Waterlogging at Jhajjar stadium too

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, August 13

India has won six medals in Paris Olympics and 50 per cent (three medals) out of these have been clinched by shooter Manu Bhaker and wrestler Aman Sehrawat who belong to Jhajjar district, but budding players here are facing inconvenience in practising as Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Stadium in Jhajjar city has been inundated with water for several days.

The players, their parents and local officials of the Sports Department, have approached the authorities concerned to get accumulated water removed from the stadium, but the problem has not been resolved yet.

The situation forces the players to run on roads for warm-up, which is not safe. School and college students come to the stadium in the morning and evening to practice various sports. People residing in the nearby colonies also use it for taking a walk.

“We are facing difficulties in warming up as the stadium has been filled with water for several days. They have to go on roads to run,” said a young player who practices boxing in the stadium.

Another youth pointed out that the stadium had become the breeding ground for mosquitoes due to which there was a fear of spread of vector-borne disease. “The accumulation of rain water has taken a toll on our practice. We have no other option except to face the situation,” he added.

Shamsher Jakhar, a parent, said they had apprised the Deputy Commissioner and other officials of this problem but no action has been taken. “Budding players are compelled to run on the roads to get them warmed up. Since heavy vehicles ply on the roads, their safety is also at risk while running. We request the administration to drain out the water from the stadium as soon as possible so that the children can practice comfortably here,” he added.

Another parent Dhamendra pointed out that waterlogging in the stadium in the rainy season was the affair of every year. “Everytime we raise the issue prominently and the authorities assure us of resolving it but nothing is done after the rainy season. No one is ready to feel the plight of these young players who want to make their career in sports and to bring laurels for the nation and the state,” he added.

District Sports Officer Lalita Malik said the stadium got waterlogged in rains due to its low-lying surface. A proposal had been sent to the higher authority to get earth filling of the stadium done to get rid of chronic issue of waterlogging, she added.

“We have also written a letter to the authorities requesting it to get the water removed from the stadium at the earliest,” said Lalita. Jhajjar DC Shakti Singh said instructions had been issued to the officials concerned to drain out water from the stadium.

‘Name changed, but no facility provided’

Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal said the BJP government had changed the name of the stadium but had failed to provide basic facilities in it. “I have raised the issues of waterlogging, dirty toilets and non-availability of potable water in the stadium many times in the Vidhan Sabha but the government has done nothing except making false assurances. Jhajjar has given many international players who won medals in Olympics. Despite this, the government is not ready to provide sports facilities in the stadium,” said Bhukkal. She said shooter Manu Bhaker was the only Indian player, who had clinched two medals in an Olympic event, hence she should be felicitated with Padma Shri award.