Vasco MLA announces the inauguration of sports facilities scheduled for December 19
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Ward councillor Deepak Naik, MMC Chairperson Girish Borker and others while inspecting the Bhute Bhat ground on Monday.
Photo Credits: Vikram Nayak
VASCO
The Bhute Bhat ground in Vasco, along with an indoor badminton court, will soon be renovated and developed under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by JSW, the company operating at Mormugao Port.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Ward Councillor Deepak Naik, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Girish Borker, and other officials conducted a joint inspection of the Bhute Bhat ground with JSW representatives on Monday. Following the inspection, Salkar announced that the renovated badminton court would be inaugurated on December 19, in celebration of Goa Liberation Day.
“We had submitted a proposal to JSW for the development and repair of the ground as part of their CSR activity. The compound wall of the ground was broken, and the indoor stadium, which is used by many people, was in poor condition. Water was leaking from the roofs, birds had made nests in the tiles, and their excreta were making the area dirty. The glass panes of the court were broken, and the washrooms were partly non-functional. Despite these issues, the youth from Vasco continued to use the indoor badminton court, and they requested me to take up the matter. When I approached the government, they informed me that the sports city project at Tanya Ground had already been initiated and that this project could be addressed later,” said Salkar.
“We then approached JSW with a proposal to repair the court under their CSR initiative. We suggested adding benches around the ground and improving lighting, as many people come to play at night. We also requested repairs to the compound wall and improvements to the indoor badminton court. Additionally, we asked for repairs to the broken spectator stands. JSW has completed over 70 percent of the work, and we plan to inaugurate the indoor badminton court on December 19. The improved lighting will allow people to play and also use the perimeter as a walking track. A final inspection has been done, and we are satisfied with the progress. The inauguration of the badminton court will be the first phase, while the repair of the ground and installation of turf will be part of the second phase,” Salkar informed.
Salkar further emphasized the importance of sports facilities in Vasco, mentioning his advocacy for the utilization of Tilak Maidan during the Assembly session. “The government is setting up large sports infrastructures, and they must be fully utilized by Goans. Sports Minister Govind Gaude agreed, and we have already seen many tournaments being held at Tilak Maidan. Our main goal is to keep children and youth engaged in sports rather than glued to their mobile phones. Sports will instill discipline and improve both physical and mental health. We are committed to enhancing the sports infrastructure for the youth of Vasco,” Salkar concluded.
