For practically 4 years now, the long-lasting Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium right here – listed as considered one of India’s 5 Category 1 amenities by World Athletics – has not hosted any track-and-field occasion. Reason: “sinking” of the bottom after a foul monitor relaying mission.
The mission, for which the Sports Authority of India (SAI) had put aside Rs 6.50 crore, started in the summertime of 2019 and was anticipated to be accomplished by 2021. It was handed over to WAPCOS. [Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited], a Public Sector Enterprise below the Ministry of Jal Shakti. But, when the mission was about to be accomplished in 2021, a portion of the 400-metre monitor above an underground tunnel began to collapse.
The tunnel was constructed in the course of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and was used for the opening and shutting ceremonies.
In reality, the difficulty was one of many many deficiencies identified by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) group, which visited the positioning for the primary time in December 2020, on the request of SAI. The AFI report seen by The Indian Express mentioned, “The track which had created a gap in the underground tunnel, for that fill the gap at the entrance of the VIP gate.”
An AFI official mentioned that they have been consulted solely after the preliminary relaying of the monitor was nearly over. “We immediately saw waves on the track and informed WAPCOS, but they shrugged it off saying it was nothing. But a few months later, after incessant rains, the track started sinking,” mentioned the AFI official.
Responding to a textual content message from The Indian Express, Wapcos Chairman and Managing Director, Rajnikant Agarwal despatched the textual content message saying: “You are requested to contact SAI in this regard.”
When contacted, SAI in its assertion to The Indian Express mentioned: “The monitor laying work was began in 2019 and the work was performed by WAPCOS, which is a central authorities enterprise. The work was occurring at a superb tempo and by 2021, about 95 per cent work was accomplished. However, it was discovered at the moment that the monitor below building was sinking resulting from extreme rain water seeping into the bottom and the presence of an underground tunnel throughout the stadium beneath the monitor.
“Hence, it was decided to suspend the ongoing work and the CPWD, which is responsible for the overall maintenance of JLN Stadium, was asked to identify the reason for the ground subsidence. CPWD has in turn approached IIT Guwahati for detailed research on the issue. The results of the research are expected soon and work will resume based on the findings.”
“SAI has sanctioned Rs 53 lakh for research and Rs 6.50 crore to WAPCOS for the track,” it mentioned.
Acknowledging that “2019 was the last athletics event held on the track before the renovation work began”, SAI mentioned, “The Athletics Nationals held last year were held in the warm-up area of JLN as the athletics federation had allowed the competition to take place.” That place was chosen for ,
“They ought to have consulted us earlier than beginning the work. During our first go to, we discovered many issues aside from the monitor. The floor of the lengthy bounce pits was uneven, the throwing circles weren’t good, and the bottom of the steeplechase pit wanted to be modified. We raised the tunnel challenge lengthy again and I do not perceive why you want an skilled panel from IIT to inform you a similar factor,” the AFI official mentioned.
With the turf-relaying mission not nearing completion, the nation’s premier venue, which hosted the 1982 Asian Games, will proceed to be under-utilised. An night at JLN reveals how underutilized infrastructure impacts the coaching of many elite athletes.
A 5 meter patch has been dug out on the 250 meter mark on a 400 meter monitor, the concrete construction beneath has been uncovered, the leaping pits have develop into resting locations for the canines, the carpet space across the monitor is in a dilapidated situation , And the throwing space will not be prepared. The pole vault set-up is lacking from 2020.
This has pressured athletes, together with worldwide medal winners, to coach on a worn-out, congested observe monitor outdoors the principle stadium. Hundreds of athletes practice collectively on a monitor that’s nicely previous its use-by date.
“Not having good facilities for training can ruin the future of young athletes. Every athlete aims to work hard and perform well so that they can get selected for the national camp. But if the facilities are not good, they Can’t perform well,” Bahadur Prasad, who held the 5000m nationwide report for 3 many years till it was damaged by Avinash Sable this 12 months, instructed The Indian Express.
A junior Asian Championships medalist mentioned that his observe has been adversely affected and it is vitally tough to combat for a spot within the tight observe space. “Look at the practice conditions, track yourself, the inside lanes are completely gutted. We have four or five barely usable lanes that we have to share with hundreds of athletes.”
Arjuna awardee Bahadur Prasad, who additionally held the 1500m nationwide report for 23 years till it was damaged by Jinson Johnson in 2018, has a particular place in JLN’s coronary heart. He skilled and took part in nationwide camps on the facility on a number of events between 1989 and 1998.
“During my profession, all of the preparatory camps earlier than worldwide meets have been held at JLN and we may practice on each the tracks. It is a serious facility and plenty of authorities agency-employed athletes additionally practice right here. I do not know why there’s a lot delay but it surely must be resolved on precedence foundation. If there’s a drawback with the funds, then improve it. The authorities ought to give attention to getting the monitor prepared on the earliest.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
