The Hindu : Sport : Rural sports facilities at panchayats

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 11, 2006

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Rural sports facilities at panchayats

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government will initiate steps to set up rural sports complexes in all the panchayats across the State, according to the Kerala Budget for 2006-07 presented by the Finance Minister, Vakkom B. Purushothaman in the State Assembly on Friday.

Presenting the final budget of current UDF Government, the Minister said a District Sports Complex costing Rs. 1.10 crore would be established in Attingal, in the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram.

Each of the proposed rural complexes would comprise of a six-lane athletic track, play grounds for football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, kabbadi and kho kho and a small building with storage space for sports equipments, changing rooms and toilet facilities. As a beginning, one such sport complex each will be constructed in all the districts during the next fiscal year.

Besides these, the Minister said an amount of Rs. 50 lakh would be earmarked for improving the infrastructure and providing better facilities at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi. Similarly, Rs. 10 lakh would be set apart for the development of the Physical Education College in Kozhikode.

The land acquisition process for the construction of the proposed stadium in Thodupuzha (Idukki district) would be intensified. A grant of Rs. 50 lakh will be provided for this purpose, the Minister added.

An analysis of the budgetary papers reveal that the Government intends to spend a sum of Rs. 12.60 crore on sports and youth services during the next financial year. Of this, the Kerala Sports Council would be given the major chunk of the total outlay. The Budgetary Estimates regarding this is Rs.7.50 crore as against Rs. 6.37 crore allotted last year.

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