Hockey astro-turf: Manohar Parrikar’s unfulfilled wish for Nilgiris

Ooty: Manohar Parrikar’s wish and interest to lay an astro-turf facility to develop modern hockey in Nilgiris, remained an unfulfilled dream of this politician of high stature, who passed away last night.

Mr. Parrikar, who visited the famed army centre at Wellington in Nilgiris during 2015 as union Defence minister, instantly won the hearts of the hill residents here as his simplicity, accessibility and affability simply astonished the hill residents here.

During his press conference then he lauded the plastic control efforts in Nilgiris and recalled his previous few visits to Nilgiris to connect with the nature in the hills.

However, it was during July 2015 the Hockey-Nilgiris pleaded with him to lay an astro-turf facility at the hockey field in the army centre at Wellington near here and make it available for the hockey talents in Nilgiris, to hone their skills. He not only promised to look into this to develop modern hockey in Nilgiris, but,
also invited the Hockey-Nilgiris office-bearers to New Delhi to discuss the issue.

Unfortunately, it could not be pursed further as he resigned from the Defence ministry to go back to Goa as its Chief Minister.

After that, the army officials rejected this proposal as the ministry too could not pursue this with the zeal shown by Mr. Parrikar.Now, Mr.S.Ananthakrihsnan, president of Hockey-Nilgiris, urged the centre to give its nod to lay astro-turf facility at the army centre at Wellington as it will be paying a perfect tribute to the departed leader.