Post News Network
Baliapal, June 18: Construction work of Netaji stadium at Baliapal in Balasore has been left halfway for the last several years. State government’s apathy is blamed for the sorry state of the stadium. To add to it, whatever infrastructure has been put in place has now started crumbling, even as people are stealing away bricks and iron rods from there.
The stadium’s apathy stands in sharp contrasts to the state government’s claim that is giving special thrust on the sports sector in every block with allocation of funds.
However, the administration has hardly taken any steps to ensure completion of the sports facility.
Looking at the demands by the local people for sports facility in the area, then MLA Jaynarayan Mohanty had got sanctioned `5 lakh for the stadium in January, 2002. However, its boundary and gallery could not be completed with the funds. Since then no efforts were taken to provide more funds for the project, it is alleged.
Locals say if the project is not completed, the present infrastructure will soon fall to ruins.
With its construction remaining stuck for lack of funds, many people have started encroaching upon lands around it. Lamenting the abandoned state of the stadium, secretary of Subarnarekha Yuba Krida Sansad, a local outfit, Santosh Kumar Das said, “It needs political will and sincere efforts to get the project completed.” Social activist Rajendra Rana said that people’s support should be mobilised over the issue.
Local sarpanch Madhusudan Barik said that the issue will be raised before Basta MLA Nityananda Sahu and Balasore MP Rabindra Jena.
There is no other stadium in Baliapal block, this was the only place where various colleges and other institutions used to organise sports competitions. Subarnarekha Yuba Krida Sansad organises sports events six times annually. Youths practice various games on this ground. Local residents have demanded speedy completion of the stadium.
