Saying that sports activities play vital role in keeping the mind and physique healthy and strong, theMinister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary urged upon the youth to vigorously participate in the sports activities.The Minister was speaking at a function organized in connection with the inauguration of Shaheed Lieutenant Thakur DassMemorial Cricket Tournament at Akhnoor today.MLA, Khour Dr. Krishan Lal Bhagat, MLA Akhnoor Rajeev Sharma, Commissioner Secretary, Youth services & Sports Hilal Parray, Chief Engineer, PHE Jammu, Executive Director, Communication& Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) besides large numbers of sports lovers were present on the occasion.Paying rich tribute to Shaheed Lieutenant Thakur Dass, the Minister said that the Martyr Thakur Dass was the valiant son of the soil who attained martyrdom at Indo-Pak border. He asked the youth to learn from the soldiers who sacrifice their lives while safeguarding the territory of the Country.The Minister said that the aim of organizing the tournament was to promote the sports interest among youth and sensitize people about the importance of preservation of water resources and its judicious use.
Highlighting the importance of sports in life, Sham Choudhary said that sports besides help in enhancing personality and developing leadership quality, it also inculcates sense of responsibility, quick decision, team spirit and sense of competition to deal with success and failure with positive spirit.Referring to availability of ample sports potential among youth of the state, the Minister said that there is need to channelize it to right directions for nation building. He said that the State has produces ace players in different sports, saying that the players from State in different sports have brought laurels to the State by clinching medals at National and International levels, he added.The Minister said that the government has taken various initiatives to strengthen sports infrastructure in the state. He said that the UnionGovernment has provided Rs. 200 crore under PMDP for developing sports infrastructure in the State. He said that the government is working on to develop MA Stadium Jammu and Bakshi Stadium Srinagar on international standard. He said that the work on sports stadium Akhnoor is nearing completion and would be dedicated to people with necessary sports paraphernalia for the convenience of players and budding sports personnel of the area. The government is also mulling to develop sports stadium at Pallanwala to promote sports activities in the area, he maintained.
Taking pledge to work for preservation and saving water resources, the Minister sought peoples’ cooperation in this regard. He said that the mandate of the PHE department is to provide potable water to the people of the state and it is possible when everyone will work wholeheartedly in this direction.The 10-day cricket tournament organized by Akhnoor Sports Club and sponsored by Communication & Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) of Department of PHE, Irrigation and flood Control will be played on knock-out basis. As many as 8 teams including 3 from Jammu, 3 from Akhnoor and one each from Khour and Jourian area are participating in the tourney and the final of the tournament will be played on the same venue.Earlier, the Minister along with other dignitaries was introduced with the players. The inaugural match was played between Singh Cricket Club and Jourian Cricket Club. Singh Cricket Club won the toss and decided to field first.