Rs 55.27 crore leg-up for sports in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday announced a slew of measures for sports development in Tamil Nadu, and allocated Rs 55.27 crore towards implementing them.The measures include the setting up of multi-purpose sports stadia, playgrounds, sports hostels, world-class synthetic surfaces for sports events,  and conducting State-level sports events across Tamil Nadu and identification of young talent to be trained for international events. An official release here said that the initiatives of the CM would facilitate a golden era for Tamil Nadu in sports sector.Multi-purpose sports stadia with wooden surfaces and seating facilities will be set up in 20 districts at a total cost of Rs 30 crore. In the first phase, such complexes would be constructed in five districts at a cost of Rs 7.50 crore.Since sports hostels are functioning only in nine districts, intense training to sportspersons could not be provided. Considering this fact, the CM has ordered setting up of sports hostels in 23 districts. In each hostel, 60 sportspersons will be trained. In the first phase, sports hostels will be set up in five districts. The CM has alloted Rs 3 crore for non-recurring expenditure and Rs 1.15 crore for recurring expenditure for this scheme.With a view to encouraging basketball and volleyball, sports stadia with modern facilities would be set up in Tiruchy, Tiruvannamalai and Tirunelveli at a total cost of `1.50 crore. Similarly, an astro-turf hockey stadium on international standards would be set up with floodlights and other facilities at Madurai at an expenditure of `six crore. An eight-lane synthetic athletic track will be in place soon at Tiruchy at a cost of `six crore.The CM also directed that State-level competitions for sports - basketball, football, hockey, Kabaddi and volleyball - should be held for both men and women for the Chief Minister’s trophy. She earmarked Rs 4.2 crore for the purpose.Under the World Beaters’ Talent Spotting Scheme, 3,240 young talents will be identified for participating in international events. The CM ordered that Rs 6,000 each would be given to them as incentive and earmarked Rs 1.94 crore for the purpose.