Subhan Stadium Sopore in shambles, courtesy upcoming indoor stadium

Mohsin Kamal• Mar 17, 2018

Subhan Sports Stadium-previously known as College Ground Sopore- is one of the premier stadia in the town. It caters to a huge chunk of aspiring sportspersons who exhibit their skills round the year.

Sopore—North Kashmir’s Sopore commonly known as "Apple town of valley" has always been vibrant when it comes to sports activities. The town always buzzes with cricket, football and other games coupled with a tremendous pool of talent in respective sports.
The town is supplied with many a ground which play host to sports activities throughout the year. Subhan Sports Stadium-previously known as College Ground Sopore- is one of the premier stadia in the town. It caters to a huge chunk of aspiring sportspersons who exhibit their skills round the year.

The stadium infrastructure got a major surge when Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council allotted an indoor stadium to the ground. Sports lovers thought it would bolster the facilities. But, one month into the construction of the indoor stadium, it has proved to be a major distraction than a welcome development. It has brought with it numerous problems giving much headache to the players across the sports.  

The construction work of newly proposed indoor stadium, according to the youth, resulted in huge damage to the main ground. They accused that raw material is being ferried through the main ground which damaged its grassy top and making it unfit to play on it.

The agitated youth claimed that they made many a request to the contractor and concerned authorities but all fell to deaf ears.

“We requested them not to bring raw material through main ground. Huge trucks that ferry the material have caused huge damage to the ground,” a group of youth-mostly sportspersons-told Kashmir Observer.
With no response from the authorities, the youth said, they forced the contractor to stop the work.
"The loaded vehicles left huge dents on the ground and almost screwed up its grassy top. Seeing the shambolic condition of the ground, the youth were left with no option but to stop the work,” said a member of Sports fraternity Sopore
"This ground is all we have got and we can't let it go this way. No doubt the initiative of indoor stadium is a great step but it shouldn’t come at the cost of the main ground,” the agitated youth said.
The contractor-local sources said, has warned them of dire consequences if the youth didn’t let him continue the work. But the youth are in no mood to relent.
"We are ready to go to jail but won't let our prestigious ground get damaged,” they reiterated.
They said the material can easily be ferried from other end without causing any damage to the ground.

"Contractors can easily carry the material through the other route that is from inside the college. By bringing material from that route, the construction of indoor stadium can be continued and ground can be saved as well,” they said.

Kashmir Observer made many attempts to talk to higher officials of Sports Council but to no avail.