Amaravathi, September 27
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday that by providing necessary infrastructure, the sports sector should be given a big boost in the state.
The previous TDP (Telugu Desam Party) regime had encouraged sports and even undertaken construction of stadia and playgrounds but the YSRCP government has brought all the ongoing works to a grinding halt, the Chief Minister said during a review meeting at the State Secretariat on Youth Services and Sports.
CM Naidu directed the officials of the department to make available all the playgrounds, stadium and sports development centres by completing their construction, which was partially complete in various parts of the state and declared that Rs 23 crore is being sanctioned for the purpose.
The Chief Minister felt the need to direct all sections of people towards sports and physical exercise and told the officials not to view sports only from the angle that they are confined for those who take part in competitions.
Recalling that earlier people used to play kabaddi and volleyball in almost all the villages, he expressed concern that this practice has disappeared after the TVs and other such systems came into existence.
"If playgrounds are set up in villages all of them will turn towards this again. The works can be taken up with the participation of the local people," Chandrababu said.
"If non-resident Indians (NRIs) and industrialists come forward to fund these playgrounds, they can be named after them," he added.
The Chief Minister told the officials that they should function in such a way by setting a target of conducting the 2027 national games in the state and providing the necessary infrastructure. Though the sports policy formed in 2017 came to an end in 2022, the then YSRCP government did not take the initiative to formulate a new policy, he said and stressed the need to formulate a new sports policy.
Since the state is lagging behind in winning the medals, the Chief Minister wanted a special plan to be adopted for this. He also felt the need to transform Tirupati, Amaravathi and Visakhapatnam as sports hubs by providing all the necessary infrastructure.
The Chief Minister also told the officials to take steps to set up sports centres in all the district collectorates and other government offices.