Madikeri: Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna launched the development work of Ponnampet hockey turf ground, an initiative undertaken by the district administration, zilla panchayat and the department of youth empowerment and sports.Speaking on the occasion, he said Ponnampet hockey turf ground is being reconstructed at a cost of Rs 3.2 crore and will be equipped with necessary infrastructure, including a new sprinkler system and chain-link fencing. A sports residential school with a capacity for 100 students is also being constructed in Ponnampet at a cost of Rs 5 crore, which will provide accommodation for 50 boys and 50 girls. He added that the project is slated to be completed within 18 months.Priority is also being given to the development of sports grounds in Virajpet assembly constituency, he said, adding that initiatives are under way to revitalise and fence the ground behind Janata High School in Kanoor and to develop the grounds in phases—including Virajpet taluk ground, those in Ammathi and other areas.“About 11 acres of govt land have been identified in B Badaga village, where an ambitious project to construct a comprehensive sports training centre at a cost of Rs 40-45 crore has been launched,” he said. Ponnanna said work on the administrative building has already begun, and the centre aims to provide various sports facilities, including tennis courts, indoor badminton courts, an international-standard indoor swimming pool, a hockey turf and a running track.Cheppudira Arun Machaiah, vice-chairman of Karnataka Sports Authority, spoke about the significant measures taken by the state govt to encourage athletes, noting that a 2% reservation in govt jobs has been provided for them.
