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This stadium needs a lot

Staff Reporter

Issue of payment to Defence Ministry delays the project

BERHAMPUR: A tussle over payment of Rs. 88 lakhs to the Defence Department by the State Government has kept the Berhampur stadium unfinished even after 18 years of its inauguration.

On Tuesday, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Sahu apprised Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju of the matter during his visit to the city. Mr. Raju also inspected the stadium. Citizens' Forum also submitted a memorandum to Mr. Raju seeking steps for completion of the stadium.

The Defence Ministry still owns a portion of 9.183 acres of the 17.68 acres earmarked for the stadium-cum-sport complex. On this land the Defence Ministry has the residential quarters of NCC officials.

Since long the State Sports Department as well as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik have been trying to get the land to complete the stadium. The Chief Minister has also discussed the matter with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Correspondence

On September 30, 2005, the Defence Ministry agreed to vacate the land in lieu of the same area of land within Berhampur and payment of Rs. 88 lakhs for the assets. The State government agreed to provide 9.183 acres of land to the Defence Department at Ambapua area of the city.

But it did not agree to payment of the amount for the Defence buildings in the stadium area.

On November 11, 2005, the State Sports Department wrote to the Defence Ministry for exemption of payment of Rs. 88 lakhs for assets considering the poor economic condition of Orissa.

But there was no response from the Defence Ministry. The department repeated the same request on November 18, 2006. The reply is awaited.

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