Pampore playfield in shambles

ABID KHAN

Pampore, Mar 26: The only playing field in this saffron town of Pampore in Pulwama district is in shambles; courtesy State Sports Council apathy.
“The SSC does nothing to maintain the ground which has turned it into a cesspool. The ground remains water logged for most part of the year,” said Nazir Ahmad, a local player.
“Even during the period when play is possible, players have to remove shoes and trousers in order to reach middle of the field. Neither it is swimming pool, nor a playing field, it is something in between” he said sarcastically.
The stadium lacks drainage system.
“The condition of the ground poses big question on the working of SSC and its engineering wing. For last several years, they have not been able to make it playable. Last year Government tried to convert the ground into a park which was resisted by the locals,” he added.
Local residents also blame SSC authorities of allowing some people to encroach a portion of ground.
“Some portion of the ground is encroached by the residents who live around it,” they alleged.
A local cricketer Aijaz Hussain said that the SSC authorities are least bothered about the sole playing ground.
“Being centrally located and on the main road it can become a high class stadium, but it needs a little maintenance from SSC. They have made stadium without proper planning and spent lots of money on it,” Aijaz said.
Sports officer Kashmir, MS Baba admitted that the condition of the ground is bad. “The stadium is in low lying area and rain water has no outlet. But we will soon do earth filling under the chief minister’s 100-day program. Once that is complete I think the problem would be over.”
He also admitted that adjacent residents tried to encroach some portion of the ground “but the move was halted by SSC.”

published on Mar 27-2009 link http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=27_3_2009&ItemID=3&cat=4