SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government told the Legislative Assembly that it spent a combined Rs 297.41 crore on sports over the last three years, with Rs 216.36 crore directed at sports infrastructure and Rs 81.05 crore on sports activities, according to the reply to a starred question tabled by Mir Mohammad Fayaz.
The Department’s figures, submitted on the floor of the house, also show sharp constituency-level differences in Srinagar, where Eidgah received Rs 25.27 lakh while Hazratbal and Lal Chowk each received amounts in excess of Rs 1,200 lakh.
The Youth Services and Sports Department told the Assembly that funds spent on sports activities were Rs 29.39 crore in 2022, Rs 22.05 crore in 2023 and Rs 29.61 crore in 2024 (total Rs 80.05 crore). Expenditure on sports infrastructure was reported as Rs 80.18 crore in 2022, Rs 60.51 crore in 2023 and Rs 75.67 crore in 2024 — a total of Rs 216.36 crore. The department framed these figures as investments in facilities and programming across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the constituency breakdown for Srinagar, the department reported the following expenditure (Rs in lakh): Hazratbal 1,245.98; Lal Chowk 1,253.23; Chanapora 110.00; Khanyar 49.70; Habbakadal 17.00; Zadibal 35.89; Central Shalteng 90.02; and Eidgah 25.27. The reply attributed several small local works to the Eidgah allocation, saying the department had developed playfields at BHS Chandihar, BHS Nawakadal and BHS Bakshi Pora and at the HSB Badiwadar area of Eidgah constituency.
The department also set out a calendar of youth-oriented sport and cultural events to be run in the coming months. It said it organised a National Youth Festival in December 2025 and plans further activities in cricket, athletics, volleyball, basketball, kho kho, football, handball, judo and wushu, together with talent hunts and non-sport events linked to Fit India, International Yoga Day, National Sports Day, Independence Day and Unity Day. District-level competitions, the reply said, will feed selected players into Union Territory championships and national trials.
Responding to whether grounds and indoor stadia in Eidgah would be established, upgraded or revived, the department said works already completed would be followed by initiation of any further projects as per administrative procedure and budgetary availability. It noted that the overall programme includes the issuance of a departmental calendar to encourage youth participation and regular district-level activity conducted by recognised sports associations.
