NMMC WANTS R120 CRORE FOR EDU DEPT TO IMPROVE SPORTS FACILITIES

In a bid to provide civic schools with world class sports infrastructure facilities, NMMC has decided to enhance the financial package for education department for the financial year 2013-14.

The civic body has proposed an allocation of Rs120 crore for the education committee for the new financial year. The budget is expected to be passed in the next general body meeting.

On November 2, 2010, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) started its first sports training centre for students of civic school at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in CBD Belapur.

Students who received training at the centre have been displaying outstanding sporting talents at various level of sports meet for the last two years.

However, barring Rajiv Gandhi stadium, most NMMC schools have lacked adequate sports facilities and sports coaches.

Taking stock of the situation, mayor Sagar Naik had recently raised the issue with Navi Mumbai municipal commissioner Bhaskar Wankhede, who has now taken a decision to strengthen the sports infrastructure in the city.

Civic students have lagged behind in sports tournaments as compared to their private school counterparts due to administrative lethargy on the part of NMMC officials who delayed the implementation of sports infrastructure in the schools. Initiatives to develop world class sports facilities for municipal students have remained on paper.

Civic officials say that once Navi Mumbai gets recognition for organising district- level sports competitions, the situation will improve.

At present, civic students have to travel to other districts to take part in district level sports meet. State- of- the- art sports facilities and trained sports teachers at private schools have provided their students upper hand against municipal students in sporting events.

With the new impetus from the civic body, the situation could change soon. “We will purchase a plot of land from CIDCO to build state- of- the- art sports amenities for the students. We will also ensure that they get adequate sports facilities to exhibit their talent,” said Wankhede.