Ice seems to be melting between the local people and the Indian Coast Guard concerning the CDA Ground near Kattuvayal Colony in Nadakkavu. There has been stiff opposition from the local people when the Coast Guard, which owns the land, decided to construct an office there, the reason being that it is the only open space for a large residential area which is thickly populated. But all animosities were forgotten on Saturday when a group of Coast Guard personnel joined the local people to play football at the ground.
Around 20 personnel from the Coast Guard’s Beypore station clad in white uniforms and an equal number of local people, including children, took to the ground on Saturday morning much to the curiosity of the passers-by. Interestingly, they did not play against each other, neither were there any teams. There were two footballs that they passed among them and an occasional goal was made. There were no losers in the game.
Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Kozhikode station A.R. Chavan and Executive Officer P.K. Mushtaq along with Playground Protection Committee chairman K.P. Vijayakumar encouraged the players from the sidelines.
The ground, located in one acre land that had been part of the 2.5 acres acquired by the Calicut Development Authority in late ’70s, was handed over to the Coast Guard to build staff quarters in 2007.
Recently, the Coast Guard tried to construct a fence around the playground upon which the local people interfered and stopped the activity.
The Playground Protection Committee had appealed to all the authorities including the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister to let them continue to use it. Their demand was for the Coast Guard to retain the playground without denying them access.
With a case pending in the Kozhikode Principal Munsif Court in this matter, the local people are however not sure what to make out of Saturday’s incident.
Recently, the Coast Guard tried to construct a fence around the CDA Ground at Nadakkavu, triggering protests by the locals.
