Karnataka - Madikeri   

Sports enthusiasts opposed to venue of Devaraj Urs Bhavan

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, JAN. 6. Sports lovers in Madikeri on Thursday said they will oppose the move to construct D. Devaraj Urs Bhavan near Man's Compound as it will "encroach upon the district stadium area."

K.N. Nanaiah, who is leading the struggle, told presspersons here today that staging road blockades, wearing black badges, and gheraoing elected representatives, including the district in-charge Minister, will be resorted to if the work on the bhavan continues.

He clarified that sports enthusiasts are not opposed to the construction of the bhavan but are concerned over the location where it will come up. The bhavan near Man's Compound (the district stadium) will serve no purpose. In fact, the sports enthusiasts will not mind naming the district stadium after Devaraj Urs, he said.

`Improve stadium'

Efforts should be made to improve the stadium, he said. The swimming pool should be cleaned. It is an irony that the district, which has produced athletes and sportspersons of great repute, lacks a good stadium, he remarked. As the District Stadium Committee has become dormant, sports lovers will form a committee on their own to improve the stadium, Mr. Nanaiah said.

Ravi Thammaiah, former athlete, noted that the work on the stadium began during the regime of former Chief Minister, the late R. Gundu Rao. But it has been abandoned for no reason. He said he has drawn the attention of the Lokayukta to the issue. He will take up the matter with the State Amateur Athletic Federation as well, he added.

He alleged that neither the district in-charge Minister, Tanvir Sait, nor the MLAs and the MLC from the district had responded to the aspirations of sports enthusiasts.

Christopher, Gautam, Nanda Kumar, Shashidhar, Naveen and Chetan, representatives of various youth and sports associations, were present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

ASI seeks custody of Madikeri fort
Sports enthusiasts opposed to venue of Devaraj Urs Bhavan

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu