Plot at Hat Hill identified for international-level swimming pool – Appachu Ranjan

Plot at Hat Hill identified for international-level swimming pool – Appachu Ranjan

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 1, 2012: Addressing reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with representatives of sports organizations in Mangalore on September 1, Saturday, State Sports Minister Appachu Ranjan said that the state government has decided to construct a swimming pool that meets international standards in Mangalore. A 2-acre plot near Hat Hill has been identified for this project, he added. 

Further, he said that a sports school will be built in every district in Karnataka so that students can obtain the required sports training and guidance. The minister also promised a sophisticated stadium for indoor and outdoor games, adding that a Hockey Academy will be set up in Kodagu as Kodagu specializes in hockey and similar academies will be set up in other places, depending on the sport they specialize in. He also said that shopping complexes will be constructed around stadiums so that the income they generate can be used to develop the stadiums.

Further, he said that a proposal to raise the number of coaches in the state to 417 from the current 93 has been placed before the chief minister, adding that the government looks forward to appointing coaches in every taluk. He also said that junior coaches for taluks, senior coaches for districts, and joint directors for divisions will also be appointed. Salaries for coaches have been increased by Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3000, he said, adding that 2 percent reservation for sports people in government jobs has also been proposed. 

The minister also said that the government is on the verge of formulating a sports policy along the models of the youth policy.  

Revealing information regarding funds, the minister said that the prize amount for the Ekalavya Awards has been raised to Rs. 2 lakh from this year. Besides, state representatives at the Olympics will receive Rs. 5 lakh each, he added. 

The minister also visited Mangala Stadium to inspect the work on the synthetic track.