Cuttack: A face-off like situation arose between Odisha Cricket Association Secretary Sanjay Behera and Cuttack Mayor Subash Singh over development of Barabati cricket stadium in Cuttack city.
They engaged in a war of words following Sports Minister Suryavanshi Suraj’s statement made in the State Legislative Assembly on the matter.
While replying to a question of Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous, the Minister said, “There is no such proposal for developing new indoor and outdoor sports centers/facilities in Barabati Cuttack by this Department”.
The Government in Sports and Youth Services Department is considering the renovation and upgradation work of the existing Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Cuttack in Barabati Cuttack, he said.
However, the scope of renovation, estimated budget and expected completion date is yet to be finalised.
As the previous BJD government has already laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of the historic Barabati stadium at Cuttack in February this year.
Reacting to the Minister’s reply, Cuttack Mayor Subash Singh today said the BJD government had laid the foundation stone for the renovation of Barabati Stadium with an estimated budget of Rs 700 crore. Even, the proposal was passed in the Cabinet and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared in this regard, he claimed.
“To set aside the decision is the saddest news for the residents of Cuttack and all the sportspersons of the State,” said Shri Singh.
On the other hand, OCA Secretary Shri Behera exposed the Mayor and said, “No agreement was signed with the previous government nor any budget was allocated for the expansion of Barabati Stadium.”.
OCA Secretary Shri Behera says there shouldn’t be politics over Barabati Stadium.