Rs 41 crore 18 holed Sidhra Golf Course of no use for common man

PS Bali

Jammu Tawi, April 27

Dubbing newly opened 18 holed Rs 41 crore Sidhra Golf Course a gift to Jammuties, Union Minister for New and Renewable Resources and National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah on the inaugural day of the much talked first phase of Rs 21 crore 9 hole Sidhra Golf course on the bank of river Tawi, termed it as an immaculate facility for sports lovers.

But a million dollar question is can a common man afford Golf equipments, can he spare time for a day long game, can he enjoys free atmosphere of Golf course and moreover can he shell out huge sum to get membership? The answer is ‘No’, and it was visible on the day of inauguration of the Golf Course, where among many bigwig faces no common man was present, which contradicted the government claims of setting up Golf course for common man.

On inaugural day of the course chief minister said the government is keen to develop sports tourism in the state, which would help people of the state, but how it is going to help common person, when the place is inaccessible for common man.

“Golf is the ‘Game of Elites’ and no common man can afford this expensive game, so Rs 41 crore, project trenched in around 1400 kanals is for those at the helm of affairs of the state government and for their known and well class people,” said a student, Ajeet.

Adding that despite the fact that Golf is less popular in the state and majority of the people even don’t have any knowledge of the game, the government spent crores, thus depriving other major games of the state like cricket, football, hockey and others, where a common child can excel if provided better facilities.

It is said that growth of government is the growth of state and commoner, but here in J&K this saying is reciprocate, here whenever government grows the common man suppresses at the behest of those at the helm of affairs.

And by rebuffing the suggestion of senior golfer about Rs 50 entry for a game, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah made it clear that no commoner has right to enter golf course, as according to News reports he said that this course is of International standard and its maintenance should be of international level, which means course is suitably and legally meant for “elite class”.