Balachaur, 15 Nov (Jatinderpal Singh Kaler):- Claims that a stadium has been constructed at a cost of ₹25 lakh in Rail Majra village have come under scrutiny, with villagers raising several serious questions about the actual work carried out at the site.
According to villagers, the place being presented as a stadium already had a village playground. They allege that the existing ground has merely been given a fresh coat of paint, four large lights, around 35 smaller lights and a few other improvements, yet an expenditure of ₹25 lakh is being claimed.
The questions being raised include whether simply painting walls and installing lights is enough to call a facility a stadium. Where are the sports facilities required by players? Where is the clarification regarding permanent electricity arrangements for sports activities? Why were the actual players of the village not invited to the inauguration? Why were the three panchayats and villagers not taken into confidence? And what message of development was conveyed by holding the inauguration in the presence of only around 25 people?
Villagers have demanded that the complete budget of ₹25 lakh, expenditure bills and measurement details of the work be made public.
Presenting his views on the matter, Teji Mangat Rail Majra, President, Doaba Zone, Misal Satluj, said that the most important point was that the purpose of constructing a stadium was not to arrange political photo opportunities but to provide children and young people of the village with proper sports facilities.
He said that their demand was absolutely clear: every single rupee of the ₹25 lakh expenditure should be accounted for before the public. Merely renaming a village playground as a stadium does not establish development; genuine development is reflected in the quality of work and the facilities provided to players.
He clarified that this was not a matter of personal opposition to anyone, but a struggle for the rights of the village and accountability for public money.
