It may sound bizarre but it is true: J&K State Sports Council is going to spend Rs 30 Lakhs on the inauguration of floodlights at Synthetic Turf TRC ground that cost only ‘1.15 crore’.
The stage is set for the Sports Council to inaugurate floodlights at TRC ground with the exhibition match between Indian Stars and J&K Stars on June 18.
As per the recent notice issued by Sports Council proposal for the match was mooted by State Football Academy official and the Council has already sanctioned advance of Rs 30 lakhs in his favor. Sports Council also formed committees for the purpose and all the things are being made ready for the match.
As per source in Sports Council, the newly laid floodlights have cost Sports Council Rs 1.15 Crores and the Council have installed two such lights, one each at TRC and Gani Memorial Stadium.
“It is like a joke that Government is spending so much of money on mere inauguration of the lights which only cost 1.15 crores. Is our State so rich that we can afford to spend 30 lakhs on inauguration,” a former player said.
Another former player said that it is a way of minting money out of Government exchequer as the players involved from outside State wouldn’t be any better than our own Real Kashmir.
“Every now and then they find way to mint money from public exchequer. Better would have been to hold match between Real Kashmir FC and J&K XI. Our Real Kashmir is currently more popular than this so called Indian Stars XI combined,” said a player.