Government eyes school, temple lands to build indoor stadiums: Thomas Isaac

KOLLAM: The state government may enter into contracts with schools and temples to take over their grounds to construct multi-purpose indoor stadiums in all the districts in the state, said Finance Minister Thomas Isaac here on Thursday. “The availability of land is the major constraint before the government in constructing indoor stadiums. The infrastructure for the stadiums to be built on the lands of willing educational institutions, temples and other institutions will be provided by the government,” he said.

Mr. Isaac was inaugurating the 37th junior national rowing championship at the Ashtamudi lake here. A permanent rowing track will be set up in the lakes of Kollam and Alappuzha to promote the sport, he said and emphasised the need to encourage sports as the people were vulnerable to lifestyle diseases, including diabetes.

Rajlaxmi Singh Deo, president, Rowing Federation of India (RFI), M. Balalaji, treasurer of RFI and rowing association president S. Sreekumarakurup were present. Mr. Isaac felicitated G.V. Raja sports award winner Dittymol Varghese at the venue. Over 350 rowers from 24 states will take part in the competitions conducted along the four 1,000-metre tracks set up in the lake starting from the Thevally bridge and ending near the adventure park.