Sports stadium at Khamano still a distant dream for residents

Gurminder Singh Grewal
Khamano May 24

The setting up of a sports stadium at Khamano is still a distant dream for the sports lovers of the area as the concerned department had failed to begin the construction of the stadium.

Although a grant of Rs 10 lakh given by former MLA Nirmal Singh is still lying in the account of nagar panchayat for the past 2 and-a-half years, the concerned departments even had failed in the demarcation of land meant for the stadium.

Sportspersons of the area, including Rajinder Kumar, Gurinder Singh, Karan Singh Danka, Ajay, Sudesh Kumar, Simranjit and others who often practice in the ground premises alleged that they had been waiting for the construction of the stadium for the past many years. A number of morning walkers who visit the ground for a walk also face difficulties due to the non-existence of the stadium as the ground needs proper leveling, apart from proper seating arrangements. They stated that a sports stadium was approved by the last Congress Government in 2007 and a grant of about Rs 42 lakh was also provided, but the stadium could not be started due to the lack of proper area.

Later in 2016, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced a grant of Rs 40 lakh but the work failed to kick off and the funds lapsed. In 2016, former MLA Bassi Pathana Justice Nirmal Singh gave a grant of Rs 10 lakh to the Khamano nagar panchayat to start the work of stadium but the work stalled as the PWD and Sports Department failed in the demarcation of the land.

The matter is still pending. The grant is still lying with the Khamano nagar panchayat. Now, sitting Bassi Pathana MLA Gurpreet Singh GP is trying to get the work of the stadium started. He said he had directed the concerned departments for proper demarcation of the land and the layout of stadium. The other formalities are in the last stage.

Funds worth Rs 40 lakh lapse

• The sports stadium was approved by the last Congress government in 2007 and a grant of Rs 42 lakh was also provided, but work on the stadium could not be started due to the lack of proper site. 
• Later in 2016, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced a grant of Rs 40 lakh, but the work failed to kick off and the funds lapsed.
• In 2016, former Bassi Pathana MLA Nirmal Singh gave a grant of Rs 10 lakh to the Khamano nagar panchayat to start the work of stadium, but it was stalled as the PWD and Sports Department failed to demarcate the land.