Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 27
Indian hockey team’s podium finish after 41 years is still on everyone’s mind in the state. And Mithapur, the village in Jalandhar from which three players — Manpreet Singh (captain), Varun Kumar and Mandeep Singh — represented India in Tokyo Olympics, has come to the limelight after this victory.
Now, as per the orders from the state government, a park in Mithapur village will be dedicated to the Olympians, for which a land of three acres is being taken into consideration. Mithapur comes under the ward of councillor Balraj Thakur. He has been planning and making proposal on the project. The estimate on the project will be up to Rs 2 crore.
“We have received a message from the Punjab Government that a park will be dedicated to the three hockey stars of Mithapur. So, I have been discussing it with the MC Commissioner and the Mayor. The talks are still at early stage and we are planning a proposal on the same,” he said.
“It’s a panchayati land on outskirts of the village. We will be giving proposal at next General House meeting. We have estimated that Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore might be spent on the project,” said Thakur.
A track will be constructed around the park, where people will be able to walk and do exercise and there will be a lawn too. “There are several ideas that we are discussing and the proposal will take a proper shape in coming days,” he said.
Earlier, School Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla, had said the state government has renamed 10 schools after the Olympic medal-winning hockey team players from the state. Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Mithapur, Jalandhar, has been named after captain Manpreet Singh. The school will now be known as Olympian Manpreet Singh Government Senior Secondary School, Mithapur.
Dedicated to Olympians: Jalandhar's Mithapur village to get 3-acre park
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