For the last 17 years, authorities in Anantnag have failed to complete a sports ground causing severe inconvenience to sports enthusiasts.
As per locals, the ground at Nowshera Anantnag was sanctioned by the PDP-Congress government in 2004-2005 and subsequently c0nstruction work started after a year. They said men and machinery was pressed into service to fill the soil and level the ground.
It was expected the sports field would help in promotion of sports activities among youngsters in the area and they would not have to travel to neighbouring places to play cricket or football.
Currently, people travel to Bijbehara or Anantnag to play their sport of interest.
Despite spending huge amounts on the ground, authorities are yet to complete work on turf and outfield of the ground.
Locals added that they brought the issue into the notice of higher ups several times to no avail
On his part, district youth services and sports Officer Anantnag Mushtaq Ahmad said that their department developed the ground in 2005 and since then no further work was taken up by them.
He said that they will take up the work in the next fiscal—(KNO)