PATNA: Two prominent stadiums in the state capital are bearing the brunt of monsoon due to poor drainage system. Following heavy rain last week, stagnant rainwater was still there on the premises of Moinul Haq Stadium at Rajendra Nagar and Sanjay Gandhi Stadium in Gardanibagh.
Sportspersons on Monday said Sanjay Gandhi Stadium still had water and the entire ground was slushy, emitting foul smell. A cricket tournament had to be cancelled due to waterlogging there.
Its caretaker Sudarshan Singh said 1.5 feet water was still on the ground. “We are going to face the same condition for the next four months as no one pays attention to it. Because of waterlogging, the camp for children has been closed and the scheduled tournaments were cancelled. Digha MLA Sanjeev Kumar Chaurasia promises during every election to get the condition improved, but nothing has changed so far,” he said.
The rainwater has been drained out of the Moinul Haq Stadium main ground but the roads leading to it are slippery and slushy owing to waterlogging and metro rail construction work going on. The final of an under-19 tournament had to be cancelled. More than 1,000 budding players, who visit the premises for practice, have to suffer.
Moinul Haq Stadium manager Arun Kumar Sinha said: “Though this time our stadium has not faced severe waterlogging, but still we fear it because drainage facility is not proper and metro construction is going on in front of the stadium. Patna Municipal Corporation should provide facility to remove the water from the stadium, as it affects the future of many players.”
The statdium caretaker, Shiv Kumar, said: “Waterlogging is common after heavy rain every year. The condition of the stadium is getting worse day by day despite the fact that the BCCI takes its care now. In case of heavy rain again, the condition of the stadium can deteriorate.”
