NEW DELHI: In a bid to promote sports culture in Delhi, Sports ministry with Delhi’s land owning agency Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will make optimum use of vacant plots in Delhi. The ministry and DDA will identify plots, parks and schools which can be developed into sports facilities.
“A joint committee of DDA and Sports Ministry will examine vacant plots across Delhi and work towards developing them into sports fields or multipurpose grounds for fuller utilization. This will be a pilot project which will be an example for other states too,” said the union sports minister Vijay Goel.
The minister on Monday called a meeting with senior DDA officials regarding development of sports activities and urged them to devote more space to play-fields in schools. He said that senior secondary schools must be given at least 4 acre of land in order to make better fields for the students to play that will develop sports culture. “We had a very fruitful discussion with DDA and we will create 100 gyms across parks owned by DDA that will be beneficial for the public. DDA will open its sports complexes for children as there’s lack of space dedicated to sports and other such activities,” added the minister.
According to DDA, total 773 parks of the DDA have been given to the MCD. Goel said that around 50 colour-fields will be developed for multiple sports like volleyball, basketball etc in many of these parks. Moreover, two golf courses under DDA (18 holes each) have been asked to reduce their fee from Rs 600 to Rs 200 so that children can play and learn golf at an affordable fee.
Goel said that the main purpose is to promote sports culture in Delhi as well as in other parts of the country. We will also write to other states to make use of their vacant plots for sports facilities, he added.