The Daily Etalaat Srinagar: Polo ground heads back to square one position

Polo ground heads back to square one position
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feroz ahmad on 23 July, 2008 
 
Adil Makhdoomi
Srinagar, July 22: The developmental work that had taken place ahead of the
Santosh Trophy at Polo ground (west) here is heading back to the square one
position with the Jammu Kashmir State Sports Council sleeping on the maintenance
of the ground.
The ground after the renovation work had emerged as one of the best soccer
grounds capable of hosting any big soccer event. The main field had been leveled
to perfection by filling of looser sand. The ground had been evenly planted with
new grass giving a green carpet look. However with the culmination of the
Santosh Trophy the ground little by little is returning back to the square one
position as no concrete measures are being taken by the sports council to
preserve the ground.
The ground slowly has started to develop yellowish patches with the growth of
hoes on several spots. Besides, the cutting of grass on the main field is uneven
whereas on the boundaries the situation is rather grim with the same giving a
look of pastures.
"The ground was in its best condition during the Santosh Trophy but after that
no heed was paid to the ground. All the work has been undone as the patches are
visible and the grass has over grown," said Jammu Kashmir Football Association
Resident Treasurer Fayaz Ahmad Sofi.
Giving details about the reasons for poor condition of the ground, Manager City
Planning Fields Mushtaq Ahmad said, “The lack of funds, labor, Machinery and
the recent indefinite strike spelled the doom on the ground, adding, during
Santosh Trophy all the machinery and the labor was pressed into the service as
the funds were provided to us. How will we have the same the green top in the
absence of funds, labor and machinery?"
"We could not maintain the ground as no work was done during the nine days of
strike. We had added fertilizers to the ground for the proper growth of grass
but we could not attend during the recent strike and it has ground beyond proper
limit," said Mushtaq.
Although the sports council admits the lack of grounds here and has expressed
its helplessness over the paucity, but the responsibility of maintenance of
existing grounds put the council under question.
When asked about the sports council’s inefficiency in keeping up the already
existing grounds, Joint Secretary State Sports Council Abdul Rouf said,
“Sports council has no such problems of funds and if there is any such problem
the council will look into the matter.”