Harish Rao accuses govt of stalling stadium works

Metro India News | SIDDIPET 

Former Telangana Minister and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao has accused the Congress government of stalling the district's development by halting Rs 11.50 crore worth of stadium development works, alleging that the decision has adversely affected the prospects of young sportspersons. Speaking after inaugurating the Under-13 and Under-15 Boys' and Girls' Badminton Tournament at the Siddipet Indoor Stadium on Friday, Harish Rao questioned why sanctioned infrastructure projects were stopped following the change in government.

He said the tenders had been finalized and contracts awarded for the proposed stadium works before the projects were put on hold. The BRS leader alleged that the Congress government had deliberately targeted Siddipet's development and asked whether the district and its athletes were not an integral part of Telangana. Harish Rao said his vision was to transform Siddipet into a premier sports hub, just as it had emerged as a centre for education and water management.

He highlighted the development of sports infrastructure in the district, including a football ground, cricket stadium, international-standard swimming pool, volleyball and basketball courts, and three badminton courts. He recalled that two additional badminton courts were constructed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh after players sought more facilities.  Emphasizing the importance of sports, Harish Rao said that children should be encouraged to spend more time on playgrounds rather than social media, adding that sports promote health, discipline and self-confidence.