The Water Sports Academy (WSA) proposed by the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) on the banks of river Krishna at Nagayalanka in Krishna district is yet to take shape. Lack of timely response from the Krishna district authorities to spare the proposed two acres is said to be the prime reason for the inordinate delay in the commencement of the project.
The SAAP has decided to set up the WSA here based on a technical investigation done by the three-member experts — one of them a Dhronacharya Awardee — of the Sports of Authority of India in 2016. The SAAP’s sole idea is to groom interested youth as national and international players in water sports, sailing and kayaking. Given the depth of water in the river round the year, the SAAP proceeded with the project for which fund was available and equipment was selected to procure.
According to a senior official, the Nagayalanka site has been found suitable for training compared to places in East Godavari and Vizianagaram districts. “A request seeking two acres has been made to the Krishna district Collector. We are still waiting for the land required to begin our activity,” a senior SAAP official associated with the project said. Speaking to The Hindu over phone, SAAP Officer on Special Duty P. Rama Krishna said a search had begun to launch the academy on a temporary site. The academy was supposed to begin its activities by June.
According to sources, Law and Sports Minister K. Ravindra had requested new Krishna Collector B. Lakshmi Kantam to sanction the site at Nagayalanka. The SAAP officials were eager to groom the youth, both boys and girls, in the water sports.