The Biz Reporter
The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has urged Minister for Youth Services, Sports and Food & Supplies, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Satish Sharma, to intervene to safeguard Srinagar’s existing sports grounds, playgrounds and open/green spaces from encroachment, diversion for non-sports activities, fragmentation and neglect.
In a communication addressed to the Minister, EPG expressed particular concern over the future and management of important sporting assets, including the historic Polo Ground and S.P. College Sports Ground, and sought a comprehensive policy for the protection and conservation of existing sports infrastructure and public open spaces across Jammu and Kashmir.
The group said the issue has acquired added urgency in view of the alarmingly growing problem of drug addiction among young people in Jammu and Kashmir. It said accessible sports and recreational facilities constitute an important part of efforts to keep youth engaged in healthy, constructive and disciplined activities.
“While the Government and society are making concerted efforts to address the growing menace of drug addiction, it would be counterproductive to simultaneously allow the shrinking or diversion of existing spaces where young people can participate in sports and recreation,” EPG said.
The group said sports grounds should not be treated merely as parcels of government land available for infrastructure development. They constitute important social infrastructure for youth, providing opportunities for physical activity, discipline, community interaction and constructive use of leisure time.
EPG said the concern is particularly significant in Srinagar, where rapid urbanisation, increasing traffic and infrastructure expansion have placed growing pressure on the city’s limited open and green spaces.
The group specifically referred to the proposed Sangarmal–Rajbagh bridge/flyover project and concerns that the proposed intervention could affect a substantial portion of the historic Polo Ground.
EPG said Polo Ground has served Srinagar for decades as an important sporting and recreational facility and remains an accessible space for young people, sports enthusiasts and the wider community. The ground and its associated facilities support major sporting activities, including hockey, football, rugby and athletics, besides providing one of the few significant open/green spaces remaining in central Srinagar.
“If implemented without adequate safeguards, an intervention that reduces or fragments the functional area of Polo Ground could permanently compromise its sporting, recreational and environmental value,” the group said.
EPG also cautioned that the loss of open space could have wider environmental consequences, including further deterioration of the urban environment and increased exposure to air pollution in an already congested part of the city.
The group said the Government’s emphasis on promoting sports and developing sporting infrastructure must be accompanied by equal commitment to protecting facilities that already exist.
“It would be contradictory to speak of strengthening sports infrastructure and encouraging youth to take up sports while allowing established grounds in urban areas to be progressively reduced or diverted for other purposes,” EPG said.
The organisation has requested the Minister to direct the concerned authorities to undertake a comprehensive review of the proposed Sangarmal–Rajbagh alignment, particularly its impact on Polo Ground.
EPG has also sought an expert assessment of whether the Sangarmal–Rajbagh project is necessary in its present form, particularly in view of the Dalgate–Parimpora flyover/bridge project, which, according to the group, has been approved for funding by the Central Government.
It has further requested that the authorities publicly place on record the precise extent of land proposed to be utilised from Polo Ground, including the permanent and temporary construction footprint and any impact on the heritage Polo View shops.
The group has called for an independent assessment covering the project’s sporting, recreational, environmental, heritage and social impacts before any irreversible intervention is permitted.
It also urged the Government to ensure that sports bodies, urban-planning authorities, environmental experts and other relevant stakeholders are consulted before any alteration of the ground.
EPG called for clear safeguards for Polo Ground, S.P. College Ground and other sports grounds, playgrounds and public open spaces across Jammu and Kashmir, so that infrastructure projects do not result in their avoidable fragmentation or permanent loss.
The group also urged the Sports Department and other concerned agencies to ensure regular maintenance and upgrading of existing sports complexes, playgrounds and open/green spaces.
“Every available sports and recreational space becomes more important when the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are facing the growing challenge of drug addiction. We need more grounds, more playgrounds and more accessible recreational spaces—not fewer,” EPG said.
The organisation stressed that it is not opposed to infrastructure development or improved connectivity. However, it said such development must be based on sustainable urban planning and should explore alternative designs and alignments wherever existing public sporting and environmental assets are at risk.
EPG urged the Minister to ensure that no irreversible intervention affecting the sporting utility, open character or heritage value of Polo Ground is permitted until all viable alternatives and the project’s wider environmental and social implications have been comprehensively examined.
“Protecting Polo Ground and other existing sports facilities would demonstrate that the Government’s commitment to tackling drug addiction and promoting sports is backed not only by new projects and announcements, but also by protecting the spaces where young people can actually participate in sport and recreation,” the group said.
