15k ponds to be cleaned, 13k sports grounds to come up in state: Minister

Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, said that 15,000 village ponds are being cleaned and rejuvenated, and 13,000 rural sports grounds are being developed or upgraded as part of a comprehensive strategy to uplift rural life and promote youth engagement.

The rural sports ground in Khijrabad (Banur), accompanied by MLA Neena Mittal, Sond remarked, “In every village, two locations define its spirit — the pond and the playground. Our government is committed to revitalizing both, ensuring that they become symbols of prosperity and pride.”

As part of the Rural Rejuvenation Mission, the government is building or upgrading over 13,000 sports grounds across all 154 development blocks. These efforts are aligned with the government’s broader vision of a “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh,” encouraging youth participation in sports and steering them away from substance abuse.

The projects are being implemented through a combination of budgetary funds worth Rs. 3,500 crore, MGNREGA, and Finance Commission grants. Furthermore, 3,000 new Model Sports Grounds are being constructed with

special focus on locally popular sports, and 4,300 existing playgrounds are undergoing significant upgrades.

Sond expressed concern that many rural children grow up without access to sports facilities, which hinders their physical development and career prospects. “We are ensuring that every child in every village has access to safe, green, and well-equipped playgrounds to play, compete, and grow,” he stated.

Later, Sond visited villages including Azizpur, Fareedpur Gujjran, Bhateri, Nalas Khurd, and Manakpur to review the status of playground development and pond cleaning. During an inspection of the Azizpur Stadium, he noted some deficiencies and directed the Patiala ADC to submit a report.