From the Editor’s Desk

Mismanaged Playgrounds

Paddal Ground in Mandi has not been maintained properly for holding summer football tournament. It brings a bad name to Himachal if a football tournament has to be canceled for a lack of proper upkeep of the ground. Ironically, we have not been able to provide a proper football ground for a tournament that has been held for the last fifty years. Paddal Ground has been damaged due to holding of melas and the situation is unlikely to improve in future. We have to decide about saving this ground for sports as the condition of grounds at Shimla, Solan, Kullu and Sujanpur Tira is also similar. Grounds in Una, Hamirpur and Dharamshala are in a better shape for holding sports activities. It is difficult to grade different grounds as State Sports Department has failed to add even one stadium. And sports infrastructure is not up to the mark in Himachal Pradesh University and colleges to encourage sportspersons. Cricket association improved condition of some grounds and sports infrastructure developed at Dharamshala, Nadaun, Bilaspur and Shimla. As a result, cricket stadium at Dharamshala attracts nearly five thousand tourists daily during tourism season. The government and non-governmental support is required to hold competitions to analyse Himachali potential in sports. The infrastructure could be strengthened with the help of main boards, corporations and cooperative banks whereas rural and urban development departments can do it on their own. It is difficult to demarcate the area for sports and melas in Paddal Ground in a town like Mandi having cultural background. Strangely, no alternate place was identified in Mandi for holding cultural, social and trade activities. Nothing has been done even as a demand has been raised to underline future requirements through urban land bank. There is urgent need to develop one community ground around towns to keep sports infrastructure intact. Another sports ground should be developed if Paddal Ground is considered heritage of Shivratri fair in Mandi. Sports and sportspersons will suffer if sports federations remain inactive. Sports infrastructure will develop at nearly ten places if Himachal government puts forward its claim to hold national games here. Main infrastructure with a sitting capacity of nearly fifty thousand persons can be developed at Dharamshala’s Police Ground with Kullu, Mandi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Palampur, Chamba and Solan grounds developed for different sports. The government should first clarify the ownership of existing grounds.

Thought of the Week

All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.

-Earl Nightingale

भारत मैट्रीमोनी पर अपना सही संगी चुनें – निःशुल्क रजिस्टर करें !

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