A tennis court, to be built at a cost of Rs. 2.62 crore, will come up at Udupi, said K. Abhayachandra Jain, Minister of State for Sports and Fisheries, here on Saturday.
Mr. Jain said that the Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes would be providing Rs. 1.31 crore from his MP’s Local Area Development (MPLAD) Fund for the tennis court, while his ministry too would contribute an equal amount. It was necessary to promote tennis in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, he said.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the district swimming pool. The eight-laned pool is 25-metres long, 22-metres wide and one to 10 metres deep. The children’s swimming pool, (located next to it), for children from two to five years, is 13-metres long and with 4-feet depth. The complex also has a water recycling plant, changing rooms and bathrooms have also been constructed close to it.
The Minister said the compound wall would be extended, and that Udupi will hold at least one national sports event within two years.
Mr. Fernandes said urged the district administration to promote basketball in government schools in the district, and even pledged MPLAD funds for the purpose.
Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA, said there will be no fee for the pool till April 30.
