Naveen asks sports deptt to prepare blue print on facilities

Seeking international standard facilities to organise games in the state, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked the sports department to prepare a blue print for the purpose.
Patnaik also issued direction for completion of at least 100 mini-stadiums across the state by the end of August, an official said after attending a high level meeting.
Though the state already has a stadium to organise international hockey events, no such facilities were available for other sports and games.
Patnaik wanted world class sports hostels in the state to house the players from across the globe, the official said.
As the state government has already taken up a programme to set up one mini-stadium in each of the Odisha's 314 blocks, Patnaik said at least 100 of them should be completed in the next seven months.

The state was presently building 159 mini-stadiums in rural areas and 41 mini-stadiums in urban localities.

Patnaik directed the sports department to ensure construction of at least four mini-stadiums each in five municipal corporation jurisdictions. The state has municipal corporations in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela.
This apart, the meeting also resolved that at least one mini-stadium should be built within the next three years in each of the 111 urban civic bodies comprising municipalities and notified area councils.
Patnaik also stressed on development of playgrounds in rural areas.
"The panchayati raj department will be assigned the job of playground development in rural areas as well as in village schools," the official said.

Local village committees would work as the caretakers of the rural playgrounds, the official added.