Lack of water facility delays opening of Valley’s first synthetic hockey turf

Pulwama, Nov 23: The much-hyped first synthetic hockey turf stadium in Kashmir constructed in Pulwama district is yet to be thrown open because of lack of water facility.
The stadium constructed in Government Boys Higher Secondary School Pulwama at a cost of Rs 5 crore a sports infrastructure scheme lacks water.
Many hockey players said the stadium would have encouraged youth to take up hockey as sports here but the lack of facility has hampered it.
They said that they can play but the chances of injuries remain very high in absence of water.
An official of Youth Services and Sports said that the stadium matches international standards with dimensions 102 metre×62 metre.
He said that the stadium was expected to be completed last year but missed the deadline due to some technical issues. Currently, the only thing which delays its opening is lack of water.
Though, according to him, a water sprinkler system is in place except the source of water for which bore well is been dug.
He said that in the coming days the ground will get the water facility and accordingly it will be handed over to the concerned department and thrown open.
He expected that international players will also play in the stadium as they are planning to ready facilities for night stay around the stadium.