Mini stadia at Sec’bad Cantt hit speed bump

Hyderabad: The sanction for three mini stadia at the Secunderabad Cantonment is now hanging in the balance as the State government, though had agreed in principle to construct the stadiums, had not put a clause that the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) handover open lands.

Senior officials at SCB said that it is difficult to handover lands under the existing rules. In the last board meeting, locations were finalised. The State government also sent a letter to SCB for the construction of playgrounds but, on a condition that the land is handed over.

The hockey stadium (there is no stadium, but it is referred as such) at Mudfort is spread over 8 acres. A few years ago, SCB wanted to construct a Stree Sakthi Bhavan but the project had gone into cold storage. Locals said that even if a Bhavan was built it would require just half-an-acre. The other two locations are at Bowenpally and Bolarum Park.

Speaking to The Hans India, Cantonment MLA G Sayanna said, “The State government is ready to construct the stadiums. The modalities would be worked out soon and all bottlenecks will be looked into.” It may be noted here that last year Sports Minister T Padma Rao Goud agreed to sanction three mini stadia. Consequently, Cantonment MLA wrote a letter to the State government. The SCB and the MLA received the letter of consent but with a clause. Among the three locations, the Bolarum Park may fall short of space as a major portion may go in the SRDP project.