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The draft Sports Policy of Maharashtra government has stressed upon the need to develop adventure sports in the State, by making optimum utilisation of its geographical variety.
“Geographical situation in Maharashtra is supportive of adventure sports. Development of leadership qualities, courage, persistence, imagination, adventure nature, developing positive team spirit, co-ordination is possible with help of adventure sports,” the draft policy said.
Maharashtra boasts 720 km of seashore, the Sahyadri and Satpuda mountains, plains of Panchgani, Chikhaldara, Melghat, Tadoba, Nagzira forests, Lonar Lake and other important places, it says.
According to the draft policy, the State's geographical variety is ideal for adventure sports.
Facilities for water sports can come up at dams, lakes, sea shore, rivers. In mountains, facilities for mountaineering and aero sports can come up. It is possible to develop artificial facilities for adventure sports at sports complex, gardens and tourist centres.
The policy has suggested a survey to be conducted to fix places and accordingly develop the facilities. There is no scheme or government grant now for such activities.
It has also recommended that government give grant to voluntary organisations, local self-governing bodies, sports complex committees and with the help of tourism department, facilities for adventure sports be developed.
The draft policy has proposed the establishment of Maharashtra State Adventure Sports Centre.
“Maharashtra players are deprived of facilities for adventure sport. The centre can help to develop facilities of adventure sports, arrange adventure sports and tourism festival and accelerate tourism,” it said.
Organising and regulating adventure sports, training citizens to face disaster and promoting adventure sports will be the other highlights of the centre, the policy states.
Promotion of adventure sports will help to develop adventure nature among the youths and make adventure sports accessible to them. “This will help prepare youngsters to take up sports at international level,” it says.
The policy has also recommended holding competitions, training sessions and practicals of adventure sports, instituting an award for adventure sports, giving financial assistance to institutes working for the development of adventure sports.
Fiscal provisions
The Adventure Sports Centre will work as the controlling organisation in the field of adventure sports and for management of this centre and facilities necessary for this centre, financial provision should be made, the policy has said.
The policy has been pending in the Finance and Planning Department for over six months due to lack of clarity in the budgetary provision that needs to be made.
The Chief Minister, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, recently held a review meeting of the policy with the Finance and Planning Department as well as the Sports Ministry.
It was decided that the policy should focus on strengthening infrastructure facilities for development of sports and refrain for additional recruitment, which would put a burden on the state exchequer.
The State Sports Minister, Mr Padmakar Valvi, said he was hopeful that the policy would be put before the Cabinet for discussion soon.
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