Restoration work of first astro turf in J-K nears completion

Jammu and Kashmir will soon boast of a football astro turf as the authorities gear up to complete the restoration work.

The newly constructed stadium in Srinagar was damaged in the devastating floods earlier in September this.

The state's sports council, which is carrying out the repairs, has laid the turf again.

Officials said that the stadium would be ready in a month's time to host international football matches.

The manager of Northern Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council -Synthetic Turf Football Stadium, Sheikh Tulal, said the stadium will be thrown open to public once it gets the nod from FIFA.

"The flood had brought mud on the astro turf. After the water receded, we started the restoration work and restoration will be completed soon," said Tulal.

Dilbag Singh, a football player, said the stadium, once complete, will help the budding players in the state.

"During the floods, the stadium was covered with mud. But our department took a great step of restoring it. The ground will be ready within 10 to15 days. It is a very good thing for the player of the Kashmir Valley," he said.

The state government had begun the construction of an astro turf ground in a stadium in Srinagar in the wake of the rising popularity of the sport among the youth of the region. But the furious floods in September caused great damage to the stadium.