SOPUR HSS GROUND CRIES FOR ATTENTION

Abid Khan

Srinagar, Apr 11:The condition of Higher Secondary School ground in Sopur of north Kashmir’s Varmul district is in pathetic condition due to the negligence of the authorities.
 Once a famous ground of the area, it now remains waterlogged for most part of the year. In the last two years, not even a single cricket or football tournament has been organized in the ground.
 “Not to think of big tournaments, even local events are impossible to be held in the field,” said, Muhammad Ashraf Wani, a player.
 “The field remains submerged through out the year as there is no drainage system in place. The rain water has damaged the field and it has turned the ground into a marshy land,” he added.
 Locals blamed Public Works Department for leaving work of drain incomplete on the side of the field.
 “Few years back PWD started work on drain, but left it half way without specifying any reasons. The drainage system would have saved field from turning into cesspool but due to its incompleteness the condition has deteriorated,” said, Muhammad Syed, a cricketer.
 “It was the only playing field in the heart of Sopur town and players from all over area used to throng to play cricket and other sports here,” he added.
 The ground has a capacity to hold two football matches at a time. Apart from local players, it is sole field for students of adjacent Higher Secondary and Degree College students.
 The maintenance of the field is responsibility of department of Youth Services and Sports. 
 When contacted DYSS, spokesperson, Nazir Ahmad said, “I came to know about the condition of the field recently. This year we kept the field on priority list and hopefully it will be maintained within next few months.” 
 “We did earth filling of the field number of times, but that was not enough because of its large area. It requires huge amount of money for maintenance,” he added.

published in Greater kashmir on april 13-2009 link: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=13_4_2009&ItemID=4&cat=4