Chandigarh, Aug 7 (IANS): The Punjab government has given the go ahead to the state's sports department to provide flood-lighting for 12 sports stadiums across the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also handles the sports ministry here, has approved the Rs.645 million proposal for flood-lighting of the stadiums, a sports department official said here Saturday.

Badal approved the construction of a hockey stadium at Faridkot, about 280 km from here, and upgradation of hockey stadiums in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar. He also approved the upgradation of multipurpose stadiums in Jalandhar, Bathinda, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Mansa, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

The deputy chief minister said it was his commitment during the World Cup Kabaddi-2010, held across Punjab this year, that next event would be held in upgraded flood-lit stadiums so that more people could enjoy the traditional game of Punjab.

He said Punjab finance department had already sanctioned Rs.200 million for the upgradation of the stadiums and remaining funds would be arranged through state government agencies.