Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh labour and sports minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said sports infrastructure, in anticipation of the National Games in 2017, must be developed from now itself.
Chief Minister N. Chan-drababu Naidu had written to the Centre recently, requesting it to allow the state to host the National Games in 2017. However, he said, despite lack of resources, preparatory work for it must be started from now. He also said the government would try its best to bring the Nati-onal Games to Andhra Pradesh in 2017.
Mr Atchannaidu was speaking at a meeting in LB Stadium on Thursday here. He said that along with sportspersons, their coaches will also be given cash prizes by the AP government. He said, “People should not think we have got the National Games for 2017 already. There is a lot of work to be done. We are trying our best to make the centre allot the games to us.”
Mr Atchannaidu felt the National Games will also spur the economy of the state. “There is a lot of economic prosperity associated with the National Games in terms of associated opportunities. But we have to begin preparatory work now itself so if the Centre asks us later what infrastructure we have, we need to have something to show,” he added.
The sports minister said that sports was accorded high priority by Mr Naidu during his previous stint but was ignored by the subsequent governments.
“Earlier, when we would come to Hyderabad for Assembly sessions, I used to come to the LB Stadium to play. But look at the stadium’s situation now. It shows the attitude of previous governments.”
He pointed out that lands meant for sports infrastructure had been encroached upon. K. Vidyasagar, Principal Secretary, Youth and Sports, said that several associations had been indulging in malpractices and that needs to be stopped.
