Srinagar, Sep 22 (KNS): As many as 221 of the 355 Gram Panchayats covered under the One Panchayat-One Playfield initiative in Jammu and Kashmir have either existing or newly constructed playfields, Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma said in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Sharma, who also holds the portfolios of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, and Science and Technology, was replying to a question raised by MLA G A Mir regarding implementation of the initiative, particularly in Dooru constituency, and the status of sports infrastructure and proposed playfields there.

Quoting information received from the Rural Development Department, the minister said 221 of the 355 Gram Panchayats covered under the initiative have playfields, either already existing or newly constructed.

Giving details of Dooru constituency, Sharma said 37 of its 66 Gram Panchayats have playfields.

He said the Youth Services and Sports Department has taken up two playfield projects in Dooru constituency during the past three years.

The playfield at Larkipora near ADV Road Bathuno, taken up during 2024-25 at a cost of Rs 48.55 lakh, has achieved 90 per cent completion, he said.

Another playfield at Shangren has been taken up as a new work during 2026-27 at an estimated cost of Rs 80 lakh, the minister said.

Sharma further informed the House that 26 playfield sites have been approved under AAP 2026-27 as part of VB-G RAM-G by the Rural Development Department, Anantnag, where suitable government land has been made available by the Revenue Department.

He said development of playfields by the Youth Services and Sports Department is undertaken after completing all requisite formalities, including availability of encumbrance-free land, transfer of land and availability of funds.

The minister said sports infrastructure in Dooru constituency was being progressively improved and upgraded through the J&K Sports Council and the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports.

He informed that four major sports facilities are being developed or maintained in the constituency.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

These include the Sports Stadium, Dooru, which is equipped with a change-room-cum-pavilion, cricket competition pitch, net practice pitch, chain-link fencing, main gate and dugouts.

The playfield at Verinag is also under development and includes a change-room-cum-pavilion, cricket competition pitch, net practice pitch, chain-link fencing, main gate, dugouts and a mechanical roller.

The playfield at Qammar Shahbaad in Block Verinag is being maintained by the J&K Sports Council, while the playfield at Bhahi Bachoo Hiller is being developed with a cricket competition pitch, net practice pitch and chain-link fencing, he said.

Sharma informed the House that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) amounting to Rs 1,035.98 lakh has been prepared for the upgradation of Sports Stadium Dooru and is presently under consideration by the department.

The proposed works include a pavilion building with change rooms, seating tiers with canopy, cricket competition pitches, net practice pitches, dugouts, a synthetic volleyball court, mechanical roller and floodlights, he said.

Regarding proposals for development of playfields at Sayen/Sagam, Sadiwara, Chowgund, Qammar, Dudwangan, Akingam, Hiller Kokernag and other identified locations, the minister said the sites are under consideration for land transfer and development.

He said the process for transfer of land to the Youth Services and Sports Department is underway with the Revenue Department, while in the cases of Sadiwara and Hiller Kokernag, the land-transfer process is yet to be initiated.

Sharma said once the land preparation and transfer processes are finalised, the department would consider the required development works, subject to availability of funds, land and feasibility.

He also informed that a DPR amounting to Rs 150 lakh has been prepared for development of the Sayen-Sagam playfield.

The DPR envisages ground expansion through cutting and filling, protection works, seating tiers, cricket competition pitches, net practice pitches and a synthetic volleyball court, he added.(KNS)