Separate sports hostel for girls in Mangaluru: Minister

Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports Rahim Khan said that measures have been initiated to build a separate sports hostel for female students in Mangaluru, at an estimated cost of Rs 150 lakhs.

Speaking after inspecting Mangala Stadium and holding talks with sports lovers and trainers on Tuesday, he said that the department of youth empowerment and sports has sought Rs 500 crore budget for the recruitment of trainers for sports hostels, supply of quality food, separate sports hostel for boys and girls and also for comprehensive development of sports in the state.

The proposal on setting up Sports University is before the Higher Education department. The process on the setting up of the university will commence after getting a report from the Higher Education department. It has been proposed to set up Sports University at Bengaluru.

The minister said that all the required facilities will be provided to the district stadium along with giving priority to the sports activities in Dakshina Kannada district. He also visited the land identified for Kabaddi stadium at Karavali Maidan and collected information from the officials on the opposition to the Kabaddi court.

In his appeal, DK district Athletic Association President Manjunath Bhandary said, "The earmarking of the practice area for Kabaddi court has been opposed by the athletes. The land should be earmarked for the athletes to practice."

The public urged the minister to shift the Kabaddi court venue to elsewhere. The fences built around the land for Kabaddi court should be cleared.

Minister Khan promised to solve the problem over Kabaddi court land after discussing it with the DC shortly. "Kabaddi stadium will also be given priority. We will mull over identifying the land for the Kabaddi stadium. All the sports activities will be given priority."

Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyasa Kamath said the district has given birth to national and international swimmers. "There is a need for a full-fledged swimming pool in Mangaluru. There was a proposal to construct a swimming pool at Emmekere. Owing to stiff opposition from the locals, the project was stalled. As a result, Rs 5 crore released has returned back and the same should be released again."

Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports Deputy Director Pradeep D'Souza said that administrative approval has been received for the accommodation of Kabaddi players in sports hostel and for the construction of a full-fledged stadium at Benjanapadavu in Bantwal. He appealed to the minister to release the fund for the same.

He also brought the issue of lack of resources for the maintenance of Mangala Stadium, to the notice of the Minister.

He said that the government has already sanctioned Rs 100 lakh for the development of football court, at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru. The work has been stalled due to a technical problem. The proposal on the football court has been revised for Rs 1.25 crore and has been submitted to the government for approval.