Astro turf proposal file at Mankapur gathering dust since one year

By Paritosh Pramanik

IT HAS been almost a year since the proposal of an astro turf at Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur got green signal. It was believed that like synthetic track, which was constructed in record time, hockey astro turf would also see the light of the day within a year and players of the region would get an opportunity to learn tricks of trade on the turf.

The synthetic track and related infrastructure came up with a rapid pace (though it will be relaid again) once the Devendra Fadnavis Government gave nod for development of sports infrastructure in the city. But due to the proverbial red-tape and poor communication in government departments, hardly anything has moved as far as construction of astro turf is concerned since last one year.

Last July, a ray of hope ignited when Divisional Commissioner Anup Kumar okayed the proposal of hockey astro turf at Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur. During a meeting with top officials, it was decided to construct a hockey stadium under the Krida Suvidha Nidhi (Sports facilities fund).

“We have okayed the proposal of hockey astro turf at Divisional Sports Complex. A detailed proposal will be forwarded to the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, Pune,” Anup Kumar had informed ‘The Hitavada.’

For the construction of astro turf, Rs 9 crore was to be sanctioned to Divisional Sports Complex under the Krida Suvidha Nidhi.

According to the blue print, hockey stadium with astro turf is supposed to come up besides synthetic athletics track on two acres of land. However, not a single file has moved since then.

It is a pity that in entire Vidarbha there is not a single astro turf. Compared to this, places like Seoni in Madhya Pradesh and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, which are far smaller than Nagpur have their own turfs.

The governments in these States have shown tremendous interest in promoting sports and providing best facilities to its sportspersons. But the story is entirely different in Maharashtra and specially in Vidarbha.

When contacted Deputy Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Subhash Rewatkar said a meeting was held last month with Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule regarding astro turf.

“We had a meeting with the Guardian Minister regarding astro turf. It has been decided that the proposal will be discussed with Education and Sports Minister Vinod Tawde during the Monsoon Session,” Rewatkar informed ‘The Hitavada’.

The Monsoon Session of Maharashtra State Assembly commences Monday.

BOX

Synthetic track to be relaid

THE first ever Synthetic Athletics Track at Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur, which was laid just a year ago, will be relaid.

The decision was taken last month during a meeting with officials of Youth Affairs of Sports, Government of Maharashtra and Divisional Sports Complex committee.

Sunil Kendrekar, Commissioner for Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra had shown his displeasure on the work of the synthetic track. According to reports, he was furious with the work done on the synthetic track as the rubber turf has started coming out.

“A decision to relay the entire synthetic has been taken during meeting. We have asked the concerned company to start the work at the earliest,” said Subhash Rewatkar, Deputy Director of Sports and Youth Services.