The Visakhapatnam district has lost the regional sports hostel to Vizianagaram. The sports hostel that was previously proposed to be set up in Anakapalli has been shifted to Vizianagaram due to disputes between local politicians of this district. MLAs Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy of Pendurthi and Peela Govind of Anakapalli had raged war over whose constituency the sports hostel should’ve been placed at.
Speaking about the shift, District Sports Development Officer, Nagireddy Surya Rao reportedly confirmed that the state government has decided to set up the school in Vizianagaram and for the permanent hostel building and administrative building, a detailed project report is being prepared by the Nagarjuna University’s physical education department.
The school that was sanctioned at Anakapalli in Sabbavaram mandal under Pendurthy constituency was supposed to come up over 50 acres of land. But the authorities could not arrange for the needed land, even after they shortlisted a parcel of land near AML college in Anakapalli. The tussle between both the MLAs kick-started after the same with the issue ending up at the CMs table. CM Chandrababu Naidu had then reportedly advised the district officials to shift it to Araku instead.
The sports hostel that is to come up will be built along the lines of the Hakeempet Sports School near Hyderabad in Telangana and another regional hostel located in Kadapa. The school will most likely start running this academic year as the state government has already given out Rs 20 crore as administrative sanction out of the Rs 50 crore. The school will be run on rented premises at the existing grounds of Sir Vizzy Stadium on the outskirts.
The engineering staff had even visited the 72 acres long stadium to enquire about the facilities. 360 children for the school would be selected on the basis of battery tests, ranging between class IV and SSC. The state government has also reportedly given clearance for appointment of coaches in various disciplines like athletics, volleyball, kho-kho, swimming, archery, weight lifting, football, kabaddi, hockey and shooting. The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh will also be conducting various sports camps in Vizianagaram.
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