‘Had Senior Govt officials’ order to hold community event at Subhash Stadium’
| Date :02-Jun-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
The sports infrastructure has mostly remained ignored in Chhattisgarh and when these infrastructures are used for activities other than sports it creates a furor among sports lovers and players. In a recent incident, the historic Netaji Subhash Stadium, located in the heart of the city, was allocated for a community programme reportedly for free of cost, raising several eyebrows. On the other hand, Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC), the managing authority, charges the organisers with hefty amount to organise various sports events.
Even as the RMC officials were aware of the fact that the sports infrastructures should not be used for other events, they had no options but to follow the orders of the higher authorities, informed sources. One of the RMC officials, on condition of anonymity, said, “We did not want to give the stadium for the community programme, but there was pressure from the senior State Government officials and political functionaries in State. Subhash Stadium comes under the Zone-4. When asked, Zone Commissioner Chandan Sharma said that the programme was indeed organised in the stadium but it did not cause any damage to the infrastructure. “We had thoroughly checked the ground and other infrastructures and found everything was fine,” he said. “However, in the absence of a precise policy, it is difficult to be in the right place at the right time”, he asserted.
“The RMC is planning to come up with a foolproof policy to ensure sports bodies and players are benefited from the infrastructures at Subhash Stadium. Players coming to participate in the various tournaments will be benefitted once the policy is formulated,” said the Zone Commissioner. Meanwhile, sports bodies have alleged that they are being charged with hefty amount for organising sports events while it is being given free of cost for such community programmes. Former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh had dedicated the Stadium to the public on June 15, 2018.
Subhash Stadium was built over a period of seven years time. The Government had spent to the tune of Rs 14.75 crore on the project. The structure was originally built back in year 1980. The new facility has been designed with the perspective of National Games and is spread over four acres. The stadium has strength of 1400. Wrestling, Table Tennis, Gents Gym, Karate, Chess, Sports Hall, Office, VIP Room, VIP Lounge, VIP Stand, Waiting Lounge, Pavilion and Dormitory rooms are available in the stadium.