PORVORIM
The volleyball court behind the electricity department at Porvorim has gone for a toss due to non-maintenance and the electricity department has now also shut off power supply over mounting bills, leaving the court in the wrong hands.
According to sources, the volleyball court belongs to the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs and was inaugurated by then revenue minister Dayanand Narvekar in the presence of sports minister Babu Ajgaonkar on February 11, 2008.
Over the years, there has been little maintenance of the court and electricity bills also began to accumulate.
When the bill exceeded Rs 2 lakh, the electricity department disconnected power supply to the volleyball court and removed the meter box.
There is no security guard at the volleyball court and the office is locked.
“Earlier, youth would play volleyball till late evening, but ever since the power supply has been disconnected, they have stopped using the court in the absence of illumination,” said a source.
“After dusk, the volleyball court is being used by some locals for dubious activities, with liquor and water bottles strewn all over the court.”
When contacted, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte said he had raised the issue of the volleyball court in the recent assembly session.
“Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar assured to instruct his department to pay the pending electricity bill and put all facilities in place within two months,” said Khaunte.
“This is a nice volleyball court and if maintained properly, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs can provide volleyball coaching to youth and panchayats can also conduct the volleyball tournaments,” he added.
