Velloreans upset as work on sport complex yet to gain pace

Though Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami promised a Rs 17-crore integrated sports complex at Usoor on the outskirts of Vellore town, work on the project was yet to gain pace and what confuses the people was that the site chosen has multiple boards with names of police parade ground and one carrying the name of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.

Vellore old timers recall how a case was filed in the Vellore munsif court in the early 1980s when the barracks were built for police personnel inside the ground. However, the court ruled in favour of the police. The proposed sports complex, which will also have a swimming pool, besides facilities for track and field events, alone can bring the much-needed relief to sportspersons.

In such a situation, the need for a well-equipped stadium was felt as several children participating in a sports meet fell down and suffered injuries on Wednesday at the police parade ground.

Further the poor planning of the event also led to problems as students from Class 6 to 10 were put in a single group for the 800-metre race.

During the competition, juniors were brushed aside by their seniors. Many first-timers also fell down and injured their knees. Adding to these was the absence of a doctor at the event, which witnessed a participation of as many as 20 schools.

However, sports officials played down the lapses saying that “it is only a practice session.” Regarding the bunching of students from Class 6 to 10 in a single group, they said, “The students had practised well before coming to the Wednesday’s event. So, there is nothing wrong in clubbing them together.”