Govt acknowledges need for sports infrastructure in Karnah, assures development plans

Srinagar, Mar 16: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday acknowledged the active participation of youth in sports activities in the Karnah constituency but admitted to a lack of adequate sports infrastructure in the region.

In response to a question raised by MLA Karnah, Javid Ahmad Mirchal, in the ongoing budget session of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, minister for youth, service, and sports, Satish Sharma, stated that efforts were being made to enhance the sports facilities. Regarding new infrastructure proposals, the government stated that a project under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakaram (PMJVK) has been approved by the District Committee in Kupwara.

“A proposal under PMJVK (Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakaram) has been approved by the District Committee, Kupwara, in which, among other playfields/sports stadiums, the indoor stadium Karnah & Playfield Gomal Tangdar of Karnah Constituency is also included, for which the concerned revenue authority has been approached for identification of land and submission of revenue papers. Besides, the Department is exploring every possibility to develop sports infrastructure,” the Minister for YS&S said.

The government response confirmed that a large number of young athletes from the Karnah constituency were engaged in various sports activities, both at school and non-school levels.

As per government data, 15,554 youths have participated in competitions at different levels, including zonal, district, UT, and national levels. A detailed breakdown of participation was also provided, indicating the enthusiasm of the region’s young talent.

However, the government admitted that the absence of proper sports infrastructure and playfields remains a challenge in fully tapping the potential of Karnah’s youth. To address this issue, the administration has been utilising existing sports fields like Teetwal Ground and Army Ground Chamkoot for competitions and training purposes. The government informed that additionally, under the UT Capex plan, Rs. 12.37 lakh has been allocated for developing playfields at BHS Nachiyan and GHSS Tangdar.

The response further assured that the Department of Youth Services & Sports was exploring all possibilities to improve sports facilities in Karnah to provide a robust platform for local athletes.

The MLA had raised concerns over the lack of infrastructure affecting sports development in Karnah and urged the government to expedite the process.