In the midst of the intensifying debate on austerity measures for MPs, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had some good news on offer for the ailing Bengal Hockey Association (BHA) on Saturday.

The FinMin, who was felicitated by the BHA at a gala function in the city for becoming the sports body’s Patron-in-Chief, has promised to help Kolkata’s hockey community in getting its long-awaited Astroturf.

“I promise that I will do my part of giving financial help (to set up Astroturf for hockey players in Kolkata). My part of the job is to see that the necessary funds are provided. Give me the project report, and I will see to it that Kolkata gets its Astroturf,” Mukherjee said during his address at Rotary Sadan. The Union Minister’s promise was greeted with loud cheers, as a galaxy of sports personalities attended the programme. The star-studded audience included the likes of Leslie Claudius, Shailen Manna, PK Banerjee, Gurbux Singh, Chuni Goswami, Dola Banerjee, Dibyendu Barua, Keshav Dutta, and scores of other sporting icons. Also gracing the occasion was former Chief Justice and ex-Governor of Bengal Shyamal Kumar Sen, who made an impassioned appeal to Pranab Mukherjee to take up the BHA’s cause in its hunt for its own Astroturf.

Interestingly, even as Mukherjee promised financial support in the mission to install Astroturf in Kolkata, the bigger problem doesn’t appear to have been addressed well enough — the dearth of a proper playground that could be earmarked for setting up Astroturf for hockey players.

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