The present life of the first Polygras hockey surface of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is a story of wear and tear. And none of the officials concerned are aware of its poor condition.

Laid in 1992, the first-of-its-kind surface to come in the twin-town of Pimpri Chinchwad was last re-laid in 2006 for the Mayor's Trophy. But now it is worn out in the middle of the ground.

"Is it so?" is the first reaction of PCMC's education officer Vishnu Jadhav, who has been given the additional charge of the ground, when queried.

"I have seen the ground many times in the past but have not visited the place recently," he said about the ground which had hosted the women's hockey tournament during the 3rd national games held in 1993-94.

Speaking on the lackadaisical attitude of the corporation towards the maintenance of the ground, hockey coach and umpire Sreedharan Thamba said, "Managing the ground requires a lot of effort. The people in PCMC are lethargic and least bothered about taking proper care of the surface."

"Even though the civic body has increased the ground rent five folds since last year, they are not maintaining it," Thamba said.

"The rent was Rs50 when the surface was first laid and began used for matches in 1992. In 2006, the rent was increased to Rs300, but now it is Rs1,500," the coach said.

Thamba said that the people at the venue blame it on faulty pump or having no electricity and even the sprinklers not functioning when asked about showing neglect in sprinkling water on the surface.

Madan Sawale, who is in charge of the surface, does not want to talk about the issue but gives deputy engineer Mohan Karmarkar's mobile number, who according to him is the man in charge. But, the latter gives Sawale's number. While this blame game is played, the surface is facing a slow and untimely end, thanks to the PCMC.

DNA Correspondent/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication