PM promises financial aid to sports in Jammu and Kashmir

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised a package of Rs 700 crore over a period of five years to give a boost to sports in Jammu and Kashmir, state Sports Minister Taj Mohiuddin claimed today.
Mohiuddin said that during his recent meeting with the Prime Minister, Singh has given directions to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in this regard with the assurance that more funds would be made available if need be.
"Under the package every town with a population of more than 50,000 souls would be provided with an indoor stadium and wherever land is available football and hockey grounds would be raised," the minister said after inaugurating the Kashmir Football Festival here.

Mohiuddin said the Government has prepared a comprehensive plan of strengthening sports infrastructure in the state under which indoor stadia would be constructed in every region of the Srinagar and Jammu cities.
He said the TRC grounds in Srinagar would be provided with an all-weather football turf so that it remains functional throughout the year.
The Government plans to extend sports activities to all the districts so that more and more youth join them, he said adding sports infrastructure in the state is being given a re-look and more facilities are being added to the already existing ones.
Over 150 football teams are participating in different categories of the festival that includes some popular local teams like J&K Police and JK Bank.

The tournament is being played on a 6-a-side basis and the matches would be played on four fields in Polo Ground.