CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday dedicated 1,000 more ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’ across Punjab, taking the total inaugurated so far to 1,764 out of the targeted 3,100, as his government steps up its push to channelise youth energy towards sports and away from drugs. Attending the inauguration ceremony at Shahpur village in the Amloh Assembly constituency of Fatehgarh Sahib, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab is laying the foundation to emerge as a hub of international sporting talent, with every sports ground being equipped with football, hockey, volleyball and cricket kits.
Sharing a few snippets from the occasion, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Today, I attended the inauguration ceremony of a sports ground at village Shahpur, falling under the Amloh Assembly constituency in Fatehgarh Sahib district. It is a matter of great happiness that the Punjab Government today inaugurated 1,000 new sports grounds across the state. This is a major step towards connecting our youth with sports and keeping them away from drugs. We are confident that by sweating it out on these sports grounds, our youngsters will make Punjab proud across the world in the coming years.”
Addressing the gathering, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, channelising the energy of Punjab’s youth towards sports is essential to protect them from the drug menace and provide them with a constructive direction. He welcomed people and political leaders who had travelled from different parts of the state to participate in the programme, saying that sports could play a decisive role in building a healthy, disciplined and progressive society.
He said that the sports grounds were being developed with a comprehensive range of modern facilities to ensure that villagers could use them for multiple sporting and fitness activities. “These include six-foot-high chain-link boundary fencing, plantation along the boundaries to increase green cover, six-foot-wide walking tracks with footlights, separate toilets for men and women, and storerooms for sports kits and equipment. To ensure proper upkeep of the grounds, submersible pumps and hydrants have also been installed for watering grass and plants,” he added.
