Anantnag, Jan 18 (KNO): A lone sports stadium in Kehribal-Mattan hamlet of south Kashmir's Anantnag district is lying in a dilapidated condition much to the disappointment of sports lovers.
The players while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said the sports stadium Wantrag despite being the only playfield in the area hasn’t been developed on modern lines.
The players from various villages of the area said they were hopeful that the government will prioritise upgrading facilities on the ground and engage youth in sports activities. They said the work on the ground was started during the NC-Congress regime but it was left midway and since then no work has taken place.
The stadium located on the foothills of the mountains provides a picturesque view to sports lovers and spectators but is in a dilapidated condition, they said.
Mudasir Ahmad, a local player, said despite being an old ground where players from different areas come to play games, especially cricket, it is without even basic facilities. “Every day, players are getting injured due to uneven surface of the ground,” he said.
The players said the officials of the administration have many times visited the stadium and assured them that the ground will be developed soon. “However, nothing has been done till now,” another player said.
He said the administration needs to visit the playfield and see the condition of the ground which needs to be worked upon and developed so that the youth can play in a hassle-free manner.
Scores of youth present in the stadium said there is no playground for around 50 to 60 villages of the hamlet.
“This is a significant playfield and the government must develop it on modern lines for the better interest of sports lovers. It would also help players to nourish their talent and prove their mettle at mega stages for which the present administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has been at the forefront,” the players said.
They said creating sports infrastructure was the best option to keep the youth away from drugs and other social evils. “We urge the LG Sahib and the Deputy Commissioner Sahib to develop the ground at the earliest,” they said—(KNO)