Ooty: For hockey fraternity in the hills here their battle for modern astro-turf facility is continuing for years together as the luck is yet to smile on hockey arena in Nilgiris.
S.Anathakrishnan, president, Hockey-Nilgiris, said that Nilgiris, which has its own records in producing hockey talents over the years, is yet to get an astro-turf to match strides with modern international hockey.
“We have asked for the laying of a astro-turf for hockey in the Army premises in Wellington to cater to the needs of the hockey coaching in Nilgiris. When Mr Manohar Parikkar was the defence minister, he showed the zeal to establish such a facility in Wellington.
Unfortunately, the Army officials failed to live up to the expectations as they objected to the project citing lack of water facility and security concerns in the Army area,” he explained.
“Hockey-Nilgiris is reiterating its plea for astro-turf facility in army centre as already there is a hockey field there. Moreover, we wanted to the army to establish such facility, at least under the
Corporate Social Responsibility basis, to coach hockey talents. There is no question of handing over the ground to the other civilian organization. The ground we pointed out is located near the lake in the Wellington cantonment, which is a tourist spot where tourists move around,” he pointed and suggested that the state government can also try to transfer some of the revenue lands or unused lands lying with other departments near Sim’s park in Coonoor to state sports department to create astro-turf for hockey in Nilgiris.
