CHANDIGARH: The Union Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India have agreed to sanction Rs I crore as grant for the purchase of an Astroturf pitch and a synthetic track for use in the National Games scheduled to be held in Punjab from November 26.
This was decided at a meeting held in Delhi between officials of the Punjab Government, the Chandigarh Administration and their union Sports Ministry. Officials of the Sports Authority of India, including its Director General, were present at the meeting. Mr. Inderjit Singh Bindra Secretary, Sports, Punjab led the State’s delegation which included among others the Secretary of the Punjab Olympic Association,. Mr. T.C. Gupta, Mrs Milkna Singh, joint Director, Chandigarh Sports Department Also attended the meeting since some of the events of the National Games will be held in the Union Territory.
The Punjab team impressed upon the officials of the union Sports Ministry that the State should be given a grant of Rs 8 crore of the construction of sports facilities needed for the National Games, While the general norm of the Central Governments to give grants up to 50 percent of the expenses incurred by a State, the Punjab government has sought 80 percent substitute in view of the special circumstances prevailing in the state,
Mr. Bindra was hopeful that the Central grant would be released shortly. While admitting that time was short he was confident that all the necessary construction AWoric needed for the: Nahonsl Gamnes would be completed well in time.
Most of the construction work would be handled by the Punjab Sports Council and the Chandigarh Sports Council and since these bodies did not suffer from bureaucratic overheads work once started would’ proceed smoothly.
‘The Centre also agreed at yesterday’s meeting that funds for the extension of the sailing course at the Sukhna Lake, venue of the water sports events of the National Games, would be released. The course would be extended to 2000 meters,
A team of officials from SAI would also be visiting Chandigarh shortly 10 examine the facilities existing at the Patiali Rao shooting range here. The range needs large scale renovation prior to the National games.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 10, 1989
