Punjab Govt tightens monitoring of Rural Sports Grounds, Flying Squads deployed to ensure quality and transparency
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 21, 2026: Punjab Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond on Wednesday reaffirmed the state government’s firm commitment to quality, transparency and accountability in the construction of rural sports playgrounds across Punjab.
He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the government is developing 3,100 rural sports grounds with the core objective of steering youth away from drug abuse and encouraging them towards sports and healthy lifestyles.
Addressing a press conference here, Sond said that to ensure effective ground-level monitoring, the government has constituted three special flying squads.
These teams will carry out surprise inspections in villages and act as the “eyes and ears” of the government to verify the actual progress and quality of construction works. He made it clear that reliance on paperwork alone will no longer be acceptable and that only quality work on the ground will be considered.
The Cabinet Minister informed that an MIS (Management Information System) portal has been developed for real-time monitoring of the project. Officials concerned are required to upload progress updates every 15 days, along with photographs and geo-tagged evidence, to ensure transparency and timely review.
Taking a strong stand against irregularities, Sond said that wherever false reporting or negligence has been detected, immediate action has been initiated.
Several officials have already been suspended and show-cause notices issued. He categorically stated that no political interference will be tolerated and that accountability has been made an integral part of the system.
He further said that uniform technical standards have been enforced across the state and third-party techno-financial audits are being conducted to ensure both construction quality and financial discipline. “Every rupee of public money is being properly accounted for so that rural Punjab gets world-class sports infrastructure,” he said.
Highlighting community participation, the Minister added that sarpanches, gram panchayats and local sports clubs have been made key stakeholders in the initiative. Their active involvement will help ensure regular monitoring and long-term upkeep of the playgrounds at the village level.
Responding to opposition criticism, Sond said that honest officers have nothing to fear, and action will be taken strictly against those involved in corruption, false reporting or dereliction of duty. He emphasized that the government’s approach is based on systemic accountability rather than targeting individuals.
Reiterating the government’s resolve, the Cabinet Minister said the Punjab Government remains fully committed to protecting public funds and building a healthier future for the youth. “This is the new Punjab, where playgrounds will not only be built, but every inch of them will be closely monitored,” he said.