“Engineering Wing of Sports Directorate KP Under Fire as 6 Hockey Turf Projects Face Severe Issues
Musarrat Ullah Jan
In a shocking revelation, the six hockey turf projects completed by the Engineering Wing of the Sports Directorate KP are now facing serious problems after being inaugurated with much fanfare. The projects were executed during the tenure of Mahmood Khan and Atif Khan’s ministry of sports, and they are now working as a separate department within the Sports Directorate.
One of the main focal points of the scandal is the hockey turf at Islamia College Peshawar, which cost a staggering 90.304 million. Chief Minister KPK Mahmood Khan inaugurated the turf, but it is currently in a deplorable state.
The ground suffers from wrinkles, and there was a failure to address the crucial issue of water availability in the historical ground. The proximity to G.T road also led to dust and tree wings littering the turf, making it unusable for matches.
The hockey turf in Kohat, executed by the Engineering Wing of the Sports Directorate, is also facing problems. The project, which cost 90.314 million, is now proving to be a disappointment.
Another troubling case is the hockey turf in Charsadda, which cost 81.213 million. The construction of the site is poor, with visible cracks in different areas.
The hockey turf in D.I.Khan, executed by the Engineering Wing, is also in a dismal condition. The construction is substandard, and some areas are already in a state of disrepair.
The fifth project, completed by the Engineering Wing in Nowshera, cost a staggering 123.75 million. However, despite the high cost, the turf is not living up to expectations.
The sixth project, the hockey turf of Abbottabad, was completed during Mahmood Khan’s ministry and cost 115.21 million. However, even this project is not immune to issues.
One of the astonishing aspects of these contracts is the division of work among different contractors. Civil work and turf were assigned to separate contractors, leading to confusion and a lack of accountability. The main contractor even disavowed responsibility for construction charges, leading to a lack of oversight in these projects.
It is disheartening that public tax money was used to fund these projects, and yet the quality of the turf and construction remains questionable.
The revelations have sparked outrage, prompting demands for an investigation into the mismanagement and lack of oversight that has led to the current deplorable state of these hockey turf projects.