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Sports associations to conduct social audit of devp projects in Ludhiana
Sports associations say that their non-involvement will result in loopholes in projects despite large amounts being spent
Punjab cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Saturday said that social audit of sports projects in the city will be mandatory.
Monitoring committees which will comprise members of various sports associations will be formed to oversee the projects, he added.
The decision was taken during the meeting conducted by cabinet minister Ashu, mayor Balkar Sandhu, MC commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal and deputy commissioner Varinder Sharma regarding the development projects with members of different sports associations at Bachat Bhawan on Saturday.
The sports associations had earlier raised concern that their non-involvement while taking up development projects will result in the establishment of white elephants like the indoor stadium on Pakhowal road.
The meeting was organised to get their suggestions/objections regarding the projects being taken up by MC under Smart City Mission. Representatives of sports associations including swimming, sports, hockey, basketball, weightlifting, martial arts and football took part.
The projects which were discussed include transforming the open basketball courts at Guru Nanak Stadium (project cost Rs 9.42 crore), upgrading Shastri hall at Guru Nanak stadium (Rs 3.14 crore), developing an all weather swimming pool near Rakh Bagh (Rs 5.77 crore), developing a sports park in Jainpur (Rs 50 crores) and repairing astroturf, hockey stadium and a cycling velodrome (cycling track) at PAU.
Also, a new table tennis court is coming up near Rakh Bagh, the architectural layout for which has been prepared.
The members, including Hockey Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal and Rajinder Singh from cycling association, said that involvement of sports associations in these projects is a must otherwise there will be many loopholes in the works despite spending a hefty amount.
Rajinder said that if the associations are not involved, MC will end up constructing more project like the indoor stadium on Pakhowal road, which is not financially and technically feasible for sports association to use.
Members of the weight lifting and martial arts associations said that nothing much has been planned for the development of their respective games.
Ashu said, “MC has to float tenders for these projects and this meeting was organised to get suggestions/objections from sports associations as they are aware of the needs of athletes. Their feedback will be incorporated by MC team and consultants, following which the projects will be taken up. More meetings will be held in the coming time to develop infrastructure in the city for all games/sports.”
Jainpur sports park to have international level facilities: Ashu
During the meeting, there was a detailed discussion on the construction of the sports park in Jainpur area (1.5 kms from Ayali Khurd bridge on Sidhwan Canal). It is being established over an area of 32 acres at a cost of around Rs 50 crore. The land was earlier being used as a garbage dump.
The sports park will have playgrounds for cricket, football and hockey, as well as an astroturf, Olympic-sized swimming pool, Olympic-sized football ground along with a synthetic athletics track, four acrylic basketball courts, four lawn tennis astroturf courts, three Olympic-sized volleyball courts, four lane outdoor archery range, 50m indoor shooting range, six badminton courts, two squash courts, two boxing rings, four table tennis tables, two wrestling rings and a weightlifting complex.
Also, there will be a 3.5-km long and 15-feet wide cycling and pedestrian track. Besides this, the sports park will have a club area with refreshment lounge, children zone and yoga pavilion.
Ashu said that the sports park will also have the first parkour park of the state. Apart from providing the sports facilities, focus will also be on promoting solar energy and encouraging cycling among the visitors, he added. Cycle on rent facility will also be provided at the park, Ashu said.
13-km long cycling track proposed
With rising demand for cycling tracks in the city, the district administration has proposed a 13-km long cycling track alongside Ladhowal Bypass. Deputy commissioner Varinder Sharma has forwarded the proposal to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
During the meeting, a discussion was also held to upgrade the cycling velodrome at PAU. Cyclist Rajinder Singh submitted a suggestion that rather than spending more on the existing velodrome, MC should establish a new structure.
Singh said that the length of existing velodrome is 333.33 metres, however, it should be 250 metres as per international standards. Ashu said that MC will conduct a meeting with cycling association regarding the same in the coming days.
