Sports grounds distant dream for youth

Nine months on, PPP-led local govt fails to improve civic amenities

HYDERABAD:

The aspiration for accessible sports grounds continues to elude the youth of Hyderabad.

Despite the inauguration of key officials belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party on June 19, 2023, in seven out of nine towns in Hyderabad, the promised relief from civic issues remains elusive after nine months.

According to a survey conducted by the Daily Express team, while sports grounds dot the densely populated areas of the city, their neglect and lack of maintenance render them unsuitable for athletic activities.

Former District Nazim Kunwar Naveed Jameel, affiliated with MQM, had initiated efforts to revitalize these grounds, aiming to provide accessible sports facilities to the residents. However, since then, there has been a noticeable absence of upkeep, leading to their gradual deterioration. Presently, the city's playgrounds resemble desolate wastelands.

Hyderabad, with a population exceeding 2.4 million, boasts sports grounds and aspiring athletes. Yet, the indifference of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs has left these grounds in a state of neglect.

Niaz Stadium, the sole stadium serving Hyderabad and its neighbouring areas in Sindh, remains in disrepair. Despite efforts from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and local municipal authorities, the stadium's infrastructure, including spectator seating and player facilities, remains dilapidated.

Tragically, the deteriorating conditions of these grounds force young enthusiasts and children to resort to playing on unsafe streets and roads, often resulting in accidents and injuries.

Moreover, many of these neglected grounds have become havens for criminal activities, including gambling and drug trafficking. Additionally, the presence of stray dogs further deters people from utilizing these sports facilities.

Dust and debris swirl incessantly throughout the day across various sports grounds such as Mahboob Ground Unit Number Five, Amin Rajput Ground Unit Number Four, Zilpak Ground in Site Area, Municipal Ground Hussainabad, Board Stadium Latifabad, Pakka Qila Ground, and Bagh-e-Mustafa Ground Latifabad, among others. The walking tracks, boundary walls, and iron fences in these areas have suffered significant damage. Reports indicate that boundary walls, like those of Amin Rajput Ground and Mehboob Ground Latifabad, exhibit cracks due to constant exposure to airborne dust and dirt. Similarly, the condition of Zeal-Pak Ground in the Sindh Industrial and Trading Estate (SITE) area is dire.

Despite assurances from the current government of the People's Party, the state of Hussainabad Municipal Ground, named after Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, remains lamentable.

Despite laying the foundation stone and promising timely completion, successive government terms have failed to realize this commitment.

After initial efforts to clear the ground of encroachments and install iron grills, neglect and contractor abandonment have resulted in the ground reverting to a sandy wasteland. The costly iron grills are now falling apart, and the ground continues to be misused for parking tractor trolleys filled with sand and gravel.

In 2009, renovation efforts led by Haq-Parast municipal representatives saw the rejuvenation of the scout ground in Latifabad Unit No. 9, including the construction of a jogging track and boundary wall. However, subsequent neglect has left the ground desolate, necessitating the construction of a new boundary wall.

Moreover, sports facilities such as the basketball court in Latifabad Unit No. 6 Nursery Park and the one at Board Stadium suffer from dilapidation. The hockey astroturf ground within the Board Stadium faces destruction due to institutional neglect.

The Pakka Qila ground, once host to numerous national, provincial, and district-level football tournaments, now lies unused due to its uneven surface and accumulated sand.

Additionally, sewage discharge has resumed on the football ground along GTC Road within the Cantonment Board limits, rendering it unusable for cricket matches despite its popularity among local youth.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2024.