Proposed Saina Nehwal academy at Dharamsala hits roadblock

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, September 23

The Saina Nehwal badminton academy that was proposed to be set up in Dharamsala has hit a roadblock. The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs has not been able to reach a consensus with the proposed academy officials over the terms at which the land is to be allotted for the project, say sources.

Rakesh Pathania, Minister for Forests, Sports and Youth Affairs, had announced 70 kanals in the Sakoh area of Dharamsala for the badminton academy. He had said that the academy would help promote sports tourism in Dharamsala that already has an international cricket stadium. However, no progress had been made on the project since the the minister made the announcement.

Pathania said that officials of the academy were asking the government for the allotment of land free of cost or at very low rates. The government was ready to accept their request on a condition that players from Himachal should be given training in the academy free of cost. However, the academy officials did not agree to the government proposal.

The minister said that the academy officials also wanted the government to develop sports infrastructure but were not ready to offer free training facilities to the residents of the state. “We are still ready to give land for the academy. But if the academy is to be run only on the commercial basis, the state government will charge commercial lease money for the land to be allotted for the project,” he added.

He said that the Sports Department was expecting help from Union Minister for Sports Anurag Thakur to develop sports infrastructure in the state. “We want to construct more stadiums at the sub-divisional level so that budding players can train under the able guidance of national-level coaches. The Union minister has promised to help in developing the sports infrastructure,” he added.

Pathania said, “The budget of the state Sports Department is meager for infrastructure development. We are also looking for private investment for the development of sports infrastructure. However, the help of the Union Government in this regard is vital”.