Cleaning time at Ooty
Garbage being removed from the Breeks HADP Open Air Stadium in Udhagamandalam on Wednesday.Having played host to a grand function organised by the government to distribute welfare assistance to various sections of the society by the Rural Development and Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday, the Breeks HADP Open Air Stadium here is now in the process of being cleaned by the civic administration.
However, sports enthusiasts and sportspersons who have been using the facility daily are hoping that steps would be taken on a war-footing to restore the playing and running surface to its original state.Apart from athletics, the stadium is used for football, cricket, tennis, basketball and volleyball.
Pointing out that the ground and the track had been dug up at a number of places to put up the huge shamiana and billboards, they recalled that the Khadi Board Minister, K. Ramachandran, had assured recently that immediately after the function the ground would be restored to its original shape.Expressing the confidence that the Minister would not waste any time in initiating repair works, they said that the opportunity should be utilised to enhance the facilities.Official sources told The Hindu that it would take a few days for the contractors to remove the shamiana. Subsequently with the asset maintenance funds provided under the Hill Area Development Programme, the damaged parts, including the cinder track, would be set right. A heavy roller would be used to level the turf.
