Patrons of the decades-old football ground at Trimulgherry are being denied the use of the facility owing to the growing number of non-sporting events, leading to questions on the use of Defence land.
The Trimulgherry football ground lends its name to the area in which it is located. Though it is Defence land and is categorised as ‘A1’, under active occupation of the Army, its use as play area for football has been allowed. Recently, the users of the playground have been stopped from using the ground by soldiers.
“The goalposts were removed and we were told we cannot use the ground to play football. Something similar had happened in the 1980s, when it was resolved and was allowed for continued use as a football sporting facility,” said an office-bearer of the Shahstry Football Club that is a patron of the ground.
The Congress was quick to point out that while a match was stopped and the ground was used for political events. Its political rival, the BJP, is holding an event on February 11, said M. Krishank, a party spokesperson.
“We have demanded that the ground be allowed for football and that no permission for political events be given. Why is Defence land being used for events of a political party?” he said.
It was learnt that the ground’s use as a play area is likely to resume after BJP’s event, while sources say it is likely that orders to allow the event may have come from the Ministry of Defence, as the Army is unlikely to allow the use of its land for such purposes.
