J&K coming up with a shooting range at Nagrota

Jammu: The state government is coming up with a world class shooting range at Nagrota near here at an estimated cost of Rs 649 lakh to raise the profile of the sport in Jammu and Kashmir, the minister for Youth Services and Sports R S Chib said.

"To attract more youth towards shooting activities, a shooting range-cum-open play field has been taken at Nagrota in Jammu at an estimated cost of Rs 649 lakh," Chib said during a discussion in the Legislative Assembly on the demand of grants. The minister revealed that a total of 7,95,584 students participated in different sports activities at zonal, district and state level, of which 1,324 participated at the various national-level events in 2011-12. He said the main thrust of the department is to encourage adventure sports, organising youth and cultural festivals at national and domestic levels and development of play fields in the schools. Giving details of the various activities undertaken by his ministry, Chib said the government is building a Physical Education College at Gadoora in Ganderbal to provide proper training in physical education to the students. He added that out of total cost of Rs 30.39 crore, an amount of Rs 9.50 crore has been placed at the disposal of JKPCC for the execution of the project. Chib also informed that a multi-facility sports complex, at an estimated cost of Rs 18.91 crore, is coming up at Gindun, Raj Bagh in Srinagar. The minister revealed that the department has developed 302 play fields by utilising Rs 4.90 crore during 2011-12. Chib also informed the session that the state won 16 gold, 28 silver and 39 bronze medals at various national level events. Referring to the inaugural Kashmir Premier League (KPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament held in the valley last year, the minister said three outstanding players were sponsored for advanced training at the National Cricket Academy. Besides, top-three teams from the tournament were invited by various national clubs to participate in events at Kolkata, Chennai and Jamshedpur. Chib said the government has also constituted State Sports Council for promotion of sports activities, creation of sports infrastructure, provision of specialised coaching to the players and technical and financial assistance to the state-level sports associations. He added that 42 sports associations were associated with the Council. Commending the Union Government for sanctioning Rs 5.74 crore for artificial turf for football at Polo Ground Srinagar and Rs 8 crore for MAM Stadium Jammu, Chib informed that the centre has also agreed to sanction Rs 11 crore for two additional projects -- an artificial turf for football at GGM Science College Jammu and astro turf for hockey at Boys Higher Secondary School Singhpora in Baramulla. Chib also revealed that as many as 10 national and zonal-level sports competitions and camps were organised by the State Sports Council in collaboration with various associations during the year 2011-12. He said it has also revived presenting of Sher-i-Kashmir awards from 2002-03 to 2009-10. These awards are being given to sportspersons, who have represented the country at international competitions. PTI