Chandigarh, July 13 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday announced that the government will soon commence the construction of 13,000 ultra-modern stadiums across the state, with work on 3,083 already underway in the first phase.

Addressing the media here, the Chief Minister said the government is focusing on promoting sports to positively channel the immense energy of the youth. He emphasised the aim is to instil a sporting culture in the state and steer young people away from the scourge of drug addiction.

Mann said these stadiums will be instrumental in the promotion of sporting spirit across the state, especially at the village level. The Chief Minister criticised previous governments, stating that successive Congress and Akali-BJP regimes paid no attention to the development of sports infrastructure or youth employment. As a result, he lamented, drugs spread unchecked across the state, and the youth sank deeper into addiction.

However, Mann highlighted that the state is now witnessing a transformation, thanks to the ongoing anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh, launched by the government. The Chief Minister said the supply chains of narcotics have been disrupted, and many young people are beginning to overcome addiction. The ultimate objective, he said, is to free Punjab’s youth from the grip of drugs and make them a partner in the socio-economic development of the state.

Mann praised the Punjab Police for their outstanding work in dismantling drug networks, something that previous governments failed to address seriously. The Chief Minister added that a comprehensive plan is now in place to connect the youth with sports and distance them from addiction.

He said the state government has embarked on a historic mission to build modern sports facilities in every village of Punjab. Mann announced that around 13,000 villages will be equipped with high-quality sports grounds, and the first phase of the project has already commenced with 3,083 stadiums under construction.

–IANS

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