Jammu: The sports minister Ajay Maken informed that the government had finalized the first phase of action plan for sports in Jammu & Kashmir. The primary aim is to broad base sporting activities for youth in state The focus would be to improve infrastructure for promotion of discipline like football, hockey, archery, winter and adventure sports. The government has also earmarked funds for the project. The minister emphasised that sports is one of the most effective avenues of channelizing the energy of the youth and could go a long way in shaping the aspirations of the youth generation in a constructive manner. He said that this was his third visit to the state after taking charge of the ministry and his previous visits entailed detailed discussions about the action plan with the Chief Minister of the State, the Sports Minister RS Chib and various sports bodies of the State. Following these discussions a senior officer was deputed by the Ministry of Sports to finalise the where with alls and location/land for the projects under the Action Plan. Following are the measures to be taken under the action plan.
Three synthetic football turfs ( one at Polo ground, Sri Nagar in collaboration with Sports Council and the International Sports Academy Trust of Coach Juan Marcos, one at Baramula and one at Gandhi Memorial Science College, Jammu) One synthetic hockey turf at Baramula in the valley. 12 Archery centres ( 4 each in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh) Water sports facility in Sri Nagar Winter sports facility in Gulmarg and Adventure Sports facility in Gulmarg. The Sports Ministry will be placing a dedicated Project Officer for the implementation of the entire plan and this would be over and above the activities being funded by the Ministry under the flag ship PYKKA program, the Minister said.