M.A Stadium: Worst nightmare for the sports persons in Jammu

M.A Stadium: Worst nightmare for the sports persons in Jammu

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, Dec 13:  With playing courts in shabby condition, non-functional fountains, broken benches, basic infrastructure almost missing, this is the condition of M.A Stadium, which offers sportspersons space to train themselves for national and international events.

If not to talk about the sportspersons what else could be worsening to that, with full of filth and foul smell where one cannot stand for even a while, the authorities are unable to provide proper urinals and toilets for the visitors, including the lower rank officials.

Though it is drawing huge rush of newcomers as well as regular sportspersons who are cursing the authorities at the helm of affairs, these days. Since, the heads of the organizations and a few senior officers have attached bathrooms; they are least bothered about the common visitors to the arena.

There is no place for the parents of the players to sit in the stadium. Benches are broken, grass almost missing where a person could at least sit for a while. Basketball court in dilapidated condition has its own tale of woes, as no player can practice there. The flood light Kabaddi Stadium have the same theory, , kho-kho court missing and all of the above the only swimming pool without water and closed for all since long.

"It seems that nobody is there to take care of the main sports venue in this winter capital of the State, which has hosted many national tournaments", said one among the parent of a sportspersons who accompanies his son to the stadium.

Commenting on the pathetic condition of the Stadium, a veteran sportsperson said pleading anonymity that all this is due to Kashmir centric mindset of the leaders and bureaucrats who have always ignored Jammu for the reasons best known to them.

He said that this is the reason that State has failed to produce players to win medals at national level, despite plenty of talent in the area.

A large number of youngsters come to the skating rink and the parents of almost all youngsters are worried. Moreover, the parents or the players have no proper place to sit whether it’s the hot weather conditions under the blistering Sun in summers or the freezing cold in winters.

He needs to rise to the occasion immediately. He must pay surprise visits to the sports venues like the M A Stadium in order to ascertain how sports affairs are being (mis)managed right under his nose." This was stated by a renowned sportsperson of Jammu wishing not to be named.

Sources revealed that the indoor managers of the stadium are only provided meager amount for the maintenance and construction work of the stadium. Other miscellaneous expenses have to be made by a long process.

Katra rail link brings worry for traders, hoteliers in Jammu

Katra rail link brings worry for traders, hoteliers in Jammu

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, Dec 05: The completion of the much awaited Katra Railway Station which is scheduled to be commissioned on March 2013 will bring cheer for commuters, but transporters and hoteliers of Jammu fears that it would adversely affect their business.

The Jammu Tawi Railway Station which is the key transit spot for the commuters coming from the rest of the India via rail Link is providing the business for the local transporters and hoteliers besides the tiny traders who generate their bread and butter by their respective business only bythe large exchange of the tourists.

But the million dollar question is what will be the future of Jammu after the train gets operational.

Where on the one side Chief Public Relation Officer, Northern Railway Neeraj Sharma informed that the 25.2 km rail link which is being constructed since 2004 would be operational by March next year will provide a direct link for the commuters to connect with the base camp of Mata Vaishnodevi shrine in Trikuta hills, and around 14 passenger trains would run on the Udhampur-Katra route which is expected to meet the heavy influx of passengers.

On the other hand the government is falling short in sprouting possible business for the local traders on the offset of deficit by this direct Rail link.

 In this context senior vice-president- Transporters Welfare Association Jammu, Anil Chopra says, “Undoubtedly, the development is needed for the overall development of the state but at the same time the government has to be concerned about those who will be jobless after this rail link becomes operational”.

We already had demanded to the tourism authorities to develop some side scenes within the vicinity of district Jammu so that the tourist could get attracted to this side of the state which is already falling short as far as the tourist spots. But It seems the government is more concerned about the promotion of tourism in Kashmir province because whenever a financial package is announced by the authorities to boost tourism in the state, a major chunk of it goes to the Valley,” he said.

Many projects able to compensate the business for the Jammuties which includes the artificial Lake project at Tawi, Cable Car Project and project of Developing Border tourism are the tale of just announcements as the deadlines are extending one by one.

Ceasefire violations on IB could delay opening of Suchetgarh border for tourism

Ceasefire violations on IB could delay opening of Suchetgarh border for tourism

Yash Khajuria   

JAMMU, Dec 6: The repeated incidents of ceasefire violation from the other side of the LoC and International Border in recent years have delayed the much hyped Border Tourism Project at Suchetgarh sector, and there are indications that government may put this ambitious project on hold.

Under the project approved by Central Government a park over 150 kanals would be established near the border post and the entry gate which has divided the two nations since the bitter winter war in 1947 when part of state was occupied by Pakistan.

Plan included construction of tourist facilitation centre, land scaping and development of terrace garden with fountains and development of walkway to oversee international border. Apart from this tourist watch tower, war memorial with photo gallery of martyrs of the area, and an amphi-theatre would be constructed at the site.

According The first phase of the Rs 5 crore project is being implemented by Tourism Department and Border Security Force (BSF) to give atheistic look to the border outpost and its surrounding, which till partition of the sub-continent was an important link between Jammu and Sialkote city of Pakistan.

However Director Tourism Robin Singh Mehta said that the project work was on full swing at site and was almost 80 percent complete but the Border Security Force didn't grant permission to set some of the infrastructures including towers at the Border Out Post due to security reasons, the permission for which was sought by the tourism authorities.

Meanwhile, PRO Defence said "This is a matter related to higher authorities that's why the permission not being granted. If the tourism authorities are up to develop the infrastructure for the tourism attraction similar to the one at Wagha Border then, there is a need of NoC from the Pakistan side."

However, DIG BSF Jammu Frontier J S Oberoi said that he was not having any information regarding the permission sought by the tourism authorities for the aforesaid project.

The centrally sponsored project to develop Suchetgarh and Shrine of Baba Chamyal on International Border with Pakistan as major tourist attraction will be completed by the end of year 2013.

Officials said that development of various places of tourist attraction taken under the project “Development of Border Area Tourism Circuit Jammu’ and sanctioned by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is likely to be thrown open for visitors by 2014, making it one of the important attraction in the city.

Govt. to rein on fake sports associations in J&K, not allowed to play in sports events

They have become money minting machines

Govt. to rein on fake sports associations in J&K, not allowed to play in sports events

Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Dec 02: As the mushrooming of ‘fake sports association’ have becoming a money minting machines to get a share of the central and state funds for the expansion of the sports in Jammu and Kashmir, J&K Sports Council has gone tough on these association and is denying them to send their players at national games.

Sources said that though some of the association having close links with the some politicians are trying to pressurize the officials, but keeping in view the allegations of huge corruption in these bodies, government has decided to go tough against them.

Recently some of the associations just for getting affiliation from state or National sporting councils were pressuring the Jammu University (JU) to get berths for their teams in the Inter-Varsity competitions.

“They want just participating certificates and have no love for promoting talent. This way they are able to pounce on the funds while the promotion of sports is shown only on papers”, said a source.

According to sources, the Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, JU had decided not to send its unprepared teams for competing in Inter-Varsity competitions claiming that bad performance of the team creates a bad image of the university. Sources added that in a bid to gain advantage, some individuals had approached the department and asked them to allow their teams for participation in Inter-Varsity championships.

Prof Dhian S Bhau, Director, Directorate of Sports and Physical Education while confirming the development told that JU has a set pattern of selection of team in which participation of the colleges is must, but some individuals have approached JU with a pre-listed team and demanded to dispatch those on the behalf of JU, now the big question is that who knows those listed players are the actual students of any college or a Truck Driver we have a set phenomenon to represent the team for JU and we accountable for every misdeed within this matter. Though, JU will never allow such individuals to get success in their objectives at any cost.

He said being responsible for every action and inaction in sports it was better to not field a team instead of fielding weak teams for participation in Inter-Varsity and any other national level competitions.

“Our policy is very clear and we will stick to it. Cancellation of participation of women Handball team is one such example of that. The preparation of women team was not up to the mark”, Prof Bhau said.

“Recently a person approached the department for seeking its permission to depute the team for participation. When I asked him on what basis I shall allow the team to participate he told me that the players are sure to win medals”, Director claimed.

“Matter is not whether the team win medals or not but there is a set procedure which a department is to follow”, Prof Bhau added. “The department is conducting Inter-College competitions every year to select the teams for Inter-Varsity competitions in various disciplines on the basis of their performance. We are accountable to all the affiliated colleges who are fielding their teams in these competitions and how it could be possible that we select the players for any competition whom we do not know which college they are representing”, Director sports maintained.

“Whatever is the motive of these individuals but as far as we are concerned, the department will never ever allow such persons to dictate terms. It is better not to send half prepared team for participation rather than selecting a fake team”, Prof Bhau said.

Farooq orders inquiry into Ranji team selection

JKCA treasurer resignation row

Farooq orders inquiry into Ranji team selection

Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Dec 01: In an immediate reaction to the resignation offered by Manzoor Wazir, Treasurer, Jammu Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), late last evening, the JKCA president, Dr Farooq Abdullah has intervened into the matter has ordered inquiry into the Ranji team selection row.

Wazir had dispatched his resignation to Abdullah stating therein that he made every possible effort to ease things out between JKCA and the Kashmiri players over the issue of team selection and captaincy, but all went in vain, owing to which he was resigning from the post of treasurer.

Sensing gravity of the matter, JKCA president ordered to constitute a committee of senior JKCA Officials for conducting the enquiry into the whole episode.

Talking to TNI, Ranjit Kalra, Chairman- JKCA Media Committee, while confirming the development told that career of the players and their dignity were of utmost importance to the JKCA.  “JKCA President Farooq Abdullah has taken this issue very seriously and shall shortly constitute a committee of senior JKCA officials to underscore this matter”.

He also stated that the as of now the president JKCA had not taken any decision with respect to the acceptance of the resignation forwarded by the Manzoor Wazir.

Sources disclosed that Wazir submitted his resignation after he came to know that some of the officials of JKCA had bargained the selection of Jammu players in the team over the Kashmiri players at the time of selection.

Whereas the member of JKCA Provincial Committee Mehboob Iqbal refuted any possibility of deal being made for bias selection. He said “Nine players from Kashmir and 7 players from Jammu were selected for the match that is being played at Guwahati from today onwards.”