No lights, no curtains, no parking space at Khokhra sports complex

So allege players visiting district sports complex in Khokhra; say nothing is being done despite repeated complaints about unclean premises and lack of basic facilities

Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Monday, April 14, 2014 http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2014041420140414211806843df9bdd0/No-lights-no-curtains-no-parking-space-at-Khokhra-sports-complex.html

While the state government is walking the extra mile, promoting sports by building grand sports universities and big sports complexes, local sports centres seem to be lying in neglect. One such example is the District Sports Complex at Khokhra. Recently, people registered a complaint about the sorry state of affairs here with the complex director, seeking better facilities and proper upkeep of the premises.
Over 400 people visit this complex daily to play a variety of sports like badminton, table tennis, etc. They feel that the complex lacks basic facilities for participants and there has been no change in the attitude of authorities despite repeated presentations by them. Praful Savalia, 45, a businessman from Maninagar, who plays badminton here, said , “There are many problems in this complex for the past several years. Inspite of giving the authorities a written complaint many times, nothing has been done to improve the facilities here. As a result, people who come to play here get demoralised and disappointed.

The complex is not cleaned regularly.” Another badminton player and trader, Hitesh Patel, 37, Vastral, said , “Pigeons keep entering the complex because there are no nets to stop them. We had to put in place nets on our own, but they too were removed by someone. Even proper curtains are not in place to block sunlight, which disturbs players. Lights also get out of order frequently.
They had installed another cable when we complained, but that too never worked.” Patel added, “There are 18 exhaust fans in the badminton section. Only two of them work. These two are also not placed properly. This has been the situation for over two years. Besides, none of the fire extinguishers has been renewed or re-filled for three-four years now.”

WATERLOGGING AN ISSUE

Parmanand Khatri, 45, also a badminton player, said, “Parking is also an issue because of lack of allotted space. Besides, waterlogging has ruined the mat causing people to slip and fall. There are no lights in the changing room.” Yogesh Jani, 62, Maninagar, who plays table tennis here and also trains people free of cost, said, “The exhaust fans make so much noise and the lights are also out of order.” A K Rana, 60, another player, said, “We had no drinking water facility here. So, we had to arrange it from outside.” Players added that this complex charged more than other centres but still did not provide proper facilities.

While they are ready to pay more, they should get good benefits in return. Players also demanded coaches, physiotherapists and nutritionists for interested sportspersons. Sports complex incharge J Z Gangar said, “We received the letter and immediately contacted PWD to get the lights fixed. Other issues like faulty exhaust fans will be sorted out soon. There is no issue of cleanliness as the place is mopped and cleaned regularly. The problem is that the players come in early morning while the workers come at 9 am to clean up the place. Moreover, pigeons and other birds dirty the place at night.” “Some of the complainants, who wanted to bring in guests, have been refused permission to do so. They are trying to make a political issue out of existing problems that are trivial,” said a source.