TN: Jayalalithaa's shot in the arm for sports

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has ordered a number of works across the State to create or improve sports infrastructure. These schemes would focus on creating world-class sports facilities at all district headquarters, apart from upgradation of existing facilities and the conduct of state-wide sports competitions.

Jayalalithaa’s announcement to this effect, which came a day after the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London, also said two world-class swimming pools would be constructed at Namakkal and Thiruvallur. The pools would cost Rs 1 crore each, said a release from the State government. Also, the Nehru Stadium in Coimbatore is set to get floodlights and diesel-run generators.

This work is to be taken up at a cost of Rs 1.56 crore. Half of this bill would be paid for by a grant from the State government, while the other half would be footed by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT). Jayalalithaa also announced that her government would set aside Rs 10 lakh for the conduct and prize money of a badminton competition.

Jayalalithaa has ordered a number of works across the State to create or improve sports infrastructure.

The statement also said Jayalalithaa had ordered the appointment of 80 more sports trainers on a contract basis. This would take the total number of trainers employed by the government from the present 139 to 219. The trainers would be paid Rs 8,000 per month, and the government would incur an expenditure of Rs 76.8 lakh for this, the statement noted.

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