, successive Governments failed to prioritize it, indicating a lack of commitment towards this project. While some progress was made during Azad’s tenure, the overall pace of the project has been extremely slow ever since,” he remarked.
With the capability to cater over 15,000 folks, all the key and minor occasions within the district had been carried out right here as a result of there isn’t any alternate stadium, even gamers from across the tehsils got here right here for observe.
A budding athlete alleged that, “We want this stadium to be exclusively used for sports and should be developed as per the national or international standards. The outer portion of the stadium has nowadays been used for parking vehicles.”
An officer related with sports activities in Doda talking on circumstances of anonymity advised Excelsior, “Even after completing 17 years, the work of the sports stadium is completed only 60 percent. The Youth of Doda has potential to produce great athletes in sports, but unfortunately they are lacking all the basic facilities.”
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Vishesh Mahajan stated sports activities stadium Doda has been taken over by Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council and now they’re taking care of the works, however main work on the stadium has been accomplished.
“The major problem is encroachment of stadium land, we have conducted some anti-encroachment drives, but we are not getting proper support from Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, they don’t even have any district officer posted here.” Mahajan stated.
“It’s a beautiful stadium where 20,000 people attended Independence day function recently, almost all the work has been done on this stadium except few works including grass work, if remaining work is completed, this stadium will give a boost to sports activities here,” Mahajan additional added.
Excelsior additionally tried to contact Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council (JKSC), Secretary, Nuzhat Gul, however she didn’t take calls.