Still playing with the playground plan

The people of Kottooli started making demands for a proper playground 12 years ago.

But though funds were allotted for the same, the playground still remains a dream for those who wanted the facility. Kottooli, a locality in Kozhikode city, is not only blessed with one of the greenest wetlands in the State but is also home to a number of State- and national-level sportspersons.

Sportspersons

Footballers Premnath Philip and E. Ratheesh, Rahul Ratheesh who held a national record in shotput and discuss throw, State roller skating champion Sanal Lal, Vismaya Sudheer and Theertha Sunil Kumar, who played in the Subrato Cup football, are just a few of them.

However, it is ironical that these players did not have a good playground in their home turf to sharpen their skills.

The appeal for the playground was made to the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation as early as in 2002. In 2004, the Corporation council decided to acquire some land for it.

But due to the slow pace at which the file moved in the offices concerned, the State government’s approval to acquire the land came only in 2011, and the formal notification came in 2013. After this, the trouble started.

“The two persons whose land the Revenue Department had identified to be acquired for the playground went to court and procured a stay order against the formal notification. The State is at present trying to vacate the stay”, said K. Raveendran, councillor for the Parayancheri ward of the Corporation. Mr. Raveendran has been working to materialise the playground for many years.

He alleged that a large lobby was behind the spreading of rumours that the playground could not be built in the said land, as it came under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act.

“Despite that, they have planned to apply for a building permit in the land. It is a conspiracy to get the court involved and thwart the playground project”, Mr. Raveendran alleged.

The local people have formed a committee to fight for the cause.

Secretary of the committee N.P. Suneendran said they were planning to strengthen their fight further by organising a Collectorate march and dharna on January 16, in which the sportspersons of the locality would take part.