PANJIM: After the record medal haul at the Tokyo Olympics, political leaders and prominent personalities were seen promoting sporting culture in Goa.
While Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar assured Goan and sports enthusiasts of couple of new sporting infrastructure in the State in the past month, in many places the locals have been venting out their frustration on not being able to utilise the sporting infrastructure which was created using public exchequer. This has been a story of Assolna, Ambelim and Velim where all three villages boast of independent football grounds, yet none are utilised or open for the public.
Either the gates are locked or the grounds are not maintained making it impossible to play on.
On Herald’s visit at these three venues, it was learnt that the grass has been grown almost to the knee length on certain grounds which made it impossible for the athletes and footballers to play or even train.
Speaking to Herald, Cruz Silva, ex Sarpanch of Ambelim Village Panchayat lamented, “The children are determined to play now but there are no proper grounds. The present MLA used to tell people that he joined BJP to develop the constituency. However, the MLA hasn’t done anything good. He has not been able to maintain the developed grounds here. I personally request SAG to check into this matter and do the needful and help our young footballers,”
The Velim ground gates have been locked and the biggest complex in the area is yet to be opened for the public. The sports complex is learnt to have a swimming pool too and the locals have to travel extra miles to use the pool. However, with the Fatorda swimming pools also not being open, they are left with no other options in South Goa.
“Before any project comes into the village it is always proclaimed that the project is for the village, but why is it not for the village. Why are the villagers not allowed to go in there. How long does it take for one project to come up? 10 years?” asked an aggrieved local Dr Joseph Fernandes.
“The kids who thought they could use this ground are now grown decades older. This should not happen anywhere in the State or country. We the villagers demand and request that the facility opens for the villagers at the earliest,” added Fernandes.
Fr Alan Tavares also questioned the authority why it’s taking so long for them to complete the infrastructure and open it for the public.
“This is the largest stadium in the State which was visualised to us. If it was for the villagers, why are the gates locked? It’s an insult to taxpayers money and an insult to the villagers,” stated Tavares.
“We want the restoration of the ground. Irrespective of who becomes our MLA. We want the ground opened for the public.” He concluded. The case is similar at Assolna ground.
