KOCHI: Sporting and other recreational activities may be resumed once the Covid cases dip, still various stadiums in Kochi have been remaining ill-maintained for the past several months. Though it is an apt time for renovating stadiums and playgrounds, the authorities are not taking any initiative in this regard.
As the stadia remain closed for several months due to restrictions as part of Covid control measures, it is easy for the authorities to carry out the renovation works.
“Condition of almost all the stadia in the city is very pathetic. Authorities pay least attention for renovating or maintaining playgrounds or stadia,” said former mayor K J Sohan. “As per the town planning norms, there should be at least 15% open space in a city. In the modern cities like Delhi, it is around 25%. At the same time, the extent of open space in Kochi is less than a meagre one percent,” Sohan said. “The authorities fail to maintain even the existing facilities. Ambedkar stadium near KSRTC bus station is one of the playgrounds which could be used by the youth. The condition of the stadium is very pathetic now. Veli stadium and Fort Kochi Parade Ground have been closed for the public for years. Santacruz stadium at Fort Kochi has been reduced to be a place to store the equipment of the contractor who carries out works of a development agency in Kochi,” Sohan said.
The government had pumped in crores of rupees for the renovation of Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor, which was the main venue of Fifa U-17 World Cup held in Kerala in 2017. Funds had been allotted for the renovation of practice grounds like Maharaja’s College Stadium, Fort Kochi Veli, Parade ground, KSSC ground at Panampilly Nagar and Ambedkar stadium also. Still, all these stadia or playgrounds are in a dilapidated condition “The turf prepared for Fifa U-17 in Maharaja’s College ground has become a liability for the college now. To water the turf, the college authorities have to shell out Rs 15,000 a month,” said CICC Jayachandran, member of College Development Council. “The synthetic track at the college ground is in a dilapidated condition. Going by a rough estimate, it will require at least Rs 3 crore for renovating the synthetic track,” Jayachandran said.
T J Vinod, MLA, said that he has submitted a memorandum to sports minister V Abdurahiman demanding immediate measures to renovate Maharaja’s College ground and Ambedkar stadium. “The hockey ground in Maharaja’s College ground is in very bad condition. When 16 cents was handed over to KMRL for the construction of Metro station years ago, the Metro agency had promised to develop a hockey ground of international standards in Maharaja’s College ground. The land worth crores of rupees was handed for Metro station free of cost. Now, the Metro authorities have backtracked from the promise,” Vinod said.
As the stadia remain closed for several months due to restrictions as part of Covid control measures, it is easy for the authorities to carry out the renovation works.
“Condition of almost all the stadia in the city is very pathetic. Authorities pay least attention for renovating or maintaining playgrounds or stadia,” said former mayor K J Sohan. “As per the town planning norms, there should be at least 15% open space in a city. In the modern cities like Delhi, it is around 25%. At the same time, the extent of open space in Kochi is less than a meagre one percent,” Sohan said. “The authorities fail to maintain even the existing facilities. Ambedkar stadium near KSRTC bus station is one of the playgrounds which could be used by the youth. The condition of the stadium is very pathetic now. Veli stadium and Fort Kochi Parade Ground have been closed for the public for years. Santacruz stadium at Fort Kochi has been reduced to be a place to store the equipment of the contractor who carries out works of a development agency in Kochi,” Sohan said.
The government had pumped in crores of rupees for the renovation of Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor, which was the main venue of Fifa U-17 World Cup held in Kerala in 2017. Funds had been allotted for the renovation of practice grounds like Maharaja’s College Stadium, Fort Kochi Veli, Parade ground, KSSC ground at Panampilly Nagar and Ambedkar stadium also. Still, all these stadia or playgrounds are in a dilapidated condition “The turf prepared for Fifa U-17 in Maharaja’s College ground has become a liability for the college now. To water the turf, the college authorities have to shell out Rs 15,000 a month,” said CICC Jayachandran, member of College Development Council. “The synthetic track at the college ground is in a dilapidated condition. Going by a rough estimate, it will require at least Rs 3 crore for renovating the synthetic track,” Jayachandran said.
T J Vinod, MLA, said that he has submitted a memorandum to sports minister V Abdurahiman demanding immediate measures to renovate Maharaja’s College ground and Ambedkar stadium. “The hockey ground in Maharaja’s College ground is in very bad condition. When 16 cents was handed over to KMRL for the construction of Metro station years ago, the Metro agency had promised to develop a hockey ground of international standards in Maharaja’s College ground. The land worth crores of rupees was handed for Metro station free of cost. Now, the Metro authorities have backtracked from the promise,” Vinod said.
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