The special court found six people, including the acting administrative officer of Bitthadchir Rural Municipality of Bajhang, guilty on 10 April after finding irregularities in the construction of a playground in Bitthadchir Rural Municipality-1. The special court has found irregularities worth Rs 1,466,503 in the construction of a playground in Bitthad.

The joint bench of special judges Narayan Prasad Poudel, Dilliratna Shrestha and Bidur Koirala found the then administrative officer Chakradev Bhatta, sub-engineer Ganeshraj Upadhyay and accounts officer Harkadev Joshi guilty. Playground Users Committee Chairman Dipendra Kumar Bohara, Secretary Bir Bahadur Bohara and Treasurer Neelam Bhandari have also been found guilty. The special court has decided that they will each be imprisoned for three months and fined Rs 244,414.

A special court had filed a case against them for committing irregularities in the construction and improvement of a playground with a budget of Rs 50 lakh from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports and Rs 1.5 lakh from the Federal Parliamentarian Development Fund in the fiscal year 2076/77. They were accused of making double agreements with the same consumer committee with different cost estimates, not doing any work, and using inferior construction materials. 

According to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, it was found during the investigation that they had made double payments of Rs 1,399,186 using different vouchers for the same 'ground cutting' and had received an overpayment of Rs 67,317.92 by showing work that had not been done. According to Ward Chairman of Bitthadchir-6, Harish Khadayat, there was no suitable place to build the playground. 'That plan did not come from the Red Book, it was brought through a secret route by gaining access to the then Sports Minister Jagat Bishwakarma,' he said. 

Khadayat says that such schemes, which were brought by reaching out to high-ranking leaders, are not for the development of the sports sector but for the ‘development of the relevant leaders/activists’. According to him, if you search, you will find many such schemes in this district. 

In the same year, an additional Rs. 2.5 million was received from the Federal Ministry of Sports in Bitthadchir. The budget for the playgrounds and other structures built with that amount was spent on general cleaning. Such a situation is everywhere. 

In Bajhang alone, there are 48 such playgrounds that were built on paper in the eight years from the fiscal year 2075/76 to the current fiscal year 2082/83, with the budget from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Provincial Ministry of Social Development, but cannot be used for sports. 

According to the Red Book records of the Federal Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Social Development, it is found that Rs. 122 million 43 thousand 980 was invested in the construction of such nominal playgrounds during this period. 

It has been more than a decade since the construction of a playground with parapets on the banks of the Bahuligad River, opposite the open stage in Chainpur, the headquarters of Bajhang. The then District Sports Development Committee purchased land and started construction of this playground in 2070. More than two crore rupees allocated by the Federal Sports Ministry, the provincial government and the local government have been spent on the construction of this playground. The work of washing away and building the walls of the playground by the river continues every year. No sports activities have been held here. 

Naresh Singh, an employee of the then District Sports Development Committee, says, "Initially, we started the work by purchasing land from the Sports Development Committee. Later, the municipality received about one and a half crore rupees twice for implementation." According to him, since it is on the banks of the river, work was done to build an embankment and some parapets, but the playground was not built to be usable. 

Another playground, whose construction started in 2075, is in abeyance. The ground, which has already cost the association Rs 1.4 million, is not fit for use. ‘About 60 percent has been completed. There are many other works remaining, including installing walls and leveling the remaining ground,’ said former ward president of Jayaprithi-6, Narendra Bahadur Singh. ‘It will take more than Rs 10 million to bring it fully operational.’

Another playground in Jayaprithi Municipality, which was started with an investment of Rs 50 million from the provincial government, is also in abeyance. The provincial government had allocated funds in 2077 to build the playground of Satyawadi High School. The wall collapsed within a few days of the construction of the ground.

Baitadi’s woes

The playground and the District Sports Committee office in Dasharath Chand-4, Gadhi, Baitadi have been built for a decade. The playground was built with Rs 1 million from the then District Development Committee. The provincial government added another Rs 2 million in 2077 and handed it over to the Consumers Committee. ‘Because it was steep, a wall was built to make two grounds,’ said Santosh Kumar Kanaujia, chairman of the Consumers’ Committee. ‘Later, instructions were given to build a single ground. The wall that was built earlier was covered inside it.’ 

In 2078, the provincial government gave an additional Rs 5 million to this playground. Then, the work began through the contract process. ‘Later, the system changed again,’ says Kanaujia of Gadhi, ‘During the rain, the mud mixed with soil and stones started to seep into the village. The contractor added another wall and filled it.’ 

This playground, which has already spent Rs 8 million, is not in a condition to play games. District Sports Committee Office Chief Tarkaraj Joshi says, ‘The budget comes not to build sports infrastructure but to make the workers happy. There are no standards in the construction, nor is anyone monitoring it.’  

In Baitadi alone, from 2075/76 to 2082/83, the federal and provincial governments had allocated more than Rs 98 million for the construction of playgrounds and sports infrastructure. If we add the expenditure made by the local level on sports infrastructure, this amount comes to around Rs 120 million. 

But in Baitadi, this year's district-level Running Shield was also held in the courtyard of the Ninglasaini Temple. Despite crores of rupees being invested in sports infrastructure, the reason behind the lack of a single suitable playground in the district is irregularities, says Bhupendra Chand, Chairman of the District Sports Committee, Baitadi. 'There is a need to investigate and investigate who played in the budget for sports infrastructure,' he said. 

Similar work in Kailali

Kailali's Tikapur Sports Academy has not yet been put into use. It has been a year since the academy buildings were constructed with the aim of bringing players from all 9 districts of the Far West and producing skilled players with residential facilities, but they are yet to be handed over. 

A two-story administrative building, a two-story academic building, a canteen block with a seminar hall, a guard block, toilets and other structures were built on 22 bighas of land in the name of the Tikapur Municipal Sports Development Committee for the operation of the provincial-level sports academy at a cost of Rs 99 million. However, the records of the provincial Ministry of Social Development show that Rs 115 million has been spent from 2079/80 to 2081/82. An allocation of Rs 10 million has also been made in 2082/83. 

The municipal sports committee has said that the modality for using the sports structure could not be prepared and it could not be put into operation. ‘We also went to the municipality and the provincial minister to say that it should be operated sooner rather than leaving such a structure idle,’ says Laxman Thapa, former chairman of the Tikapur Municipal Sports Committee, ‘but no one cared.’ 

The condition of the Dhangadhi Stadium in Kailali is also pathetic. The stadium, which hosted the sixth national sports competition in 2068, has not been completed even after 14 years since its construction began. ‘Due to lack of drainage and drainage, the ground is flooded during the rainy season. It is not even possible to walk for sports activities,’ says Trilok Pandey, president of the Karate Federation Sudurpashmika. 

According to the stadium’s master plan, only nine of the 16 parapet blocks, including VIP and general, have been built so far. Half of the blocks that have been built are yet to be plastered and painted. The work on the multi-purpose hall under construction inside the stadium has also been stalled for a long time. The work of plastering, building parapets inside, and installing windows and doors is incomplete. 

In 2068, two parapets, a football field, and a track for athletics were built at a cost of Rs 30 million. The tracks built for athletics have collapsed in some places. The football field also needs to be repaired. ‘The hall also started leaking. The last year has been postponed by putting tin. Most of the toilets are no longer functional,' said Dhruv Saud, overseer of the National Sports Council's Dhangadhi Stadium. Informing that Rs 170 million has been spent on the construction of the stadium so far, he said, 'Another Rs 250 million will be spent on repairs and additional structures.'

Kanchanpur Covered Hall abandoned

The condition of the sports infrastructure in Kanchanpur district is no different. The work on the multi-purpose covered hall under construction in the covered hall complex in Mahendranagar has been stalled for nine months.

The Ministry of Social Development of the Far West Province is going to build a hall measuring 126 meters long and 40 meters wide with an investment of Rs 170 million. But the work has been stopped due to a dispute between the District Sports Committee and the contractor over how to make the parapet. According to Gopal Dutta Bhatta, the head of the Sports Committee Kanchanpur office, the committee has taken a stand to build a ‘fixed parapet’, while the construction company has insisted on a ‘folding parapet’.

Bajura’s dilemma

Construction of a playground began on the banks of the Karnali River near Jagannath-2 Juddi in Bajura in April 2076 with the funds of the Federal Government’s Sports Ministry. After spending more than Rs 90 lakh through the Consumers’ Committee and then the contractor, the playground was washed away by the Karnali River in November 2078. ‘We decided to build it there after we did not get any land. Later it was washed away by the flood,’ says Kali Bahadur Shahi, the chairman of the rural municipality, ‘Later, the work has been stopped after a team of geologists from the Ministry (federal) reported that it was built in a place where it should not have been built.’

Construction of a playground began on the banks of the Bahuli River near Martadi, the headquarters of Bajura, in 2080/81 through the Consumers’ Committee. The provincial government has allocated Rs 2.5 million for this scheme, which has already been spent. Preparations are underway to postpone it, saying that it is not appropriate to build a playground in a place washed away by a river. ‘Even though it is called a playground, the budget has been given to feed the workers,’ says District Sports Committee Chair Kopila Singh. ‘Crowns of rupees have been spent on sports infrastructure in places washed away by a river, in forests far from settlements. But there is no place in the district to organize a major sports competition.’

Dadeldhura’s playground was washed away

In Asad 2078, a playground was built at the cost of Rs 2 million by the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government in Dadeldhura’s Parshuram-5, on the banks of the Mahakali River. Locals also protested, saying that the playground built on the banks of the river would not be safe. But the then public representatives and consumer committee officials insisted on building it there. The playground built in Asad in the name of the neighborhood playground was wiped out by the floods in the Mahakali River in Kartik. ‘There was a protest saying that the river will wash away the land, and there is still space,’ says Ward No. 5 Chairman Dil Bahadur Shahi, ‘They did not listen to what he said. The flood took it away within four months.’

In Dadeldhura alone, the provincial government has spent more than Rs 300 million and the federal government has spent more than Rs 300 million for 88 playgrounds, including 76 and 12, respectively, over a period of eight years. If the expenditure made by the local level is added, this amount reaches around Rs 350 million. But there is not a single playground that can host major competitions in the district.

Ganesh Magar of Amargadhi says, ‘There is a tendency to plan for playgrounds worth Rs 10-15 million, put those with vested interests in the consumer committee, and drive dozers for 8-10 hours to collect the bill.’

Pathetic situation in Darchula 

The flood in the Mahakali River in 2070 washed away the playground and covered hall in Khalanga, the headquarters of Darchula. Even so, the sports infrastructure has not been rebuilt yet. 

The structures built by the Intensive Urban Development Office, Doti, at a cost of Rs 18.4 million in 2080/81 to build a covered hall and a playground on the old open stage, which was half washed away by the flood, are incomplete. ‘There is a makeshift playground at Masanghat on the banks of the Mahakali. Even if you run 100 meters, you can only reach 87 meters,’ says Shyamraj Awasthi, head of the District Sports Committee. 

Same situation in Achham and Doti 

A playground was built on the banks of the Karnali River in Achham Panchadeval Binayak-5, Aali with the state government’s budget. The playground, which the state government had continuously allocated funds for three fiscal years from 2077/78 to construct at a cost of about Rs 6 million, was washed away by the flood in Bhadra 2081. ‘A wall was built on the sand piled up by the Karnali,’ says Ward No. ५ का अध्यक्ष हेमबहादुर शाहीले भने, ‘कर्णालीले सोहोरेर लगिहाल्यो ।’ 

पञ्चदेवल विनायक नगरपालिकाकी मेयर अम्बिका चलाउनेले भनिन्, ‘खेल मैदानका नाममा यसरी बजेट बाँड्नुभन्दा दुई–चार वटा विद्यालयकै मैदानलाई फराकिलो बनाइदिएको भए केटाकेटी खुला ठाउँमा खेल्न पाउँथे । विद्यालयमै खेलकुद आयोजना गर्न मिल्ने थियो ।’

डोटी जिल्लाको खेलकुद पूर्वाधारका लागि संघ र प्रदेश सरकारले मात्रै आठ वर्षको अवधिमा ११ करोड रुपैयाँ खर्च गरेका छन् । स्थानीय तहको पनि खेल मैदानमा ठूलो लगानी छ । ‘यहाँ पाँच–सात वर्षमा सबै गरेर १४/१५ करोड रुपैयाँ लगानी भइसकेको छ तर गतिलो खेल मैदान एउटा पनि छैन,’ खेलकुद विकास समिति डोटी प्रमुख हर्क बोगटीले भने, ‘पाँच–सात लाखका योजना कार्यकर्तालाई बाँड्ने दुई–अढाई लाख खर्च गरेर बाँकी खाने प्रवृत्ति बन्यो ।’ 

भाडाको खेतमा खेलकुद

संघ र प्रदेश सरकारले आव २०७५/७६ देखि २०८२/८३ सम्म आठ वर्षमा संघ र प्रदेश सरकारले सुदूरपश्चिका नौ वटै जिल्लामा खेलकुद पूर्वाधार निर्माण, स्तरोन्नति तथा मर्मतसम्भारका ६५९ वटा योजनाका लागि १ अर्ब ९६ करोड ४ लाख ६ हजार रुपैयाँ विनियोजन गरेका छन् । पालिकाले पनि गरेको खर्च जोड्दा यो 

रकम साढे दुई अर्बभन्दा बढी पुग्छ । तर खेल पूर्वाधार निर्माणमा भएको यति ठूलो लगानी बालुवामा पानी सावित भएको छ ।

जिल्लास्तरीय प्रतियोगिता सञ्चालनका लागि निजी जग्गा भाडामा लिनुपर्ने बाध्यता छ । कात्तिक २०८१ मा बझाङमा आयोजित सुदूरपश्चिम प्रदेशकै सबैभन्दा ठूलो धनराशि पुरस्कार रहेको ‘उद्योग वाणिज्य संघ भलिबल कप’ यसको उदाहरण हो । आयोजक बझाङ उद्योग वाणिज्य संघले प्रतियोगिता सञ्चालन गर्ने ठाउँ खोज्न हैरानी खेप्नुपरेको थियो । ‘धेरै ठाउँ जग्गा हेर्दा ठूलोगडा (खेल सञ्चालन भएको खेतको नाम) मा मात्रै खेलाउन सकिने देखियो तर धेरै मानिस जम्मा भएपछि फोहोर हुन्छ, माटो थिचिन्छ भनेर जग्गा धनीले माननेन्,’ बझाङ उद्योग वाणिज्य संघका उपाध्यक्ष शंकर रसाइलीले भने, ‘पछि एक लाख रुपैयाँ भाडा चाहिन्छ भने, धेरै ठाउँबाट अनुरोध गर्न लगाएपछि बल्ल २५ हजारमा कुरा मिल्यो ।’ 

२०८० मा पनि संघले त्यही खेतमा २० हजार रुपैयाँ भाडा तिरेर खेल सञ्चालन गरेको थियो । खेल मैदानकै अभावका कारण २०८२ को प्रतियोगिता आयोजना नै नगरिएको उपाध्यक्ष रसाइलीले बताए । 

खेल पूर्वाधारमा भएको लगानीको अनियमितताबारे बझाङ जिल्ला खेलकुद समितिका पूर्वअध्यक्ष पुष्पलाल रोकाया भन्छन्, ‘भ्रष्टाचारले हाम्रो खेलकुद डुबायो । खेतका गरामा अभ्यास गरेर खेलाडीले कहिलेसम्म राष्ट्रिय र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय स्पर्धामा प्रदर्शन गर्नु ?’

दार्चुलामा खेल मैदान अभावका कारण यही वर्षको पालिकास्तरीय राष्ट्रपति रनिङ सिल्ड प्रतियोगिता सञ्चालन गर्न स्थानीयको खेतमा लगाइएको गहुँ बाली नष्ट गर्नुपरेको थियो । ‘अरू विकल्प नभएपछि गहुँ बाली मासेर खेल मैदान बनायौं,’ व्यास–६ का अध्यक्ष राजेन्द्रसिं कुँवरले भने, ‘जसको खेत हो, उनीहरूलाई एक–एक बोरा चामल दियौं ।’ 

दार्चुलाकै दुहु गाउँपालिकामा यस वर्षको पालिकास्तरीय राष्ट्रपति रनिङ सिल्ड दार्चुला टिंकर सडकमा आयोजना गरिएको थियो । ‘प्रदेश सरकारको बजेटबाट बनिरहेको वडा नं. ३ को गर्खेबिन्ना खेल मैदानमा अनियमितता भएको उजुरी अख्तियारमा परेपछि त्यहाँ थप काम हुन सकेन,’ गाउँपालिका उपाध्यक्ष शान्ति बम भन्छिन्, ‘त्यसपछि खुला ठाउँ सडक नै उपयोग गरेर रनिङ सिल्ड चलायौं ।’ 

पुस २०८२ अन्तिमतिर बैतडीमा पालिकास्तरीय रनिङ सिल्ड प्रतियोगिता सडकमा गरिएको थियो । रनिङ दौड प्रतियोगितामा सहभागी विद्यार्थी लखन महरा दौडँदादौडँदै सडकमा लडेर घाइते भएका थिए । एक महिनासम्म उनको उपचार गराउनुपरेको विद्यालयका प्रधानाध्यापक जितबहादुर पाण्डेले बताए । बैतडीमा २०७९ मा पनि राष्ट्रपति रनिङ सिल्ड दौड प्रतियोगिता सडकमा गर्दा छात्रा हीरा कुँवर लडेर घाइते भएकी थिइन् । 

  ‘सांसदले छान्छन् योजना’ 

राष्ट्रिय खेलकुद परिषद्का सदस्यसचिव रामचरित्र मेहेता राजनीतिक पहुँचका आधारमा योजना बनाएर कार्यकर्तालाई फाइदा पुग्ने गरी काम गर्दा खेल पूर्वाधार अलपत्र परेको र राज्यकोषको दुरुपयोग भएको बताउँछन् । ‘आफ्नो ठाउँमा योजना लाने, आफ्नो मान्छेलाई उपभोक्ता समिति राख्ने, प्राविधिकलाई दबाब दिने अनि कामचाहिँ नहुने तर खर्च हुने प्रवृत्ति छ,’ उनी भन्छन् । 

सुदूरपश्चिम प्रदेश खेलकुद परिषद्का पूर्वसदस्यसचिव दीपक सिंह यो बेथितिका अनेक कारण रहेको बताउँछन् । ‘खेल मैदानका आधारभूत मापदण्ड पूरा भएको हुँदैन, बजेट खर्च गर्ने उद्देश्यले मानिसको पहुँच हुनेभन्दा टाढा कार्यकर्ताले जहाँ भन्यो त्यहाँ बनाएका छन्,’ उनी भन्छन्, ‘आवश्यकता होइन, बिचौलिया र कार्यकर्ताले भनेको ठाउँमा बजेट हाल्ने र डोजरले डाँडा काटेर पैसा सक्ने काम मात्रै भएको छ ।’