The execution of the district stadium development project here has run into trouble, with Veena George, MLA, and Pathanamthitta municipal chairperson Geetha Suresh crossing swords over the guidelines prescribed in the agreement draft to be signed between the government and the civic body.
Satyagraha
The MLA, accompanied by LDF leaders and sports lovers, staged a seven-hour satyagraha (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) in the town on Saturday, in protest against the civic body’s reluctance to sign the agreement. The State government had announced a budget allocation of ₹50 crore for the district stadium development project, and included it in the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) scheme, two years ago.
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The municipality had given in-principle approval for the proposal and the State government had prepared an agreement draft, to be signed by the Director of Youth Affairs and the civic body chief, for its time-bound implementation.
However, the civic body chief took exception to certain clauses in the agreement, alleging that it would ultimately deny the municipality’s authority over the stadium.
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Municipal chairperson Geetha Suresh said the civic body did not agree with the clause that it should hand over 15 acres of land estimated to cost not less than ₹400 crore for implementing a development project to the tune of ₹50 crore, without ascertaining its authority over the land.
MLA denies charge
Addressing the satyagraha, the MLA said the draft agreement did not deny any right of the civic body over the district stadium and the charges levelled in this regard by certain quarters were unfounded.
Ms. George said the sanction for the proposed stadium development in Pathanamthitta was a hard-won scheme when the government decided to construct a modern stadium each in all 14 districts.