BAHAWALNAGAR: The sports gymnasium being constructed for the last seven years is still far away from completion.

In 2006-07, then chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had approved the gymnasium on the land of the Haider Stadium, earmarking Rs47.5 million for the purpose, but the gymnasium is still incomplete.

The work remained suspended for three to four years due to the negligence of ex-contractor and the building department and it was restored one-and-half years back, however, it is still expected to be delayed for several months.

The reason behind the further delay is flooring which has been reviewed. Earlier the wooden floor for the main hall was proposed which was rejected due to the water-logged land. Now the authorities (DG Sports) are yet to decide the type of the floor the gymnasium should have. It will take several months to get it approved and constructed.

The project is aimed at providing the youth with a facility for healthy 15 indoor sports and activities such as table tennis, badminton, gym and other games.

Sports circles also demanded the government install synthetic turf in the gymnasium hall.

Awais, a badminton player, said that on the one hand, the government had made hollow claims of the youth welfare and holding ‘youth festival’ while on to the other, youth-orientated projects were being put on the backburner. A source in the district government said the delay in projects of public interest was often a result of the dirty politics. He said the projects, initiated by any previous government, never get attention by the new government.

District Sports Officer Syed Mateen Ahmad said the project was in its final stages as 82 per cent of work had been completed and after completion, the buildings department would hand it over to the sports department for operating.

However, Abdul Hameed, the assistant to contractor Munawwar Gujjar, said due to the issue of the floor, the project would be delayed for several months.

District Coordination Officer Syed Irshad Husain said the project was the subject of provincial government, however, he asked the sports director general to work for synthetic turf flooring according to the aspirations of the locals.