DERA GHAZI KHAN: The newly-installed AstroTurf at Old Friends Hockey Ground in the city park has started to develop cracks due to the lack of proper equipment and staff to maintain the ground on a daily basis, Dawn has learned.

On the directions of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, AstroTurf was installed at the local hockey ground in the city to provide international facilities for the local players.

When contacted, project manager Madni Sahib said the project was worth Rs133 million. He saidthe ground needed regular watering and at least two water pumps were required to meet the requirements of the artificial grass but at present one pump was functional while there was no trained pump operator.

Divisional Sports Officer Attaullah told Dawn the pump operators had been posted and under a revised estimate, 2,000 seating steps, six washrooms and a digital screen of 10×20 would be established on the ground. He said they had addressed flaws of the project.

He maintained the Punjab projector director would soon visit the ground to check its standard before taking over the charge of the ground from the sports department.

Commissioner Dr Irshad told Dawn the sanctioned posts for the hockey ground would soon be filled for the proper care and functioning of the AstroTurf hockey ground.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2021