The Hindu 21.07.2011
BBMP wants children to ‘return to the playground'
To be launched shortly, the “Marulibanni Aatada Maidanakke” (return to playground) seeks to promote basketball, hockey and football besides traditional games such as kabbadi, kho-kho and Aatya Patya. There are 154 playgrounds and eight indoor stadiums currently controlled by the BBMP.
“The programme aims at attracting children, who are now addicted to television and video games, to sports. It will also provide a ground for children now indulging in sports on roads,” Bangalore-in-charge Minister R. Ashok told presspersons here on Wednesday.
“Sports trainers will be paid a honorarium of Rs. 2,000 a month,” said and added that the palike would seek an area of 5 to 10 acres at five places along with peripheral ring road to be earmarked for sports grounds.
The BBMP will talk with private land holders for getting land for playgrounds, and the land would be acquired by giving transferable development rights (TDR). Mr. Ashok further said that swimming pools would be planned along the outer ring roads.
Though the Minister insisted that there could be no incentive for cricket, the BBMP release also has cricket in the list. According to the plan, trainers would be identified by nodal officers, who would be brought in to BBMP on deputation from the Sports Authority of India.
Mayor Sharadamma and Deputy Mayor S. Harish held a meeting with the SAI officials on Wednesday to chalk out the draft sports policy.
