KR News Desk
Budgam March 15
Intending to develop sporting spirit in youth in Kashmir, the UT administration in 2020 announced building 1394 playgrounds across the Kashmir Valley. Among 10 districts in the valley, Budgam topped the list where land had been identified for 163 playfields.
All the deputy commissioners were directed that each panchayat should have at least one playground. However, having a playfield for village Wagam in Budgam district seems bleak as the administration is unable to retrieve designated land from the encroachers.
The locals allege that there is a nexus between the land mafia and the administration as close to 15 kanal of Gauchar (grazing) land has been converted into an orchard by encroachers.
“The announcement that a playground would come up in our village was the best thing I had heard in years. It was the first time I believed that the government wanted us to take sports seriously and make a career out of it.,” said Mohd Ashraf, a local cricketer who is a staunch Virat Kohli fan and enjoys playing cricket.
“I wonder, why isn’t the government taking any action against the encroachers.”
In general, the entire valley lacks the sports infrastructure as compared to the rest of India. Villages, in particular, are devoid of sports grounds, sports complexes, where young sportsmen can hone their skills. Even schools in the valley lack sufficient sporting and playing facilities.
“Developing more than 1300 playgrounds is surely going to play a significant role in bringing the youth of villages towards sports,” said Irshad Rather of Wagam.
Many villagers seem apprehensive of seeing a playground in Wagam, alleging that some villagers are unwilling to release the encroached land designated for the playground.
“It feels administration is watching this land grab as a mute spectator. I have personally approached Deputy Commissioner Budgam and the concerned Block Development Officer on various occasions in the last six months and nothing has moved since then” said one of the villagers who wished anonymity.
“I was assured some action will be taken against the land grabbers who stalled the work,” he said, adding that almost a month has passed since then but the work on the sports ground is yet to be resumed.
When contacted by the Kashmir Review, a senior official in Bugdam said, “I don’t have any information about it. Let the concerned Block Development office write to me and appropriate action will be taken against the people who have grabbed the government land.”
