Date:17/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/17/stories/2008101759300300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Where are the sports complexes, GHMC?

The dozen-odd facilities proposed in city remain on paper

File Photo: Satish. H

No alternative: A crammed MCH swimming pool . -

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) resolve to make sports facilities accessible to citizens is simply not fructifying. The dozen-odd multi-purpose sports complexes cleared by the last elected council are yet to see the light of the day.

Increased costs, fresh tender process, revised plans preparation…are some reasons being dished out for the delay in even starting construction of these sports centres.

The last elected council of erstwhile MCH had cleared 14 sports complexes in all for various games depending on space and the locality at a total cost of Rs. 27.9 crore.

Save for the sports complex at Chandulal Baradari where some work commenced and the never ending construction of the swimming pool at Amberpet, rest do not have anything to show a year-and-a-half after being cleared.

The old city structure progress is simply because the foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy himself. “We had to go back to the drawing board again because sanctions were given without proper plans and material cost too has increased a lot in the meantime. The proposals seemed to have been cleared in a hurry,” explains an official.

Proposals

Here is the current state of affairs: Sports complex at West Marredpally – initial cost was Rs. 1.3 crore, revised cost is Rs. 3.75 crore so tenders to be called again. Khairatabad complex – initial cost of Rs. 2.7 crore revised to Rs. 4.7 crore tenders again. Gowlipura complex – technical sanction just received and tenders to be called for 1.2 crore work.

Hafeezbabanagar – designs yet to be approved for the Rs.1.35 crore work because site’s access is through defence land and permission has to be sought. Indoor sports complexes at Hindinagar (Rs. 4.5 crore), Netajinagar (Rs. 1.25 crore), Saakshinagar (Rs. 4.55 crore), Shalivahananagar (Rs. 94.6 lakh) – tenders to be called as technical sanctions just came.

Amberpet pool, another tender for Rs. 1.5 crore work for filter plant and changing room to be invited. Kamalapuri Colony’s proposed Rs. 1.94 crore complex is in doubt because residents are said to have requested for a park. If these projects are still born, imagine what GHMC would do to transform more than 2,500 open spaces ‘protected’ for parks or sports complexes?

That it has not drawn attention of top officials is a pity considering the tremendous popularity of the existing facilities.

Shockingly, not even half the sanctioned budget is spent each year by an under-staffed department filled with niggardly paid part-time coaches.