The State government on Saturday announced a series of measures to provide a fillip to sports.
Basketball and volleyball stadiums will come up in Tiruchi, Tiruvannamalai and Tirunelveli at a total cost of Rs.1.50 crore.
A hockey ground with astro turf, water sprinkler, drainage and floodlights will be set up in Madurai at a cost of Rs.6 crore. Tiruchi will have an indoor stadium with eight athletic tracks, costing Rs.6 crore. An amount of Rs.4.02 crore has been allotted for conducting State-level tournaments for sports such as basketball, football, hockey, volleyball and ‘kabbadi,' both for men and women. As many as 3,240 youngsters will be identified and given incentive of Rs.6,000 each to enable them develop their skills and take part in various international events. For this, about Rs.1.94 crore has been set apart. World-class synthetic turfs and sports equipment will be acquired for Rs.1 crore. Eight vehicles will be given to officials of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs.48 lakh. To improve amenities in indoor stadiums for spectators, a Rs.30-crore scheme in 20 districts has been framed. In the beginning, it will be taken up in five districts at a cost of Rs.7.5 crore.
Sports hostels will be set up in 23 other districts. In each hostel, 60 students will be given high-class training. Initially, they will be established in five districts.
This will incur recurring expenditure of Rs.1.15 crore and capital expenditure of Rs.3 crore.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa approved all the decisions, according to a release.