Karnataka   

Government not honouring its commitment on cricket stadium: Army

BANGALORE: Despite being thwarted by a succession of State Governments, the Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area is once again contemplating steps to reassert its right over the M. Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium. The Sub Area’s primary contention is that the land on which the cricket stadium has been built still belongs to the Army, and that the State Government has been violating provisions prescribed in the “demi official” (DO) letter which allowed the cricket stadium to be built.

The steps could include writing again to the State Government and even seeking the Army’s Adjutant General’s office’s permission to take the Karnataka Government to court. Says Brig Clement Samuel, Commander of the Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area: “Successive State Governments have not honoured the commitment made to the Army.”

The genesis for the stadium goes back to the 1960s when the Mysore State Cricket Association — now called the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) — approached the State Government asking for land to build a cricket stadium. The then Chief Minster Veerendra Patil then approached Defence Minister Swaran Singh for 16 acres of land that belonged to the Army. This was granted but for a period of 99 years from 1969. The DO specified that the “lessee shall utilise the said land for the construction of a cricket stadium and the said land shall not be utilised for any other purpose”.

Swaran Singh’s letter also states that “the stadium will be made available to the armed forces free of cost for sports, games, functions, etc., when the same is not previously booked for any cricket function.” The DO further states that “the local Sub Area Commander (would be) made an ex-officio member of the management committee of the stadium”. But these provisions are not being met.

According to the Secretary of the KSCA Brijesh Patel, “the KSCA has a lease agreement with the Government,” and the matter ends there.

But the Army wants a tripartite agreement involving itself, the State Government and the KSCA to be signed. Brig. Samuel cites the case of the Eden Gardens cricket stadium in Kolkata where the Cricket Association of Bengal pays an annual rent for use of the land to the General Officer Commanding, Bengal Area.

“Here we get no revenue. Army’s auditors had also raised an audit para asking what rentals are accruing from the ground.”

Adds Brigadier Samuel: “The lease clearly states that there should be no additions/alterations without the approval and sanction of the Army. But this is not being done. Also the lease is explicit in saying that no commercial activity can take place. But this too is happening.”

A recent irritant for the Sub Area is what they claim the “dilly-dallying” on their request to use the KSCA stadium for a week-long “Know your Army” awareness campaign in December.

The request was sent out to the Government in June but the file has been sent from the Chief Secretary’s office to the Commissioner for Youth Services and then to the KSCA.

The Government’s stand is that the land is in its custody. Says S.M. Jamdaar, Principal Secretary, Revenue Department: “This land has been assigned to the Government. The Army also forgets that the Cantonment Act does not apply here.”

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