Rural playgrounds in Karimnagar turn into ‘addas’ for boozing

Though each ground was developed by spending Rs.4 lakh, they have been left useless as youth are not utilizing them.

Karimnagar: Playgrounds in rural areas in the district have apparently turned into boozing hubs, with many of them seen littered with empty and broken liquor bottles, water bottles and empty snack packets.

Though each ground was developed by spending Rs.4 lakh, they have been left useless as youth are not utilizing them. Since all of them were developed on the outskirts of villages, local people are utilizing them for liquor consumption and other illegal activities as there was no supervision.

The previous BRS government, with the objective of encouraging sports and games in rural areas, had established playgrounds in all villages across the State. Besides leveling grounds and developing other facilities under the MGNREGS programme, sports kits were also supplied to all gram panchayats. The responsibility of maintaining the playgrounds was given to gram panchayats. However, weeds and other plants have grown all over the playgrounds due to lack of maintenance.

Earlier, sarpanches used to clear the bushes by deploying panchayat staff. As their term was completed, nobody is now bothered about the playgrounds. Moreover, they have become hubs for liquor consumption due to lack of supervision.

There were also allegations that the sports kits were misused. Different sports equipment such as cricket, volleyball, gym, discus throw, tennikoit rings, skipping ropes and others were supplied. However, instead of giving the kits to sportspersons, panchayat officials kept them in the cupboards of gram panchayat offices. In a few villages, the kits have gone missing. As there is no supervision by sports department officials, a few panchayat officials took kits to their homes, an official from the District Youth and Sports Development wing said.