The Times of India 25.11.2009
LMC shooting arena to be turned into academy
LUCKNOW: The multi-crore ambitious shooting range project of Lucknow Municipal Corporation will be much more than a place where budding shooters will sharpen their skill. A proposal in this regard being worked upon to develop it into a shooting academy with world class facilities — the way UP Badminton Academy has shaped up at Gomtinagar in the state capital.
“The idea behind opening an academy is to ensure that the shooting range survives on its own — a self-reliant and self-sufficient entity producing experts in shooting,” highly placed LMC sources told TOI after a meeting on Monday to discuss the project threadbare.
Ace shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who is guiding the LMC in the project, was also present at the meeting. Addressing media persons on Tuesday, Rathore also underlined the need for self-sufficiency. “The success of any project can be guaranteed only if it is able to bear its overhead expenses.... the shooting range should not be a liability on the government,” he said.
Rathore also wants the shooting range to be developed as a centre to run a course in handling ammunition. “Maybe a day comes when this certification would become mandatory for anyone who applies for an arm’s licence,” said the shooter who won a silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics. He said that a large number of accidents with licensed guns happen only because of improper handling of the ammunition.
The need for self-reliance becomes inevitable keeping in mind the annual maintenance cost of the equipment being installed. So, the LMC is also exploring other avenues of revenue generation. Some of the additional facilities repoprtedly discussed during the meeting on Monday include a swimming pool, cafeteria, conference hall, gymnasium and health centre, among others.
A club has also been proposed. Membership fees and user fees will also be charged from visitors. The user fees may be something like the ‘green fees’ charged at golf courses. In Lucknow, clubs charge something around Rs 200 as green fees, while certain courses in Delhi levy Rs 3,000.
“The idea behind opening an academy is to ensure that the shooting range survives on its own — a self-reliant and self-sufficient entity producing experts in shooting,” highly placed LMC sources told TOI after a meeting on Monday to discuss the project threadbare.
Ace shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who is guiding the LMC in the project, was also present at the meeting. Addressing media persons on Tuesday, Rathore also underlined the need for self-sufficiency. “The success of any project can be guaranteed only if it is able to bear its overhead expenses.... the shooting range should not be a liability on the government,” he said.
Rathore also wants the shooting range to be developed as a centre to run a course in handling ammunition. “Maybe a day comes when this certification would become mandatory for anyone who applies for an arm’s licence,” said the shooter who won a silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics. He said that a large number of accidents with licensed guns happen only because of improper handling of the ammunition.
The need for self-reliance becomes inevitable keeping in mind the annual maintenance cost of the equipment being installed. So, the LMC is also exploring other avenues of revenue generation. Some of the additional facilities repoprtedly discussed during the meeting on Monday include a swimming pool, cafeteria, conference hall, gymnasium and health centre, among others.
A club has also been proposed. Membership fees and user fees will also be charged from visitors. The user fees may be something like the ‘green fees’ charged at golf courses. In Lucknow, clubs charge something around Rs 200 as green fees, while certain courses in Delhi levy Rs 3,000.
